Matt Ditch Photography Blog

  Throwback to happier times with J27 No.65894 & T2 (Q6) No.2238 double-heading a train away from Grosmont during the 2019 steam gala. Full gallery

 Sunderland & Durham Railway - Ryhope to Murton Several weeks ago I walked the trackbed of the Sunderland & Durham railway from the site of Ryhope station (2nd site) up Seaton Bank to Murton station (site of). It was an enjoyable walk and below are some of the highlights, with a bit of information. More information on the line can be found here. The platform remains and NER footbridge at Ryhope Station (2nd site). This shot is looking toward Seaton Bridge over the A1018 starting the climb up Seaton bank Bridge over the A19 with Seaton in the distance The Site of Seaton banktop station the station remains in the bushes Seaton bank top. The Seaham & Rainton railway crossed from left to right at this location Looking towards Murton station and the junction for the line to Durham Elvet. Station masters house on the left Murton station remains, possibly platform? Station access path, which was cleared by locals

 Head, Wrightson & Co No.21/ Seaham Harbour Dock Company No.16  No.21 was built in 1870 by Head, Wrightson & Co as No.21 at their Teesdale Ironworks in Stockton-on-Tees for the Londonderry Railway to work at Seaham Harbour in County Durham, just south of Sunderland. In 1899 the Londonderry Railway became part of the North Eastern Railway. And in 1900 the Seaham Harbour Dock Company Ltd was formed and the locomotive passed into their ownership, where it became No.16. It remained at Seaham until 1959 when it was sold back to Head, Wrightson & Co. Who restored it to how it would have looked when built. Today the loco is on static display in Preston Park near Stockton. Sister engines No.33/17 and No.1 are based at Beamish museum. No.1, which is nearly identical to 21 is operational and steamed regularly (pictured below).

 The Lanchester Valley Railway  View SE towards Durham, on the then freight-only (since 2/5/39) Durham - Blackhill ex-NER line, which remained for freight until 5/7/65. The SLS West Durham Rail Tour is head by Thompson-design K1 2-6-0 No. 62059 (built 12/59, withdrawn 2/67 - a short life). Walter Dendy - Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike license 2.0 The Lanchester Valley Railway was once part of County Durham's extensive railway network. It was opened in 1862 by the North Eastern Railway. With construction starting a year earlier. It linked Durham with the town of Consett. One of the main purposes of the railway was to link the Ironworks at Consett with the Iron ore mines of Cleveland and Middlesbrough, when the line closed this traffic was transferred to the nearby “Stanhope & Tyne railway”. View NW, towards Blackill; Lanchester Valley line (Durham - Blackhill). Called Aldin Grange until 1/5/27, this station was closed entirely on 1/5/39 when the passenger servic...

  Pictures Hawthorn Leslie "No.2" storms up East Tanfield bank. Click here for the full gallery YouTube video

  The North Sunderland Railway 1898-1951 This picture of Seahouses station in 1923 is displayed on the side of the tourist information centre which sits on the site of the railways goods yard. Introduction & History The North Sunderland Railway was opened in 1898 and linked the coastal village of Seahouses with North Sunderland and Chathill, a station on the East coast mainline between Newcastle and Berwick. The first railway in Seahouses was built to aid the construction of the new north Pier. This short contractors railway was worked by a small Andrew Barclay 0-4-0 saddle tank No.185 of 1877. This short tramway lead to discussions locally about the possibility of a railway being built to link Seahouses with the mainline. The North Eastern Railway were approached but they were not interested in constructing a railway. The orignal plan was for the pier tramway to link with the NSR, but this never happened. Seahouses station would also have been closer to the pier being located...