This article was put together to further illustrate the fine talk on the Alston Branch Line given to the Heddon Local History Society on Monday 9th February by John Gillott.
Branch train for Alston stands at Haltwhistle by Roger Cornfoot (1964)
Introduction from Wikipedia
The Alston Line was a 13.5-mile (21.7 km) standard gauge branch line railway that operated in the counties of Northumberland and Cumbria in England. Starting at its junction with the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway line at Haltwhistle, the line ran to the town of Alston. An 1846 Parliamentary Act authorised a line as far as Nenthead, providing an outlet for the lead mines in the Alston area, and plans were made to connect with railways further south. When the decision was made to terminate the branch at Alston, a further act was needed in 1849.
Initially the line opened in stages: from the junction to Shafthill (later renamed Coanwood) in 1851, and from Alston to Lambley in 1852. The full opening of the line awaited the construction of Lambley Viaduct, and was achieved later in 1852.
Initially the line opened in stages: from the junction to Shafthill (later renamed Coanwood) in 1851, and from Alston to Lambley in 1852. The full opening of the line awaited the construction of Lambley Viaduct, and was achieved later in 1852.
Lambley Station & Viaduct. Photo A Curtis (2015).
In the 1950s freight services were withdrawn from Coanwood and all the intermediate stations were unstaffed. After the locomotive shed closed in 1959 and the line's goods services were withdrawn in the early 1960s the line operated with a Class 101 Diesel Multiple Unit based at Blaydon and ran as a siding, a simple railway with no signals other than those at the junction, from Haltwhistle. Although the line was marked for closure in the Beeching plan, the lack of an all-weather road kept it open. A link between local roads, including a temporary level crossing over the branch, was built in the Lambley area. This enabled Ribble Motor Services to run a replacement bus service. The line closed officially on the 3rd of May 1976 with the last train working two days earlier.
Despite efforts by the South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society to take over the line, the track was lifted soon after the closure.
In 1983 a narrow gauge railway opened between Alston and Gilderdale, and has since been extended northwards. Known as the South Tynedale Railway, this 2-foot (0.61 m) gauge line now runs 4 miles (6.4 km) from Alston to Lintley Halt and regularly runs a steam service with a couple of German built Henschel engines, Helen Kathryn, and Thomas Edmondson.
The journey includes a viaduct over the River South Tyne. Construction of the next section of track, a mile stretch from Lintley to Slaggyford, is under consideration and funding is being sought with hopes of completion by 2015. With this, the STR will be around 4 miles in length.
The track bed has been severed at two points close to the Haltwhistle junction by the A69 Haltwhistle Bypass and the removal of a former bridge on a minor road nearby.
Despite efforts by the South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society to take over the line, the track was lifted soon after the closure.
In 1983 a narrow gauge railway opened between Alston and Gilderdale, and has since been extended northwards. Known as the South Tynedale Railway, this 2-foot (0.61 m) gauge line now runs 4 miles (6.4 km) from Alston to Lintley Halt and regularly runs a steam service with a couple of German built Henschel engines, Helen Kathryn, and Thomas Edmondson.
The journey includes a viaduct over the River South Tyne. Construction of the next section of track, a mile stretch from Lintley to Slaggyford, is under consideration and funding is being sought with hopes of completion by 2015. With this, the STR will be around 4 miles in length.
The track bed has been severed at two points close to the Haltwhistle junction by the A69 Haltwhistle Bypass and the removal of a former bridge on a minor road nearby.
Photographs remain © copyright of named photographers made available through Geograph and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence. Click individual photos for further details.
Explore the surviving route of the Alston Branch Line using photographs on Geograph
Geograph search on map
Photos of the Alston Branch Line from a search of the Geograph website (multiple photographers) located on the current OS map. Click thumbnails to open full size.
National Library of Scotland
Georeferenced 6" Maps from 1888-1913 overlaying present day Google Hybrid
Photos of the Alston Branch Line from a search of the Geograph website (multiple photographers) located on the current OS map. Click thumbnails to open full size.
National Library of Scotland
Georeferenced 6" Maps from 1888-1913 overlaying present day Google Hybrid
LINKS
Disused Stations: Haltwhistle, Plenmeller Halt, Park Village Halt, Featherstone Park, Coanwood, Lambley, Burnstones, Slaggyford, Kirkhaugh, Gilderdale Halt, Alston
Railscot - History of Britain's Railways - Alston Branch
The Alston Branch by Stanley C Jenkins
(Oakwood Press, 2001)
Hexham Courant - Haltwhistle to Alston line could re-open by 2022 (4th November 2014)
The Alston Branch by Stanley C Jenkins
(Oakwood Press, 2001)
Hexham Courant - Haltwhistle to Alston line could re-open by 2022 (4th November 2014)
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