The Stainmore line

Definitely one of my favourites. A splendid romantic ruin with miniscule chances of re-opening.
Ken Strachan

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<h4><a href='/locations/K/Kirkby_Stephen_East'>Kirkby Stephen East</a></h4><p><small><a href='/companies/S/South_Durham_and_Lancashire_Union_Railway'>South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway</a></small></p><p>Here is that very sad sight, a former junction station, now completely disconnected. However, the trackbed is walkable in parts, there are restored locomotives and wagons on site; and although this view is hardly pristine, the site is at least tidier than it was a few years ago. The 0-2-2 Astra class seen to the left is mercifully no longer our transport. 1/19</p><p>10/05/2009<br><small><a href='/contributors/Ken_Strachan'>Ken Strachan</a></small></p> <h4><a href='/locations/B/Barnard_Castle'>Barnard Castle</a></h4><p><small><a href='/companies/S/South_Durham_and_Lancashire_Union_Railway'>South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway</a></small></p><p>..and here, see image <a href='/img/31/904/index.html'>31904</a> is why you shouldn't get too close to the edge. Notice the impressive skew stonework under the arch. This is the South pier of the former viaduct, looking West from the adjacent (steep) footpath from Barnard Castle in May 2010. 2/19</p><p>23/05/2010<br><small><a href='/contributors/Ken_Strachan'>Ken Strachan</a></small></p> <h4><a href='/locations/B/Barnard_Castle'>Barnard Castle</a></h4><p><small><a href='/companies/S/South_Durham_and_Lancashire_Union_Railway'>South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway</a></small></p><p>Don't walk, paraglide: an intrepid Railway Rambler considers his options on 23 May 2010, having arrived 39 years too late to walk across the deck of the Tees viaduct. The bridge was built by Thomas Bouch (of Tay Bridge notoriety), at a cost of �25,119. See image <a href='/img/31/910/index.html'>31910</a> 3/19</p><p>23/05/2010<br><small><a href='/contributors/Ken_Strachan'>Ken Strachan</a></small></p> <h4><a href='/locations/B/Barnard_Castle'>Barnard Castle</a></h4><p><small><a href='/companies/S/SDLUR'>SDLUR</a></small></p><p>A happy group of Railway Ramblers enjoying a shaded section of the SDLUR approaching the site of Tees viaduct in May 2010 see image <a href='/img/31/904/index.html'>31904</a>. View East; the Middleton-in-Teesdale branch merged on the left near this point. 4/19</p><p>23/05/2010<br><small><a href='/contributors/Ken_Strachan'>Ken Strachan</a></small></p> <h4><a href='/locations/L/Lands_Viaduct'>Lands Viaduct</a></h4><p><small><a href='/companies/S/South_Durham_and_Lancashire_Union_Railway'>South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway</a></small></p><p>Looking North across the remains of Lands Viaduct (also named after the River Gaunless) during a Railway Ramblers excursion in May 2010. The trackbed of the former Haggerleases branch can be seen passing from left to right. The grassed area to the right used to house colliery sidings. 5/19</p><p>23/05/2010<br><small><a href='/contributors/Ken_Strachan'>Ken Strachan</a></small></p> <h4><a href='/locations/K/Kirkby_Stephen_East'>Kirkby Stephen East</a></h4><p><small><a href='/companies/S/South_Durham_and_Lancashire_Union_Railway'>South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway</a></small></p><p>EWS liveried 47785 enjoying the sunshine on the short, but perfectly formed, revival of the Stainmore line in May 2014 see image <a href='/img/40/361/index.html'>40361</a>. 6/19</p><p>17/05/2014<br><small><a href='/contributors/Ken_Strachan'>Ken Strachan</a></small></p> <h4><a href='/locations/K/Kirkby_Stephen_East'>Kirkby Stephen East</a></h4><p><small><a href='/companies/S/South_Durham_and_Lancashire_Union_Railway'>South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway</a></small></p><p>Not every day you see the original SDLUR '<I>plum, mandarin, and raspberry</I>' coach livery. Peckett no. 2084 see image <a href='/img/44/743/index.html'>44743</a> makes an enthusiastic departure from the recently lengthened platforms at Kirkby Stephens 'other' station. 7/19</p><p>17/05/2014<br><small><a href='/contributors/Ken_Strachan'>Ken Strachan</a></small></p> <h4><a href='/locations/K/Kirkby_Stephen_East'>Kirkby Stephen East</a></h4><p><small><a href='/companies/S/South_Durham_and_Lancashire_Union_Railway'>South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway</a></small></p><p>This chap seems to be quite happy driving a steam engine on the Stainmore line see image <a href='/img/47/625/index.html'>47625</a>. Wouldn't you be? 8/19</p><p>17/05/2014<br><small><a href='/contributors/Ken_Strachan'>Ken Strachan</a></small></p> <h4><a href='/locations/K/Kirkby_Stephen_East'>Kirkby Stephen East</a></h4><p><small><a href='/companies/S/South_Durham_and_Lancashire_Union_Railway'>South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway</a></small></p><p><I>'Would suit enthusiast'...</I> seems to best describe the condition of 37674 at the Stainmore Railway headquarters, Kirkby Stephen East, in May 2014. 9/19</p><p>17/05/2014<br><small><a href='/contributors/Ken_Strachan'>Ken Strachan</a></small></p> <h4><a href='/locations/K/Kirkby_Stephen_East'>Kirkby Stephen East</a></h4><p><small><a href='/companies/S/South_Durham_and_Lancashire_Union_Railway'>South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway</a></small></p><p>All right, I confess. I have never seen expansion loops in cab gauge lines before. A very sensible detail see image <a href='/img/47/767/index.html'>47767</a>. 10/19</p><p>17/05/2014<br><small><a href='/contributors/Ken_Strachan'>Ken Strachan</a></small></p> <h4><a href='/locations/H/Hartley_Quarry'>Hartley Quarry</a></h4><p><small><a href='/companies/S/South_Durham_and_Lancashire_Union_Railway'>South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway</a></small></p><p>Hard to believe that this location once throbbed to the sound of steam engines hauling iron ore. The Stainmore trackbed looking towards Darlington in May 2014, just beyond the end of the Two Viaducts Trail from Kirkby Stephen. 11/19</p><p>17/05/2014<br><small><a href='/contributors/Ken_Strachan'>Ken Strachan</a></small></p> <h4><a href='/locations/K/Kirkby_Stephen_East'>Kirkby Stephen East</a></h4><p><small><a href='/companies/S/South_Durham_and_Lancashire_Union_Railway'>South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway</a></small></p><p>Looking towards Darlington in May 2014 under an accommodation bridge on the Two Viaducts Trial, about half a mile from Kirkby Stephen East. 12/19</p><p>17/05/2014<br><small><a href='/contributors/Ken_Strachan'>Ken Strachan</a></small></p> <h4><a href='/locations/M/Merrygill_Viaduct'>Merrygill Viaduct</a></h4><p><small><a href='/companies/S/South_Durham_and_Lancashire_Union_Railway'>South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway</a></small></p><p>The buildings at Hartley Quarry, seen (just) from Merrygill viaduct in May 2014 see image <a href='/img/47/760/index.html'>47760</a>. 13/19</p><p>17/05/2014<br><small><a href='/contributors/Ken_Strachan'>Ken Strachan</a></small></p> <h4><a href='/locations/K/Kirkby_Stephen_East'>Kirkby Stephen East</a></h4><p><small><a href='/companies/S/South_Durham_and_Lancashire_Union_Railway'>South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway</a></small></p><p>A panoramic view of Kirkby Stephen East, taken from the former goods yard during a Branch Line Society visit in May 2014 see image <a href='/img/47/625/index.html'>47625</a>. 14/19</p><p>17/05/2014<br><small><a href='/contributors/Ken_Strachan'>Ken Strachan</a></small></p> <h4><a href='/locations/H/Hartley_Quarry'>Hartley Quarry</a></h4><p><small><a href='/companies/S/South_Durham_and_Lancashire_Union_Railway'>South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway</a></small></p><p>This unusually shaped abutment surely belongs in the 'Railway Modeller's Prototype for Everything' department. It is on the Stainmore line, adjacent to Hartley Quarry see image <a href='/img/49/555/index.html'>49555 for an image a few yards further on</a>. 15/19</p><p>17/05/2014<br><small><a href='/contributors/Ken_Strachan'>Ken Strachan</a></small></p> <h4><a href='/locations/P/Podgill_Viaduct'>Podgill Viaduct</a></h4><p><small><a href='/companies/S/South_Durham_and_Lancashire_Union_Railway'>South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway</a></small></p><p>Looking back towards Kirkby Stephen over Podgill viaduct on 17 May 2014. [Ref query 7915] 16/19</p><p>17/05/2014<br><small><a href='/contributors/Ken_Strachan'>Ken Strachan</a></small></p> <h4><a href='/locations/H/Hopetown_Junction'>Hopetown Junction</a></h4><p><small><a href='/companies/S/Stockton_and_Darlington_Railway'>Stockton and Darlington Railway</a></small></p><p>This junction North of North Road station was the first access (geographically) to the Stainmore line on leaving Darlington. Our exploration, from a strategically parked car, went: cold (tarmac footpath) to warm (earth with wooden sleepers) to BINGO! Rails under the fence! View looks South East. 17/19</p><p>05/08/2017<br><small><a href='/contributors/Ken_Strachan'>Ken Strachan</a></small></p> <h4><a href='/locations/B/Bowes'>Bowes</a></h4><p><small><a href='/companies/S/South_Durham_and_Lancashire_Union_Railway'>South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway</a></small></p><p>Amid all the uncertainties of modern life, it is comforting to know that Bowes station continues its genteel decline. The shed on the left, being built of wooden sleepers, may last longer; particularly as a resident of Bowes tells me that the station building may be demolished then re-erected on the preserved section out of Kirkby Stephen East. (See also image <a href='/img/60/945/index.html'>60945</a>). 18/19</p><p>31/07/2021<br><small><a href='/contributors/Ken_Strachan'>Ken Strachan</a></small></p> <h4><a href='/locations/B/Bowes'>Bowes</a></h4><p><small><a href='/companies/S/South_Durham_and_Lancashire_Union_Railway'>South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway</a></small></p><p>The station access steps at Bowes (this is the lower flight, looking West) are still present, but the farmer - possibly troubled by trespass and theft - doesn't really want you to use them. A local who directed me to this site told me that the remains of the station may be demolished and rebuilt on the Kirkby Stephen East line. (See image <a href='/img/28/447/index.html'>28447</a>) 19/19</p><p>31/07/2021<br><small><a href='/contributors/Ken_Strachan'>Ken Strachan</a></small></p>
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