Even before the last passenger train ran on 17 March 1984 track lifting had already commenced. The line from South Pelaw Junction to Washington had gone and the junction itself was little more than the two lines to Ouston Junction and the two sidings alongside.
I understand that a number of the lifted track panels were later installed on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
Due to the number of photos of the track lifting process at various points on the line, this page has been split in to sections which can be accessed below:
Track Lifting Between Pelton and South Pelaw
Track Lifting Between South Pelaw and Washington
A very interesting capture of history.
Do you by any chance have any photographs from April 1984 when the prototype long welded rail train was used lifting rail from the Consett branch?
Thanks,
Dave Young
Dave,
All the track lifting photos currently in my collection are on this page, I’ve not got any of the train you mention.
John
John,
A great series of Images of tracklifting on the branch. These really were the last trains to work on the route.
I am trying to work out exactly were the shot of 37054 was taken in the Beamish area in March 1984. You mention that the loco was stood on the Up line. For the curves in the Beamish area the only place where this could have stood was in between the two tunnels with the camera pointing East toward Pelton. My gut feeling is that the shot was taken from the first over bridge to the West of the most Westerly tunnel at Beamish, looking West toward the next over bridge. The trackbed curvature and embankment slopes can still be appreciated to this day to support what I suggest.
I appreciate the only way to confirm this would be to get in touch with Mr McGahon who took the image.
Regards,
Robert.
Great photos!
Brings back lots of memories as a child visiting the area on my BMX, I remember going inside South Pelaw box after it had fallen into disuse in the early 80’s then a few years later watching them lift the track between Pelton Station and South Pelaw which would have been juring the miners strike. Such a shame it was the end of an era and that I was too young to have witnessed the line in full use like in the earlier photos.
Regards
Jonathan.