Track Lifting Between Pelton and South Pelaw

Towards the end of the track lifting process, the down line from Ouston became double track in a simple Y arrangement where South Pelaw Box once stood. It was left like that to facilitate track lifting when two trains/locos were in use. When it was necessary to operate a facing movement over the points, one of the PW staff would use a crowbar to move the blades and then wedge a block of wood between the blades to prevent them from moving while the train was passing over!

3 November 1985

37194 sits on the former down line at South Pelaw on 3 November 1985. Photo copyright Douglas Johnson

37101 sits on the former up line at South Pelaw on 3 November 1985. Photo copyright Douglas Johnson

37194 and 37101 at South Pelaw on 3 November 1985. Photo copyright Douglas Johnson

37101 has dragged sections of rail from the site at South Pelaw whilst track removal was in progress on 3rd November 1985. 9X11 was the head code for this train. Photo copyright Robin Trinder

37101 & 37194 with train 9X11, the track lifting train at South Pelaw on 3rd November 1985. The sections of rail are to be loaded onto the adjacent wagons. Photo copyright Robin Trinder

Track lifting operations with 37101 at South Pelaw on the Consett line on 3rd November 1985. Photo copyright Robin Trinder

South Pelaw on the Consett with track removal operations taking place on 3rd November 1985. The loco is 37194. Photo copyright Robin Trinder

37194 and 37101 on 9X11, a track lifting train on 3 November 1985. Photo copyright Robert Trinder.

37194 and 37101 on 9X11, a track lifting train on 3 November 1985. Note the attachment on the front of 37101. Photo copyright Robert Trinder.

37101 at South Pelaw with a track lifting train on 3 November 1985. Photo copyright Douglas Johnson

On 3 November 1985, 37194 sits between South Pelaw Junction and Pelton with the 9X11 track lifting train. 37101 can be seen towards the rear on the remaining stretch of double track. Photo copyright Douglas Johnson

27 October 1985

The following photographs were taken on 27 October 1985 during the track lifting between the site of Pelton Station and South Pelaw Junction.

South Pelaw 27 October 1985 021 — A track lifting train on it’s way to Tyne Yard via Ouston Junction. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

South Pelaw 27 October 1985 023 — 37101 heads a loaded track lifting train away from South Pelaw down the hill towards Ouston Junction. Note the, then new, road bridge carrying the A693 over the line in the background. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

South Pelaw 27 October 1985 003 — 37101 sits under the road bridge at the east end of South Pelaw Junction. To the left is the site of Stella Gill Sidings with the footbridge that stood next the Stella Gill Flatts Signal Box just visible in the background. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

South Pelaw 27 October 1985 002 — 37101 at South Pelaw Junction on the ‘up’ line towards Ouston Junction. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

South Pelaw 27 October 1985 001 — 37194 sits at the opposite end of the train in the above photograph. The footbridge at the west end of the junction and the road bridge taking the A693 over the line are just visible in the background. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

South Pelaw 27 October 1985 007 — 37101 between the site of Pelton Station and South Pelaw Junction with Tyne Yard Guard Keith Brown hanging out of the cab. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

South Pelaw 27 October 1985 017 — A view of 37194 from the cab of 37101 looking towards South Pelaw with the site of Stella Gill sidings to the right. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

South Pelaw 27 October 1985 025 — A view from the track lifting train looking towards Pelton. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

South Pelaw 27 October 1985 024 — A view from the track lifting train looking towards Pelton. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

South Pelaw 27 October 1985 020 — 37101 at the head of a track lifting train between Pelton and South Pelaw. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

South Pelaw 27 October 1985 019 — 37101 on a track lifting train at South Pelaw. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

South Pelaw 27 October 1985 005 — 37101 passing the site of Stella Gill sidings with South Pelaw Junction in the background. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

South Pelaw 27 October 1985 006 — 37194 and 37101 between the site of Pelton Station and South Pelaw. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

South Pelaw 27 October 1985 009 — 37194 sits at the end of the truncated ‘up’ line between Pelton and South Pelaw. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

South Pelaw 27 October 1985 011 — 37101 and 37194 sit at rest opposite the site of Stella Gill sidings. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

South Pelaw 27 October 1985 010 — A length of rail is lifted at South Pelaw. 37194 is at the head of the train with 37101 in the foreground. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

South Pelaw 27 October 1985 016 — 37101 sits next to a track carrying train at South Pelaw. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

South Pelaw 27 October 1985 015 — 37101 drags a length of rail on the ‘down’ line between Pelton and South Pelaw. In the background, 37194 sits at the end of the old ‘up’ line. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

South Pelaw 27 October 1985 014 — 37101 on the old ‘down’ between Pelton (visible in the background) and South Pelaw. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

South Pelaw 27 October 1985 012 — 37101 sits between Pelton and South Pelaw. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

South Pelaw 27 October 1985 018 — 37101 at South Pelaw Junction fitted with an adaptor to allow it to drag lengths of track with the draw hook. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

South Pelaw 27 October 1985 008 — 37101 drags a length of track towards South Pelaw Junction. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

37194 on a track lifting train at Stella Gill (4 November 1985) — 37194 at South Pelaw during the track lifting operation. Can you imagine the public getting this close to the process these days!! (October1985) Photo Copyright Bill Watson

20 October 1985

The following photographs were taken on 20 October 1985 during the track lifting between the site of Pelton Station and South Pelaw Junction.

Pelton to South Pelaw 23 October 1985 2 006 — 37109 at South Pelaw Junction with a brake van. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

Pelton to South Pelaw 23 October 1985 2 005 — 37109 approaching South Pelaw Junction from Ouston Junction. The photograph was taken from the bridge carrying the A693 road over the line. The trackbed of the line to Washington can been seen to the right. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

Pelton to South Pelaw 23 October 1985 2 001 — Track lifting at the site of Pelton Station looking in the direction of South Pelaw. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

Pelton to South Pelaw 23 October 1985 2 004 — 37109 at the rear of a train of track panels heading down to Tyne Yard via Ouston Junction. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

Pelton to South Pelaw 23 October 1985 2 007 — 37195 heads a train of lifted track panels heads towards Ouston Junction with South Pelaw Junction in the background behind the A693 road bridge. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

Pelton to South Pelaw 23 October 1985 006 — 37195 on a track lifting train passes the site of Stella Gill sidings on the bank down from Pelton with 37134 visible in the background. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

Pelton to South Pelaw 23 October 1985 001 — A track lifting train at work between Pelton and South Pelaw. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

Pelton to South Pelaw 23 October 1985 002 — 37195 with a track lifting train at work between Pelton and South Pelaw. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

Pelton to South Pelaw 23 October 1985 2 008 — Track lifting the site of Pelton Station. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

Pelton to South Pelaw 23 October 1985 009 — Track lifting trains at the site of South Pelaw Junction looking towards Stella Gill with 37134 on the left and 37195 on the right. The signal box used to stand to the left of the photograph. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

Pelton to South Pelaw 23 October 1985 008 — Track lifting trains at South Pelaw Junction with 37195 on the left and 37134 on the right. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

Pelton to South Pelaw 23 October 1985 007 — 37134 with a part loaded train of track panels sits on the bank to Pelton next to the site of Stella Gill sidings. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

Pelton to South Pelaw 23 October 1985 2 002 — 37195 with a train of track panels approaches South Pelaw Junction from Pelton. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

Pelton to South Pelaw 23 October 1985 2 009 — 37195 with a train of track panels approaches South Pelaw Junction from Pelton. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

Pelton to South Pelaw 23 October 1985 003 — Track lifting between South Pelaw Junction and Pelton. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

Pelton to South Pelaw 23 October 1985 2 012 — 37195 heads a train of track panels heads towards Ouston Junction from South Pelaw. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

Pelton to South Pelaw 23 October 1985 004 — 37134 heads a train of track panels approaching South Pelaw Junction from Pelton. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

Pelton to South Pelaw 23 October 1985 2 010 — 37195 sits at South Pelaw Junction with 37134 behind. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

Pelton to South Pelaw 23 October 1985 2 011 — 37109 on a track panel train at South Pelaw. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

Pelton to South Pelaw 23 October 1985 005 — 37195 on the left with 37134 on the right. Photo Author’s Collection, used with permission.

13 October 1985

The following photographs were taken on 13 October 1985 during the track lifting at Pelton Station. Note the use of road rather than rail based cranes for the lifting as Pelton Station provided easy access to the line from the road.

Pelton to Ouston 13 OCTOBER 1985 002 — 37194 on a track lifting train looking from the bridge taking Station Lane over the line towards Pelton with the site of Pelton Station immediately behind the photographer on 13 October 1985. Photo Authors Collection, used with permission.

Pelton to Ouston 13 October 1985 003 — 37194 on a track lifting train looking from the bridge taking Station Lane over the line towards Pelton with the site of Pelton Station immediately behind the photographer on 13 October 1985. Photo Authors Collection, used with permission.

Pelton to Ouston 13 October 1985 004 — 37194 on a track lifting train at the site of Pelton Station 13 October 1985. Photo Authors Collection, used with permission.

Pelton to Ouston 13 October 1985 005 — 37194 on a track lifting train at the site of Pelton Station 13 October 1985. Photo Authors Collection, used with permission.

Pelton to Ouston 13 October 1985 006 — 37194 on a track lifting train at the site of Pelton Station 13 October 1985. Photo Authors Collection, used with permission.

Pelton to Ouston 13 October 1985 007 — 37194 on a track lifting train at the site of Pelton Station 13 October 1985. Photo Authors Collection, used with permission.

Pelton to Ouston 13 October 1985 008 — Track lifting at the site of Pelton Station 13 October 1985. Photo Authors Collection, used with permission.

Pelton to Ouston 13 October 1985 009 — Track lifting at the site of Pelton Station 13 October 1985. Photo Authors Collection, used with permission.

Pelton to Outston 13 October 1985 001 — Track lifting at the site of Pelton Station 13 October 1985. Photo Authors Collection, used with permission.

6 October 1985

The following photographs were taken on 6 October 1985 during the track lifting at Pelton:

Pelton to South Pelaw 06 October 1985 004 — Looking down the track bed towards South Pelaw from Pelton on 6 October 1985. Photo Authors Collection, used with permission.

Looking towards the site of Pelton Station (out of site round the corner) on 6 October 1985. Photo Authors Collection, used with permission.

Pelton to South Pelaw 06 October 1985 003 — Looking from the bridge taking Station Lane over the line towards Pelton with the site of Pelton Station immediately behind the photographer on 6 October 1985. Photo Authors Collection, used with permission.

Looking from the site of Stella Gill sidings towards South Pelaw Junction on 6 October 1985. Photo Authors Collection, used with permission.

37067 at the rear of a track lifting train at the site of South Pelaw Junction on 6 October 1985. Photo Authors Collection, used with permission.

Pelton to South Pelaw 06 October 1985 009 — 37080 leading a track lifting train at the site of South Pelaw Junction about to head to Tyne Yard via Ouston Junction on 6 October 1985. Photo Authors Collection, used with permission.

18 September 1984

1984-09-18_19 Sth Pelaw Jcn 37005 — 37005 at South Pelaw Junction with a train of track panels heading towards Ouston Junction. Photo copyright Mark Goadby

1984-09-18_18 Sth Pelaw Jcn 37005 — 37005 at South Pelaw Junction with a train of track panels heading towards Ouston Junction. Photo copyright Mark Goadby

1984-09-18_15 Sth Pelaw Jcn 37005 — 37005 at South Pelaw Junction with a train of track panels heading towards Ouston Junction. Photo copyright Mark Goadby

6 June 1984

1984-06_004 Sth Pelaw Jcn — Looking towards South Pelaw Junction from the site of Stella Gill sidings. Photo copyright Mark Goadby

1984-06_003 Sth Pelaw Jcn — Looking towards the site of Stella Gill sidings with the line to Consett curving away up the hill to the right. Photo copyright Mark Goadby

1984-06_002 Sth Pelaw Jcn — Looking towards Washington from South Pelaw Junction. Note the A693 road bridge just visible above the footbridge in the background. Photo copyright Mark Goadby

1984-06_001 Sth Pelaw Jcn — Looking towards Washington from South Pelaw Junction. Note the A693 road bridge just visible above the footbridge in the background. Photo copyright Mark Goadby

1984-06_000 37 Sth Pelaw Jcn — Looking towards Consett from the footbridge at the East End of South Pelaw Junction. Note that the track from Washington has been completely lifted. Photo copyright Mark Goadby

0_0_0_0_554_384_csupload_59936376_large — 37109 stands in the mist at South Pelaw Junction at around time the track was being lifted. (1984) Photo Copyright Keith Brown