37061 follows the track lifting train from which it has just been shunt released by 45043 “The Kings Own Royal Border Regiment” which itself is taking the train to Tyne Yard. This train had been recovering track from the Washington to South Pelaw line. c1983, photo copyright Craig Oliphant37134 nears Ouston Junction, running light engine after being shunt released from working the last track lifting train on the Washington to South Pelaw Junction line, in the foreground you can see the sand trap, this was designed to catch any runaway trains from the steeply graded Consett branch. Also of note is the tunnel to the left of the loco, this went under a colliery line that joined up to the Washington line having crossed over the ECML. c1983, photo copyright Craig Oliphant45043 “The Kings Own Royal Border Regiment” takes the track lifting train towards Tyne Yard after shunt releasing 37061 from this train (seen at the rear) on a Washington to South Pelaw track lifting train seen at South Pelaw. c1983, photo copyright Craig Oliphant45043 “The Kings Own Royal Border Regiment” backs onto 37061’s train ready to shunt release the 37 from its Washington to South Pelaw track lifting train at South Pelaw. c1983, photo copyright Craig Oliphant37062 with a track recovery train on the Washington branch, the tracks in the foreground are the lines from Ouston Junction to South Pelaw. Photo copyright Craig Oliphant37100 and another Class 37 head towards Ouston Junction with a train of track panels lifted from the Washington Branch on the right. Photo copyright Craig Oliphant
37059 with a train of track panels from the Washington branch. Another 37 will couple to the end of the train for the journey to Tyne Yard. Photo copyright Craig Oliphant.
Remnants of the line that once linked the Leamside line with Consett are seen with 37059 on a murky day with a Washington line track recovery train at South Pelaw Junction in 1983. Photo copyright Craig Oliphant31243 draws up to the rear of 37059’s track recovery train that had been working on the Washington line (far right) at South Pelaw Junction in 1983. Photo copyright Craig Oliphant37062 at Ouston Junction with a track lifting train. The East Coast Mainline runs under the bridge. Photo copyright Craig Oliphant37062 sits on the Washington Branch with a track lifting train. The tracks in the foreground are the lines to Ouston Junction and South Pelaw. Photo copyright Craig Oliphant.37062 eases it’s train of track panels towards South Pelaw Junction. Photo copyright Craig Oliphant
Rails are loaded onto 37061’s train at Barley Mow on the Washington – South Pelaw line, not a hard hat in sight – nothing to see here… Photo copyright Craig Oliphant
The end of the line, opposite Park View School, on the boundary of Chester-le-Street & Barley Mow, 37061 out of sight at the front of the train. Photo copyright Craig Oliphant
37061 with a track lifting train seen above the Greyhound Stadium, Birtley. The Ouston Junction lines are in the foreground. The iron railings denote the former colliery line that once crossed over the ECML at this point. Photo copyright Craig Oliphant.
37134 at South Pelaw Junction with the last track lifting train from the Washington Branch. Photo copyright Craig Oliphant
37061 involved in track lifting at Barley Mow. Photo copyright Craig Oliphant.
37061’s track lifting train is seen above the Wheatsheaf pub, Barley Mow. Photo copyright Craig Oliphant.
About a mile down the line from South Pelaw Junction in the direction of Washington is Barley Mow. 37006 is seen on a works train on 25 May 1984. Photo copyright Stephen McGahon
Having propelled its train up from Barley Mow, 37006 approaches South Pelaw Junction. Photo copyright Stephen McGahon
The same train shown above has negotiated South Pelaw Junction and is now heading down towards Ouston Junction. Photo copyright Stephen McGahon.
31252 with a train of track panels from the line to Washington on 18 December 1983. Photo Copyright Craig Oliphant
The remains of the trackbed towards Washington taken from the bridge that took the line over the East Coast mainline in July 1984. Ouston Junction is visible to the left. Photo copyright Mark Goadby
31299 at the site of Stella Gill sidings with a train of track panels from the branch to Washington. The buffer stop is at the end of what was Stella Gill Incoming 3 line which was truncated in the late 1960s and, by the time this photo was taken, had been lifted completely. Photo copyright Craig Oliphant
31299 at the site of Stella Gill sidings with a train of track panels from the branch to Washington. Photo copyright Craig Oliphant
