Consett to Newcastle?

[Anvil1984]

How dare you! Burn him!!!

Which way do you propose? Then we see how much witchcraft is needed

 

[DH1Commuter]

You could suggest a clean-sheet railway, BUT, if this were to happen then it must be considered that when the original lines were built the engineers had a much cleaner sheet to work with, in that less land had been developed so they could try to make the lines suit geography and demand as much as possible.

Clearly, since then, demand has changed (ie. no collieries/steelworks, the original raison d'etre, to serve) but contour lines largely have not, and areas that were built-on then are now mostly still built-on, leaving the flattest, least-obstructed possible routes as being those used in the past, at least if going via Stanley and Annfield Plain (to some degree there would be more flexibility if going northwards from Consett,as this area is more greenfield).

 

[HSTEd]

Clearly, since then, demand has changed (ie. no collieries/steelworks, the original raison d'etre, to serve) but contour lines largely have not, and areas that were built-on then are now mostly still built-on, leaving the flattest, least-obstructed possible routes as being those used in the past, at least if going via Stanley and Annfield Plain (to some degree there would be more flexibility if going northwards from Consett,as this area is more greenfield).

Our trains are capable of performance that the engineers that originally laid those railways out could never have dreamed of.

A steam railway struggles with gradients of much more than 1% - even Turbostars laugh at that today.
We can do things with our routes that they couldn't - and modern earthmoving means that we can dig cuttings that they could never have attempted.

 

[greyman42]

Best I can do remotely is http://www.railmaponline.com/

You have two options:

Derwent Valley Railway via Rowlands Gill and Shotlrey Bridge (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derwent_Valley_Railway_(County_Durham) )

or

Stanhope & Tyne Railway via Anfield Plain and Washington (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanhope_and_Tyne_Railway)

Both lost routes their passenger services in the 1950's. (http://disused-stations.org.uk/c/consett/index.shtml )

Thanks. I spent some of my childhood in Jarrow in the 60s and remember a freight line running through it which is now a cycle track.

 

[Bevan Price]

Right. There was 2 lines from Newcastle to Consett and sometimed timetabled to acted like a loop service. Which closed from the 30s to the 50s. The last bit closed in the 80s and quickly was roaded over. Then the houses crept closer to those alignments as did even more roads. Even just during the last few years the remaining bridge was eventually brought down in Leadgate.
And then this mp appears and says, 'Lets rebuild the line'. And wastes time in The House by stating the case.
Until that mp can convince a few thousand homeowners and a few more thousand more car drivers to give there houses/cars up then, what a cretin if he thinks that thus is an actual plan.
rant rant

Houses in the way are a relatively minor matter (apart from to the occupiers) when it comes to major projects with government backing. Houses on an old railway alignment were removed when Croydon Tramway was opened. Houses are removed when motorways are built. Hundreds of houses could be affected by HS2. And over 1000 houses will go if Heathrow Airport gets its third runway.

 

[Chris NS]

The idea has been submitted to the Restoring your Railway ideas fund.

Not a high hurdle to clear, as it only needs to support of a local MP, who was already pushing for this. However, it's in the gov uk announcement, so someone thinks it's worth highlighting.

Still not expecting this to happen in the forseeable future, but we'll be hearing more of this.

 

[MoleStation]

Regurgitating this thread to keep everyone updated of bringing back the railway to Consett
The mp has made some progress

Richard Holden assists in securing new ATM in Consett, County Durham - Durham Magazine

Consett in County Durham has a new free to use ATM, as part of a commitment to support communities who need access to cash.

durhammagazine.co.uk

worth every penny

 

[TBY-Paul]

Local BBC news "Look North (Newcastle)" reported tonight that funding for a feasibility had been allocated today, along with a feasibility study into Ferryhill Station.

 

[MoleStation]

45pence should pay for that feasibility study into the Consett line so that's sorted and forgotten
Not much point with Ferryhill unless a Newcastle to Middlesbrough service direct via Stillington line is allowed. With a massive park and ride at places

 

[Chris NS]

Checked the list now. Ferryhill station and Consett to Newcastle were indeed the two that have been progressed.

Ferryhill's a good idea, I think. Restoring a station is reasonably easy; the tricky bit would be working out where to send the services, but with passenger services on the Stillington and Leamside lines both on the cards, there's a lot of options to choose from.

I am surprised Consett-Newcastle got picked though, especially when you look at other proposals in the north-east that didn't get picked. Schemes such as a new station on the Tyne Valley Line, enhances local services north of Morpeth and bringing back the Silverlink loop all look way easier to deliver and IMO would deliver comparable benefits.