Recent post by Alex Coomber on TRAIN SIDING.

Alex CoomberThe Bowes Railway Path.
It opened in 1826. It closed in 1974.
Dipton Colliery to Jarrow.
Dipton Colliery, Tanfield, Marley Hill, Springwell and Jarrow.
Engineered by George Stephenson and one of the earliest railways in the world. The standard gauge coal carrying Pontop & Jarrow Railway opened in 1826. Serving numerous collieries. It remained privately owned until 1947 when the National Coal Board took over operations. Steam operations continued until 1970 and the railway closed in 1974. Since then. A short section has been reopened as a working museum while much of the trackbed has been reopened as the Bowes Railway Path.