With the Railway200 countdown clock ticking, and just over 100 days to go until 2025, the year being lauded as the 200th anniversary year from the birth of the ‘modern railway’ in 1825 with the opening of the Stockton and Darlington (S&D), maybe we also should celebrate the more than 200 years of ‘railway’ beforeContinue reading “Railway200 around Tyneside; Tanfield300 & Bedlington400+ too?”
Category Archives: Rail
Port of Blyth: Time for a Tunnel?
The Northumberland Line reopening, and particularly the new A1061 bridge replacing the level crossing at Newsham has sparked a lot of side conversation around the ‘Blyth Relief Road‘, which now centres around the proposal for 4.5km (2.8mi) dualling of the A1061 from the A189 ‘Three Horse Shoes’ to South Beach which skirts the southern edgeContinue reading “Port of Blyth: Time for a Tunnel?”
What if the Morpeth North Curve had been built by the Victorians? Part 1
The Morpeth North Curve was actually built in the late 1970’s and completed by 1980, finally providing a direct route between Pegswood and Hepscott, rather than reversal at Morpeth. According to Warn (1976 p.35/36) in his ‘Main Line Railways of Northumberland’ book, a curve was authorised in 1882 ‘to avoid reversing coal trains travelling fromContinue reading “What if the Morpeth North Curve had been built by the Victorians? Part 1”
Plessey Viaduct, Flying Scotsman and the Northumberland Loop
All of the below is purely my own opinions and doesn’t reflect that of any other organisations or persons. The ‘Northumberland Loop’ refers to the Blyth and Tyne lines north of Newcastle Upon Tyne that runs northward to Bedlington, Northumberland then west towards Morpeth and Pegswood. The Loop name is derived from the Northumberland LineContinue reading “Plessey Viaduct, Flying Scotsman and the Northumberland Loop”
Northumberland Loop Line: Edinburgh to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne via Pegswood, Bebside for Blyth, & Northumberland Park?
At time of writing (mid February 2023), work is progressing well on the Northumberland Line between Ashington, Northumberland and Newcastle Upon Tyne, with intermediate stations at Bedlington, Bebside (for Blyth), Newsham, Seaton Delaval and Northumberland Park (interchange with Tyne & Wear Metro). Plans at present are for a simple local train service running half hourlyContinue reading “Northumberland Loop Line: Edinburgh to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne via Pegswood, Bebside for Blyth, & Northumberland Park?”
Proposal: Pegswood Parkway
Does Pegswood railway station have a lot of untapped potential? While currently quite a quiet station – currently seeing only the ‘Chathill Flyer’ a few times a day, it might have great potential as a Parkway (Park and Ride) for the East Coast Mainline (ECML). As can be seen from a satellite image, the stationContinue reading “Proposal: Pegswood Parkway”
The Ellington & Lynemouth Link
Disclaimer: The following is my own thoughts on the future beyond the ‘Northumberland Line‘ scheme; they do not represent the views of anyone else or any other bodies. This is also very much a outline idea without any firm costings or access to surveys etc. Newcastle to Ashington This is the current proposal and constructionContinue reading “The Ellington & Lynemouth Link”
Plenty of potential for Pegswood Station
On a quick visit to Pegswood Station recently, and driving past on my commute to work, Pegswood Station strikes me as a great asset that has ample potential to be realised. Pegswood Station is just north of Morpeth on the East Coast Mainline (ECML), lies a few miles west of Ashington and nearby to theContinue reading “Plenty of potential for Pegswood Station”
#MorpethBay
To try and illustrate the concept of the Morpeth Bay idea facilitating a possible Morpeth – Bedlington & beyond rail service, a chalk sketch of my idea can be seen above. In brief; Services between Morpeth and Bedlington (& beyond) would be independent of East Coast Mainline (ECML) services; allowing greater potential flexibility, and resilienceContinue reading “#MorpethBay”
Thoughts on the Morpeth – Choppington – Bedlington Line & Beyond
The recent visit of a DMU (158 816) working a Newcastle – Bedlington – Morpeth – Newcastle diagram (train route) on 25.11.20 brought into focus the Morpeth Branch; the line linking Bedlington and Morpeth and how could this line see the return of passenger rail services. Please note: All of the following is strictly myContinue reading “Thoughts on the Morpeth – Choppington – Bedlington Line & Beyond”
