The Bowes railway line was built by George Stephenson in 1826 and closed in 1974 and is the only preserved standard gauge cable railway in the world. It was built to transport coal from pits in Durham to boats in Jarrow.
The railway was built between Mount Moor and Jarrow via Springwell. The first section to open was between Springwell and Jarrow which opened on 17 January 1826, Mount Moor followed in April 1826. When the line opened it comprised four inclined planes: one steep incline from Mount Moor to Blackham's Hill, and one from Blackham's Hill to Springwell. At Blackham's Hill, the summit of both inclines, was the "hauler house", housing stationary engines to wind the ropes. A long self-acting incline ran from Springwell. Nearly 5 miles (8.0 km) of locomotive-worked line extended to Jarrow where a final incline served the coal staiths. The line was extended across the Team valley to Kibbelsworth Colliery in May 1842. The railway was completed in 1854 when a link from Marley Hill to Kibblesworth was connected enabling collieries in Dipton to be accessed.
From 1 January 1947 the railway was owned and operated by the National coal board. After 1974 no inclines remained working and the line was only worked north east of Wardley. The last day the inclines were used was Friday 4 October 1974.
When the Bowes Railway was in full operation the line employed 8 inclined rope worked incline planes. Two of these were operated on the self-acting principle, on these (the Springwell & Birkheads inclines) the weight of descending full waggons hauled up the empty waggons via a rope running around a return wheel at the top of the hill. The remaining six inclines are operated using a stationary engine (as at Kibblesworth, Black Fell, Blackhams Hill East and West, Starrs and Allerdene Inclines) which used ropes hauled by a stationary steam or later electric haulage engine.
This is a map of the 11/2 miles of preserved railway.
Looking up the line to Springwell level crossing.
Looking towards Blackham's hill.
Blackham's hill rope hauler and incline.
View from a platform on Pelaw main curve.
Platform on Pelaw main curve.
Pelaw main curve.
Pelaw main curve.
Pelaw main curve.
Line along to Wrekenton.
Line splitting at Wrekenton.
End of the line at Wrekenton.
The railway was built between Mount Moor and Jarrow via Springwell. The first section to open was between Springwell and Jarrow which opened on 17 January 1826, Mount Moor followed in April 1826. When the line opened it comprised four inclined planes: one steep incline from Mount Moor to Blackham's Hill, and one from Blackham's Hill to Springwell. At Blackham's Hill, the summit of both inclines, was the "hauler house", housing stationary engines to wind the ropes. A long self-acting incline ran from Springwell. Nearly 5 miles (8.0 km) of locomotive-worked line extended to Jarrow where a final incline served the coal staiths. The line was extended across the Team valley to Kibbelsworth Colliery in May 1842. The railway was completed in 1854 when a link from Marley Hill to Kibblesworth was connected enabling collieries in Dipton to be accessed.
From 1 January 1947 the railway was owned and operated by the National coal board. After 1974 no inclines remained working and the line was only worked north east of Wardley. The last day the inclines were used was Friday 4 October 1974.
When the Bowes Railway was in full operation the line employed 8 inclined rope worked incline planes. Two of these were operated on the self-acting principle, on these (the Springwell & Birkheads inclines) the weight of descending full waggons hauled up the empty waggons via a rope running around a return wheel at the top of the hill. The remaining six inclines are operated using a stationary engine (as at Kibblesworth, Black Fell, Blackhams Hill East and West, Starrs and Allerdene Inclines) which used ropes hauled by a stationary steam or later electric haulage engine.
This is a map of the 11/2 miles of preserved railway.
Looking up the line to Springwell level crossing.
Looking towards Blackham's hill.
Blackham's hill rope hauler and incline.
View from a platform on Pelaw main curve.
Platform on Pelaw main curve.
Pelaw main curve.
Pelaw main curve.
Pelaw main curve.
Line along to Wrekenton.
Line splitting at Wrekenton.
End of the line at Wrekenton.
