 The line west of Stanhope Station |
WEARDALE RAILWAY BISHOP AUCKLAND TO STANHOPEThe Weardale Railway is an independently owned standardguage railway running from Bishop Auckland where it connects to the national railway system operated by Network Rail to Stanhope in County Durham. |
Once a branch line which ran 25 miles (40km) through Weardale all the way up to Wearhead, it was originally built to carry
limestone from Eastgate and passengers to Wearhead. Passenger services ceased in 1953 but the line continued to
carry limestone until the quarrying company, Lafarge switched to road transport in 1993 when British Rail decided to close
the line.
A group of enthusiasts took over the line and in 1993 the Weardale Railway preservation project was founded and passenger
services began in 2010 operating between Bishop Auckland and Stanhope although the railway is usable up to Eastgate
where it is hoped to reopen the station there and there are plans to extend the line to Westgate.
Steam trains are sometimes run along the Weardale Railway but must trains currently operated are diesel hauled trains and
railbusses but the Railway also owns a National Coal Board steam locomotive that is currently undergoing restoration.