Border Counties Railway (Falstone; Acomb; Tarset with Greystead; Kielder; Birtley; Bellingham; Hexham; Wall; Chollerton)
Border Counties Railway opened to passengers in 1862 and closed in 1958. In the area of High Stokoe the former railway line has been built up higher than the surrounding land, in some places by up to 6m. A watching brief in 2012 near Donkleywood revealed the gravel bed for the track at depths between 0.25m and 0.45m below ground level. (1)
The Border Counties Railway was a 26.25 mile railway from Hexham to Deadwater on the Scottish Border, via Reedsmouth, and constructed in stages. The line was originally planned to run from the Border Counties Junction, west of Hexham, to the Belling Burn, near Falstone, under the Border Counties Railway company, but by the time the railway had reached Countess Park this company had joined with the Border Union Railway to create a line to Riccarton, with later amalgamation of the North British Railway and the Border Counties Railway in 1860. The first earth-cutting ceremony was carried out on 11 December 1855. The first section was opened between Hexham, and Chollerford in April 1858. The whole line was operational by July 1862.
Flood damage to a bridge near Hexham led too the withdrawal of passnger services from the line in October 1956. Goods traffic between Riccarton and Bellingham, as well as Reedsmouth to the junction near Hexham, ceased in September 1958. A small length between Bellingham and Reedsmouth was kept open until 1963.
Much of the line now lies beneath Kielder Reservoir which was developed after the closure of the line. In other portions the embankment of the railway has been removed. Other portions of the trackway are in use as a cycleway. (2)
Additional references. (3)
The Border Counties Railway was a 26.25 mile railway from Hexham to Deadwater on the Scottish Border, via Reedsmouth, and constructed in stages. The line was originally planned to run from the Border Counties Junction, west of Hexham, to the Belling Burn, near Falstone, under the Border Counties Railway company, but by the time the railway had reached Countess Park this company had joined with the Border Union Railway to create a line to Riccarton, with later amalgamation of the North British Railway and the Border Counties Railway in 1860. The first earth-cutting ceremony was carried out on 11 December 1855. The first section was opened between Hexham, and Chollerford in April 1858. The whole line was operational by July 1862.
Flood damage to a bridge near Hexham led too the withdrawal of passnger services from the line in October 1956. Goods traffic between Riccarton and Bellingham, as well as Reedsmouth to the junction near Hexham, ceased in September 1958. A small length between Bellingham and Reedsmouth was kept open until 1963.
Much of the line now lies beneath Kielder Reservoir which was developed after the closure of the line. In other portions the embankment of the railway has been removed. Other portions of the trackway are in use as a cycleway. (2)
Additional references. (3)
N27286
Post Medieval (1540 to 1901)
20th Century (1901 to 2000)
20th Century (1901 to 2000)
WATCHING BRIEF, Fourstones - Hexham cabling 2007; Pre-Construct Archaeology
WATCHING BRIEF, Falstone to Donkleywood pipeline 2013; TWM Archaeology
HISTORIC AREA ASSESSMENT, Falstone Village Atlas (Historic Tynedale Village Atlas) ; The Archaeological Practice Ltd
WATCHING BRIEF, Falstone to Donkleywood pipeline 2013; TWM Archaeology
HISTORIC AREA ASSESSMENT, Falstone Village Atlas (Historic Tynedale Village Atlas) ; The Archaeological Practice Ltd
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Please note that this information has been compiled from a number of different sources. Durham County Council and Northumberland County Council can accept no responsibility for any inaccuracy contained therein. If you wish to use/copy any of the images, please ensure that you read the Copyright information provided.