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The History Pages about the Haltwhistle to Alston branch line and the earlier years of the S.T.R.P.S. |
Welcome to the History Pages Section
This is the history pages section of the South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society (abbreviated to S.T.R.P.S.) internet site. Here you can find pages relating to the history of the Haltwhistle to Alston standard gauge branch line and the South Tynedale Railway narrow gauge line.
There are also pages relating to the earlier years of the S.T.R.P.S., in particular, these include details of past meetings which were held by the now defunct Sunderland Group of the S.T.R.P.S. up to July 1992 and details of the South Tynedale Travel railtours which were organised by the S.T.R.P.S. from the 1970s until 1990.
The following pages are now available:-
- A Brief History of the Alston Branch and
the South Tynedale Railway.
This is a short history about the Haltwhistle to Alston branch line in standard gauge days (from 1840 to 1976) and the development of the current narrow gauge line (from 1976 to present day). - A Brief History of the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway.
This is a short history of the Newcastle and Carlisle railway and its branches, which has been reproduced from an information sheet which was produced by the South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society in 1988, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway. - A Brief History of the South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society
- The early years, from 1976 to 1984.
This is a short history of the S.T.R.P.S. during the above years, between the closure of the Haltwhistle to Alston branch as a standard gauge line and the reopening of the first part of line between Alston and Gilderdale as a 2 foot narrow gauge railway. Written by Kathy Aveyard and Steven Dyke. - 150 Years of Alstons Railway.
A historical account of the 150 years of the Haltwhistle to Alston branch line, from planning to building and to closure and reopening part of line from Alston to Kirkhaugh as a narrow gauge railway. The text has been compiled from the brochure entitled 150 Years of Alstons Railway, which was produced by the South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society in 2002. - Railways and Places to visit in the South Tynedale area
- A historical review.
The information shown on this page has been compiled from the book entitled Haltwhistle, Haydon Bridge & South Tynedale by Frank Graham, published in 1977. It describes some of the places along the Alston branch line and brief details of other local railways and wagonways in the area. - S.T.R.P.S. Sunderland Group Meetings
and Transport Enthusiasts Bazaars - A historical review.
A brief account of the Sunderland Group Meetings of the South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society that were held between the late 1970s and July 1992 in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear. Including a list of the dates and subjects of the meetings between the above dates, where either invited guests or S.T.R.P.S. members were invited to give talks, slide shows or film shows about railway or transport related topics. Also includes brief details and the dates of the Transport Enthusiasts Bazaars that were held in Sunderland between March 1984 and March 1992. - South Tynedale Travel Railtours
- A historical review.
Between the late 1970s and 1990 the South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society operated many special charter trains to various destinations in Scotland, Northern England, Wales and to London to raise funds towards the operation of the South Tynedale Railway at Alston. This page gives a brief account and listings of these rail excursions. - The Alston Branch
- A short account of the early history of the railways serving Alston Moor.
This eight page booklet was written by Society member, Thomas M. Bell for the South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society and published in July 1979 by the Alston Moor Historical Society. It contains a detailed account of the route and plans that were drawn up by the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway Company and the Wear Valley Extension Railway between Haltwhistle and Alston or Nenthead and prospects for connecting the line up with the Stanhope and Tyne Railway company lines around Stanhope, which was never actually built. - The Alston Branch and its People
Some information about Thomas Elliot Harrison, who was one of the railway engineers involved in the construction of the Alston Branch. This account is taken from the Steam Index website. - The Alston Lime Works Railway.
A short introduction to the Alston Lime Works Railway, which connected Newshield Quarry and lime kilns with the Alston branch line, via a tunnel under the Alston to Hexham (A686) road and an incline down to transfer sidings on the Alston branch line, near where the locomotive and carriage sheds are situated on the South Tynedale Railway today. - Transport Development
in the South Tyne Valley - Notes for the Historically Minded.
A short account of transport development in the South Tyne Valley area around Alston from 1762 to 2000. Produced for the South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society by Thomas M. Bell. - Viaducts along the Alston Branch.
Details of the viaducts which were built on the Haltwhistle to Alston branch line to carry the railway over the River South Tyne and its tributories.
More pages will be added to this section in the near future.
Information about the Alston Branch line
... on other websites:-
- The Alston Branch page of the Northumbrian Railways web site contains some interesting historical information and photographs of trains and stations on the Haltwhistle to Alston line. That website also features information about other local branch lines in North East England.
- The Alston Branch Page of the Railscot Railway History website contains a map of the Alston branch showing the route and stations, together with photographs of Alston Station, Lambley, Coanwood and the South Tyne Viaduct, otherwise known as Alston Arches, which is the viaduct near Haltwhistle Station. The photographs were taken by Ewan Crawford and John Furnevel. There is also an old black and white photograph of Alston Station in standard gauge steam days by G. H. Robin, which can be accessed from the link to more photographs of Alston, which is of historical interest.
- The Bridges on the Tyne web site contains information about the railway viaducts along the Haltwhistle to Alston branch line.
- The Disused Stations Site Record web site contains several historical photographs of Alston and Haltwhistle stations.
- Wagonway Maps of Northumberland, County Durham and Cleveland. This website contains a set of very detailed maps showing the locations of the old wagonways and mines in those counties, but it stretches westward to include the Alston branch line, Alston and the surrounding area. Well worth a look.
Histories of other Narrow Gauge Lines:-
Histories of other narrow gauge lines are also available on this internet site as follows:-
- The Catcleugh Reservoir Railway.
A three foot narrow gauge line that was built to construct the Catcleugh Reservoir, near Otterburn in Northumberland in the 1890s. - Harrogate Gas Works Railway.
A description of the history of the Harrogate Gas Works Railway - including the locomotives, rolling stock and operation. Reproduced from an article published in The Railway Magazine issue No. 350, dated August 1926 by Rev E. J. Robinson, M.A.. - The Tramways of Hartside.
A description of the history of the mineral tramway systems around Hartside, between Alston and Penrith by Peter Holmes. Reproduced from an article published in the “Industrial Railway Record No. 138,” dated September 1994. Published by the Industrial Railway Society.
More pages will be added to this section in the near future.
For more information about the South Tynedale Railway, please contact:-
THE SOUTH TYNEDALE RAILWAY PRESERVATION SOCIETY,
Registered Office Address:-
The Railway Station, Alston, Cumbria, CA9 3JB.
Telephone 01434 381696.
Talking timetable - Telephone 01434 382828.
Registered Charity No. 514939.
Limited by Guarantee: Company Registration No. 1850832 (England).
E-mail enquiries - please click on links below:
South Tynedale Railway information - Send e-mail to South Tynedale Railway
STRPS membership information only - Send e-mail to Kathy Aveyard
Tynedalesman information only - Send e-mail to Tynedalesman compilers
This page was last updated on 16th September 2007.
© South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society 2007.