Rothbury Branch
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The Rothbury Branch was a 13-mile single track railway line in Northumberland, England, that ran from Scotsgap, on the Wansbeck Railway to Rothbury via the stations of Longwitton, Ewesley, Fontburn Halt, and Brinkburn.
History
Wansbeck Railway
In 1859 Parliament authorised the Wansbeck Railway Company to build the line from Morpeth to Reedsmouth. On 23 July 1862 the line from Morpeth to Scotsgap opened.
Northumberland Central Railway
In 1863 the Northumberland Central Railway were authorised to construct a line from Scotsgap to Ford on the Berwick to Kelso line. They also were permitted to build a short branch line to Cornhill a total length of 50 miles. The line was to be built in stages[1] starting with the section from Scotsgap to Rothbury which was started in August 1869. Due to financial problems a further Act was obtained in 1867 formally abandoning the line north of Rothbury. The line to Rothbury opened on 20 November 1870.
Ownership changes
Two years later the Northumberland Central Railway was acquired by the North British Railway. On 3 July 1875 a major accident occurred on the line just south of Longwitton[2] leading to the deaths of three people. The North British Railway and the branch line became part of the London and North Eastern Railway in 1923.
Decline and closure
Reduced services, down to two a day during World War II,[3] and increasing competition from road transport made the line increasingly uneconomical. Passenger services were withdrawn on 13 September 1952 and the line closed on 9 November 1963.