Wansbeck Railway
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The Wansbeck Railway was a single track railway line in Northumberland, England, that ran from Morpeth to Reedsmouth on the Border Counties Railway via the stations of Woodburn, Knowesgate, Scotsgap, Middleton, Angerton and Meldon.
History
Beginnings
In 1859 Parliament authorised the Wansbeck Railway Company to build the line from Morpeth to Reedsmouth on the Border Counties Railway, soon to be absorbed into the North British Railway . As well as serving local needs, the line would allow the NBR to link with the Morpeth branch of the Blyth and Tyne Railway, giving it access to Newcastle upon Tyne. (The NBR, although forming part of the East Coast Main Line north of Berwick on Tweed had no running rights over the ECML south of Berwick).[1]
Construction
Due to financial difficulties the line (single track throughout) was built in stages.[2] In 1862 the line from Morpeth to Scotsgap opened, with an extension to Knowesgate opening a year later. At the Morpeth end, the line crossed over the ECML (the North Eastern Railway) to make a junction with the Blyth and Tyne. The junction allowed through running between Reedsmouth and Newcastle, but trains to and from Morpeth had to reverse between the junction and the Blyth and Tyne’s terminus in Morpeth.[3][4]
Ownership changes
The Wansbeck Railway Company amalgamated with the North British Railway in 1863. The line was completed on 1 May 1865, but the NBR had secured running rights over the NER between Hexham (where the Border Counties Railway had a junction with the NER) and Newcastle which gave access to Newcastle by a somewhat less circuitous route.[1] [5] Following a minor accident in September 1871 which drew adverse comment on its arrangements at Morpeth,[6] the Wansbeck branch connection with the Blyth and Tyne was abandoned and a new connection with the NER made allowing Wansbeck branch trains to run into the NER main line station at Morpeth,[3] but not to Newcastle.[4]
At grouping in 1923 both the NER and the NBR were absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway, who continued to operate the line, as initially did British Railways (Eastern Region) after nationalisation in 1948.
Closure
In September 1952 passenger services were withdrawn from the line, and the goods service from much of the line in November 1963. The line was closed completely in October 1966.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Thomas, John (1969). The North British Railway: Volume 1 (1st ed.). Newton Abbot: David & Charles. p. 256. ISBN 0-7153-4697-0.
- ↑ http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/s/scots_gap/index.shtml
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Hoole, K (1978). A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain: Volume IV The North East. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. p. 237. ISBN 0-7153-7746-9.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Historic Ordinance Survey maps showing this configuration can be accessed via the 'Keys to the Past' website
- ↑ Between Edinburgh (and points beyond) and Newcastle, the East Coast Main Line was of course more direct (and hence quicker) than either - the fastest train via Hexham took 4 1/2 hours (see Thomas op cit p. 100)
- ↑ "Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Wansbeck Junction, Morpeth on 15th September 1871". Retrieved 2 January 2013.