Deernes Cottages 1948 – 1954

Hi my parents lived in Deerness Cottages between 1948 to 1954. My dad was a railway man . We lived in number 6 . Life must have been really hard as there was no electric or gas , no bathroom , toilet was a walk across the yard which was an earth toilet . They took turns in the wash house once a week to do Their laundry .

To get to these cottages was a 5-10 minute walk from the main road down a lane .

I hope this brings memories back .

My mother can still remember some of the neighbours . There was the Kitchings , the Parkinson’s , the Lawsons , Masons , the Pratts ,and the Grimes .

If I can think of anything else I’ll be in touch .

Best regards , Val Taylor.

Ushaw Moor Historical Website – Ushaw Moor Viaduct – Help with DATE

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PHOTO of Ushaw Moor Viaduct, was wondering if anyone could help with the date, maybe early 60’s. Local Council housing can be seen, lots of “spotters” . maybe one of the last passenger trains ?

Thanks to Roy for information on this photo:-

Stephenson Locomotive Society (North West Area) / Manchester Locomotive Society West Durham Rail Tour

Comments from Facebook FAN PAGE

Alan Mason i remember walking across
· 14 February at 19:19

David Clarkson It had to be early 60’s, I can remember playing there in 64 and the line had been closed for a couple of years. The station was also in ruins then.
· 14 February at 20:01

Brandon Colliery Station – 10 May 1965

Brandon Colliery Station (remains).10 May 1965
View NE, towards Durham; ex-NER Bishop Auckland – Durham line. The station looks rather decrepit in 1965; it was closed to passengers on 4/5/64, to goods on 10/8/64; the line closed finally on 5/8/68.

Not quite Deerness Valley but interesting none the less.

 

Disused Stations: Bearpark Station (formerly Aldin Grange)

Date opened: 1.6.1883

Location: On the north side of Auton Style

Company on opening: North Eastern Railway

Date closed to passengers: 1.5.1939

Date closed completely: 1.5.1939

Company on closing: British Railways (North Eastern Region)

Present state: Demolished – no trace of the station remains

County: Durham

OS Grid Ref: NZ245432

Notes: Ironworks were established at Consett in 1841 but in the 1860s Consett needed better access to the iron town of Middlesbrough and the neighbouring Ironstone of the Cleveland Hills. There were some circuitous rail links between the two towns but a direct route was required. The Browney valley provided the ideal setting for such a line.

In February 1861 construction of the North Eastern Railway’s Lanchester Branch commenced and it officially opened the following year. It was initially a single-track line with stations at Consett, Knitsley, Lanchester and Witton Gilbert.

The Lanchester Branch opened up mining possibilities along the Browney Valley. In 1870, Lord Lambton who owned land in the valley accepted an application to search for coal and the following year coal was found. The NER doubled its track in anticipation of colliery demand and collieries soon opened along the line at Bearpark, Malton, Lanchester and Langley Park. An additional station was added at Aldin Grange in 1883 and renamed Bearpark on 1.5.1927.

via Disused Stations: Bearpark Station.

Site of Bearpark (formerly Aldin Grange) Station, Bearpark

View NW, towards Blackill; Lanchester Valley line (Durham – Blackhill). Called Aldin Grange until 1/5/27, this station was closed entirely on 1/5/39 when the passenger service ceased, but goods continued and the line was not closed until 20/6/66.

Site of railway bridge looking towards what was once site of Station.

New Brancepeth Signal BOX

Deerness Valley Junction DIAGRAMS – New Brancepeth Signal Box

Credit for original http://www.ipernity.com/doc/pinzac55/21761291

Credit for original http://www.ipernity.com/doc/pinzac55/21761299

Ushaw Moor Station 1964

Ushaw Moor Station 1964
Copyright photo by Ron Fisher from his Fotopic web site

Ushaw Moor Station looking east in May 1964
Copyright photo by Ron Fisher from his Fotopic web site

Ushaw Moor Historical Website – West Durham Rail Tour 1958

Stephenson Locomotive Society (North West Area) / Manchester Locomotive Society West Durham Rail Tour

Stephenson Locomotive Society North West Area / Manchester Locomotive Society West Durham Rail Tour visiting Ushaw Moor station on 31.8.1958.

via Ushaw Moor Historical Website – West_Durham_Rail_Tour_1958.

Memories of School Friends by Roy Lambeth

I lived in Durham, but my best school pal Stephen Dent lived at 22 Whitehouse Lane in Ushaw Moor.

We were both railway enthusiasts and were accepted by the various railway men we came across in our travels. We used to spend hours at Ushaw Moor Station with the porter there Jack Railton or sometimes he would take us over the wooden viaduct and leave us with Jack Hammill the New Brancepeth Signalman.

On other occasions we would meet at Relly Bridge for a days trainspotting which would take us into Deerness Valley Junction Signal Box and Bridge House Signal Box(at the end of Langley Moor Viaduct.

We also knew the residents in the railway houses between the bishop Auckland line and the Ushaw Moor line, where we would often be asked if we would like drinks and sometimes food.

On other occasions we would cycle to Tow Law, Stanhope, Lanchester and Crook, watching and learning about railways and their operations. Stephen was a relation of The Tallentyre-Dent Bakery shop in Ushaw Moor.

Happy days.

Posted on Behalf of Roy Lambeth roylambeth@dmm.org.uk

Ushaw Moor Railway Station 1965

Ushaw Moor Railway Station - Looking East 1965

Photo of Ushaw Moor Railway Station looking east taken May 1965. Also in the background can been the Aged Miners Homes, Graveyard and Council Estate.