Railways of Weardale

Description

The River Wear rises near the Cumberland border and flows for some 65 miles to enter the North Sea at Sunderland. Its upper reaches, to the north west of Bishop Auckland, are in the area known as Weardale, one of the wildest and coldest localities in England. This valley was famous for over two centuries for its intense industrial activity in mining and quarrying but today enjoys a peace and serenity in keeping with its remoteness.

Over the years, a number of railways were constructed to serve the area and to play their part in extracting the ores and stone which were exploited with grim determination by a succession of prospectors and miners. This work is by an author who has devoted many years to research in tracing the numerous and mostly abandoned railway systems and discovering many aspects of their fascinating and, in many ways, tragic history.