North Eastern Railway

Introduction

The North Eastern Railway was formed by an amalgamation of smaller concerns in 1854; the York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway, York and North Midland Railway and the Leeds Northern Railway. Its headquarters were located in York.

Its route from Berwick to Newcastle Central, Darlington, York and Doncaster became part of the East Coast Main Line. To the north this connected to the North British Railway (over which the North Eastern had running powers as far as Edinburgh Waverley in exchange for the North British having running powers from their Border Counties Railway junction at Hexham to Newcastle Central along the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway). To the south the line connected to the Great Northern Railway and the Midland Railway.

Besides this main route the company owned many other lines. There was also one line in Scotland; from Sprouston to Kelso on the Tweedmouth to Kelso line.

The company was a 18.75% shareholder in the Forth Bridge Railway.

In 1923 the company was grouped into the London and North Eastern Railway.



Dates

  /  /1851Bishop Auckland Branch (North Eastern Railway)
Route altered to run from Leamside to Bishop Auckland via Durham and Relly Mill.
  /  /1853West Hartlepool Harbour and Railway
Diverts trains from Stockton station on the North Shore Branch (North Eastern Railway) to Stockton North station on the Leeds and Thirsk Railway. (The company controlled the former Clarence Railway and Stockton and Hartlepool Railway).
  /  /1854York and North Midland Railway Malton and Driffield Junction Railway York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway Leeds and Thirsk Railway West Hartlepool Harbour and Railways North Eastern Railway
Companies merge to form the North Eastern Railway.
  /05/1854Carmyllie Railway
Line opened. Initially a private goods railway built by Earl of Dalhousie for slate and paving stones, operated by the Scottish North Eastern Railway (after 1856).
  /  /1855Durham and Sunderland Railway Hartlepool Dock and Railway
Following a North Eastern Railway study of Sunderland to Hartlepool services a connection at Haswell, alterations at Seaton and Murton and a new staton for Sunderland are recommended.
  /  /1856Aberdeen RailwayScottish Midland Junction RailwayScottish North Eastern Railway
The Aberdeen Railway merged with Scottish Midland Junction Railway to become Scottish North Eastern Railway.
  /  /1857Dearness Valley Railway
Bought by North Eastern Railway.
01/04/1857Bishop Auckland Branch (North Eastern Railway)
Line opened.
01/01/1858Perth, Almond Valley and Methven Railway
Line opened, worked by the Scottish North Eastern Railway.
23/07/1858Rosedale Branch (North Yorkshire and Cleveland Railway)
An Act for the extension of the line to Rosedale. The Ingleby Mining Company^s line had been bought by the North Yorkshire and Cleveland Railway, which itself was to be purchased by the North Eastern Railway shortly afterwards.
  /  /1859Scottish Central Railway Scottish Midland Junction Railway Dundee and Perth Railway Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Limits of Perth General station defined by the joint committee, repealing the agreement of 1846. The Scottish North Eastern Railway is authorised to use Perth General and to form a siding on the east side of the station.
  /  /1861Scottish Midland Junction Railway Scottish North Eastern Railway Inverness and Perth Junction Railway
Scottish North Eastern Railway makes arrangement made with the Inverness and Perth Junction Railway, land for future Perth Shed [HR] near Perth General on the former SMJR.
  /  /1862Scottish North Eastern Railway Scottish Central Railway
Confirmation of agreements regarding Perth General between the Scottish North Eastern Railway and Scottish Central Railway.
  /  /1862Team Valley Railway (North Eastern Railway)
Act for a line between Gateshead and Bishop Auckland Branch north of Durham.
  /  /1862Scottish North Eastern Railway
Limpet Mill to Kintore [1st] line authorised.
  /  /1862Scottish North Eastern Railway
Deeside Branch authorised.
  /  /1862Scottish North Eastern Railway
Deviation at Forfar authorised.
  /  /1862Lanchester Valley Railway (North Eastern Railway)
Opened from Relly Mill Junction to Consett [1st]. Stations opened at Witton Gilbert, Lanchester, Knitsley and Consett [1st].
31/01/1862Dundee and Arbroath Railway Scottish North Eastern Railway
The Dundee and Arbroath Railway is absorbed by the Scottish North Eastern Railway (official authorisation was in 1863).
14/05/1862Newcastle and Carlisle Railway
An agreement that the North Eastern Railway, which will take over the N&C, can have access to Carlisle Citadel.
17/07/1862Newcastle and Carlisle Railway North Eastern Railway
Newcastle and Carlisle Railway merges with the North Eastern Railway.
  /  /1863Dundee and Arbroath Railway Scottish North Eastern Railway
Authorisation of the absorption of the Dundee and Arbroath Railway by the Scottish North Eastern Railway.
  /  /1863Stockton and Darlington RailwayNorth Eastern Railway
Stockton and Darlington Railway absorbed by the North Eastern Railway.
  /  /1863North British Railway Scottish North Eastern Railway
Dundee Goods Station is to be used jointly by the North British Railway and Scottish North Eastern Railway.
01/01/1863Newcastle and Carlisle Railway
North Eastern Railway trains start to run into Carlisle Citadel station.
01/02/1863Alyth Railway Scottish North Eastern Railway
The Alyth Railway is leased by the Scottish North Eastern Railway
  /  /1864Perth, Almond Valley and Methven RailwayScottish North Eastern Railway
Perth, Almond Valley and Methven Railway leased by the Scottish North Eastern Railway.
  /  /1864Crieff and Methven Junction Railway
Act receives Royal assent. The Scottish North Eastern Railway is given running powers.
  /  /1864Newbottle Waggonway
North Eastern Railway makes agreement with Lambton Waggonway for access to staiths at Sunderland over the line between Cox Green and Sunderland.
  /  /1864Aberdeen Joint
A committee is formed for the management of the new joint Aberdeen Joint station between the companies (owners Scottish North Eastern Railway/Caledonian Railway and Great North of Scotland Railway and access for the Deeside Railway).
  /  /1864Alyth Railway Scottish North Eastern Railway
Lease of the Alyth Railway by the Scottish North Eastern Railway authorised.
  /  /1864Scottish North Eastern Railway
Meigle branch authorised - Newtyle and Meigle Junction Line. Meigle station was to be joint.
  /  /1864Dundee and Forfar Direct Railway (Caledonian Railway)
Line authorised for the Scottish North Eastern Railway.
  /  /1864 Perth, Almond Valley and Methven Railway
Authorisation to sell company to the Scottish North Eastern Railway.
12/03/1864Carmyllie Railway
Agreement for working the Carmyllie Railway by the Scottish North Eastern Railway.
23/06/1864Aberdeen Joint (Caledonian Railway)Denburn Valley Line (Great North of Scotland Railway)
Denburn Valley line to connect the Great North of Scotland Railway at Kittybrewster [2nd] to the Scottish North Eastern Railway (from 1866 Caledonian Railway) at Aberdeen Guild Street authorised. South of the new Aberdeen Joint will be SNER owned and north will be GNSR owned. The Deeside Railway is authorised to use the station, details to be agreed.
  /  /1865West Hartlepool Harbour and Railway Company
Merged into North Eastern Railway.
19/06/1865Carmyllie Railway Scottish North Eastern Railway
Carmyllie Railway absorbed by Scottish North Eastern Railway.
19/06/1865Team Valley Railway (North Eastern Railway)
Act for a line between Relly Mill Junction, south of Durham, to Tursdale Junction, north of Ferryhill, passed.
  /  /1866Scottish North Eastern Railway Caledonian Railway
Scottish North Eastern Railway absorbed by Caledonian Railway. Confirmation of running powers for the Highland Railway between Perth General and Stanley Junction. Confirmation of running powers for North British Railway, London and North Western Railway, Midland Railway and Glasgow and South Western Railway. The SNER's running powers over the Montrose and Bervie Railway are transferred to the Caledonian.
  /  /1866Settle and Carlisle Line (Midland Railway)
Bill for the line presented with support from the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, Glasgow and South Western Railway and the North British Railway (who did not have a partner other than the North Eastern Railway route to Newcastle Central for taking traffic from the Border Union Railway (North British Railway) (Waverley Route) at Carlisle).
16/07/1866Settle and Carlisle Line (Midland Railway)
Act passed. Running powers over the North Eastern Railway to enter Carlisle Citadel given.
  /  /1867Lanchester Valley Railway Extension (North Eastern Railway)
Line opened from Scotswood (Scotswood Bridge Junction) to Consett [1st] (which was replaced by Benfieldside, located a little further north).
  /  /1867Scottish North Eastern Railway
Proposed Meigle branch abandoned.
02/12/1867Lanchester Valley Railway Extension (North Eastern Railway)
Benfieldside, Lintz Green opened.
  /  /1868Team Valley Railway (North Eastern Railway)
Construction begins of line between Durham and Gateshead.
  /  /1868Doncaster to York (North Eastern Railway)
Construction begins of line to connect to the Great Northern Railway.
  /  /1868Consett South Curve (North Eastern Railway)
Opened from Hownes Gill Junction (Stanhope and Tyne Railway) to Consett South Junction (Lanchester Valley Railway (North Eastern Railway)/
01/12/1868Team Valley Railway (North Eastern Railway)
Line opened.
01/06/1869North Eastern Railway North British Railway
North Eastern Railway locomotives hauling trains from the south start running through over the North British Railway to Edinburgh Waverley.
  /  /1871Team Valley Railway (North Eastern Railway)
Line opened.
  /  /1871Doncaster to York (North Eastern Railway)
Line opened
  /  /1871Sunderland, West Hartlepool and Middlesbrough Railway
Two similar independent lines were proposed in response to the North Eastern Railway^s Wellfield to Stockton route.
  /  /1872Hull and Selby Railway
North Eastern Railway
Hull and Selby Railway absorbed by the North Eastern Railway.
  /  /1872North Eastern Railway
Bowesfield Junction, Stockton, to Wellfield line authorised.
15/01/1872Team Valley Railway (North Eastern Railway)
Line opened.
  /  /1874Blyth and Tyne Railway North Eastern Railway
Line absorbed by the North Eastern Railway to stop the North British Railway from acquiring the line and developing an independent route into Newcastle, with its own terminus.
  /  /1877Lanchester Valley Railway (North Eastern Railway)
Spurs opened from Baxter Wood No 1 Junction to Baxter Wood No 2 Junction where a spur split to Dearness Valley Junction (Bishop Auckland Branch (North Eastern Railway)) and Bridge House Junction (Team Valley Railway (North Eastern Railway)).
01/05/1877North Eastern Railway
Bowesfield Juncton to Carlton South Junction (later Redmarshall South Junction) to Carlton West Junction opened. Route never opened to regular passenger services.
26/08/1877North Eastern Railway
Deviation of the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway approach to Carlisle Citadel opened. Railway No 6.
  /10/1878Hawes Branch (North Eastern Railway)
Opened for passengers to meet the Hawes Branch (Midland Railway) over which the North Eastern Railway had running powers to Hawes Junction (now Garsdale). Built as a single track line.
  /  /1879Sunderland Station (North Eastern Railway)
New line from Ryhope Grange Junction to new Sunderland central station and from Fawcett Street opened. Hendon and Fawcett Street stations closed. Line extended north to cross the River Wear to connect at Monkwearmouth. New station had two island platforms with arched overall roof destroyed in World War II.
01/03/1880North Eastern Railway
Carlton South Junction to Wellfield, and east to north curve at Carlton opened.
01/11/1882Lanchester Valley Railway Extension (North Eastern Railway)
Benfieldside renamed Consett [2nd].
  /  /1883Hylton, Southwick and Monkwearmouth Railway
Purchased by North Eastern Railway.
  /  /1883Lanchester Valley Railway (North Eastern Railway)
Aldin Grange opened.
  /  /1884North Eastern Railway
Opens York Works.
01/05/1885Lanchester Valley Railway Extension (North Eastern Railway)
Consett [2nd] renamed Consett and Blackhill.
16/07/1885Scarborough and Whitby Railway
Line opened, operated by the North Eastern Railway from the outset.
  /09/1887Cornhill Branch (North Eastern Railway)
Cornhill Branch (Alnwick to Coldstream) opened September 1887 by North Eastern Railway, Alnwick station re-built.
31/07/1893North Eastern Railway
Act passed for Hart to Dalton-le-Dale (Seaham) line to improve coastal route. Also included are improvements to the Londonderry Railway.
  /  /1896Consett Curve (North Eastern Railway)
Curve opened from Consett East Junction (Stanhope and Tyne Railway) to Consett North Junction (Lanchester Valley Railway (North Eastern Railway)), coinciding with the opening of Consett [3rd]. The curve flew over the top of the Lanchester line.
01/05/1896Lanchester Valley Railway Extension (North Eastern Railway)
Consett and Blackhill renamed Blackhill.
14/01/1897North Eastern Railway North British Railway
North Eastern Railway locomotives cease to run through through over the North British Railway to Edinburgh Waverley.
15/01/1897North British Railway
The North British Railway begins to operate the through trains from Edinburgh Waverley to London Kings Cross from Edinburgh as far as Berwick where the North Eastern Railway takes over.
  /  /1898Scarborough and Whitby Railway
Line purchased by the North Eastern Railway for £261,633.
  /  /1900Londonderry Railway North Eastern Railway
Line absorbed by the North Eastern Railway.
  /  /1900Cawood, Wistow and Selby Light Railway North Eastern Railway
Line absorbed by the North Eastern Railway.
  /  /1900Queen Alexandra Bridge
Proposed by the North Eastern Railway and Sunderland Corporation this double decked bridge (road and rail decks) would link Diamond Hall Junction and Castleton Junction.
30/07/1900Londonderry Railway
Sold to North Eastern Railway. Stock, coal wagons, colliery lines and Seaham Harbour pass to the Seaham Harbour Dock Company (not later merged into the National Coal Board). Hall Dene station remains in Lord Seaham^s ownership. Bath Hotel (Hendon) and Station Hotel (Seaham) were excluded.
06/10/1900Londonderry Railway
North Eastern Railway starts to work line.
  /  /1901North Eastern Railway
Carlton curve installed to Leeds Northern route between Eaglescliffe and Stockton. Plan to open route to Wellfield as secondary mainline.
  /  /1902North Eastern Railway
Carlton curve for Leeds Northern route between Eaglescliffe and Stockton lifted. Route only used briefly for express goods traffic due to pressure between Stockton and West Hartepool both of which were bypassed.
  /  /1903North Eastern RailwayNorth Blyth Branch (Blyth and Tyne Railway)
The North Eastern Railway introduces 40 ton wagons to run between the Ashington Colliery and North Blyth Staithes served by the North Blyth Branch (Blyth and Tyne Railway).
01/04/1905North Eastern Railway
Seaham to Hart line opened.
  /  /1906North Eastern Railway
King Edward VII Bridge over the Tyne opened. This new bridge saved East Coast Main Line trains from having to reverse at Newcastle.
01/07/1909Lanchester Valley Railway Extension (North Eastern Railway)
High Westwood opened.
16/06/1912London and North Eastern Railway
Imperial Airways
Race between Imperial Airways biplane The City of Glasgow and the Flying Scotsman won by the airplane.
  /  /1915North Eastern Railway
Bowesfield Juncton to Carlton South Junction (later Redmarshall South Junction) to Carlton West Junction electrified for Shildon Yard to Newport Yard services.
  /  /1916Lanchester Valley Railway (North Eastern Railway)
Knitsley closed.
  /  /1921Queen Alexandra Bridge
Falls out of use by the London and North Eastern Railway. Remains open for road traffic and later the railway deck would be removed.
19/08/1921Railways Act
Act passed to create London, Midland and Scottish Railway, London and North Eastern Railway, Great Western Railway and Southern Railway by grouping smaller companies into bigger units. This was due to financial problems the railway companies were having in the aftermath of the First World War.
  /  /1922Hull and Barnsley Railway
North Eastern Railway
Line absorbed by the North Eastern Railway.
01/01/1923North British Railway Edinburgh and Bathgate Railway Great North of Scotland Railway Forth and Clyde Junction Railway Kilsyth and Bonnybridge Railway Gifford and Garvald Railway Newburgh and North Fife Railway Lauder Light Railway Great Central Railway
Grouped into London and North Eastern Railway.
01/01/1923Dundee and Arbroath Joint Railway Dumbarton and Balloch Joint Railway (Caledonian Railway, Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Railway and North British Railway Joint)
Both the Dundee and Arbroath Joint Railway and Dumbarton and Balloch Joint Line become jointly owned by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway and the London and North Eastern Railway.
01/01/1923Great North of England, Clarence and Hartlepool Junction Railway
Merged into the London and North Eastern Railway. Previously leased by the North Eastern Railway.
  /  /1924Londonderry Railway
London and North Eastern Railway approaches Lord Seaham to close Hall Dene station. This is agreed if Seaham Colliery station be renamed Seaham and Marlborough Street station be renamed Seaham Harbour.
  /  /1925Lanchester Valley Railway (North Eastern Railway)
Knitsley opened.
  /  /1927Lanchester Valley Railway (North Eastern Railway)
Aldin Grange renamed Bearpark.
  /  /1929Scottish Motor Traction Group
The London, Midland and Scottish Railway and London and North Eastern Railway jointly buy a controlling interest of the bus group.
  /  /1929Whitemoor Marshalling Yard (London and North Eastern Railway)
Whitemoor Yard, a hump yard, opened. It was laid out on either side of the Spalding to March Line (Great Northern Railway).
  /09/1930Cornhill Branch (North Eastern Railway)
Closed to passengers.
02/11/1931North Eastern Railway
Carlton to Wellfield closed to passengers.
  /  /1934Railway Air Services
London Midland and Scottish Railway
London and North Eastern Railway
Great Western Railway
Southern Railway
Imperial Airways
Railway Air Services formed by the LMS, LNER, GWR, SR and Imperial Airways. Airport opened at Renfrew
  /  /1939Lanchester Valley Railway (North Eastern Railway)
Closed to passengers. Bearpark, Witton Gilbert, Lanchester and Knitsley closed.
04/05/1942Lanchester Valley Railway Extension (North Eastern Railway)
High Westwood closed.
02/10/1946London and North Eastern Railway
PS Waverley [IV] launched at A & J Inglis^s Pointhouse Shipbuilding Yard. Named by Lady Matthews, wife of the Chairman of the LNER.
  /  /1947London and North Eastern Railway
PS Waverley [IV], PS Jeanie Deans [II] , PS Lucy Ashton and PS Talisman transferred from the London and North Eastern Railway to the British Transport Commission.
16/06/1947London and North Eastern Railway
PS Waverley [IV]^s maiden voyage. Based at Craigendoran Pier she operated to Lochgoilhead Pier on Loch Goil and Arrochar Pier on Loch Long.
  /  /1948PS Waverley [IV]
Repainted from London and North Eastern Railway colours into British Transport Commission colours.
01/01/1948British Railways Forth Bridge Railway London, Midland and Scottish Railway London and North Eastern Railway Great Western Railway Southern Railway
Britains railways are nationalised.
02/11/1953Lanchester Valley Railway Extension (North Eastern Railway)
Shotley Bridge, Ebchester, Lintz Green, Swalwell closed to passengers.
01/02/1954Lanchester Valley Railway Extension (North Eastern Railway)
Rowlands Gill closed.
  /04/1954Bedale Branch (York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway) Bedale and Leyburn Railway Hawes Branch (North Eastern Railway)
Closed to passengers.
23/05/1955Lanchester Valley Railway Extension (North Eastern Railway)
Blackhill closed.
  /  /1963Lanchester Valley Railway Extension (North Eastern Railway)
Blackhill to Blaydon South Junction closed.
  /  /1964Hawes Branch NER (North Eastern Railway)
Redmire to Hawes closed.
  /  /1964Bishop Auckland Branch (North Eastern Railway)
Partially closed.
  /  /1965Sunderland Station (North Eastern Railway)
Station re-built and reduced to one island platform.
  /  /1966Lanchester Valley Railway (North Eastern Railway)
Closed from Relly Mill Junction to Consett North Junction. Also closed from Baxter Wood No 1 Junction to Baxter Wood No 2 Junction to Dearness Valley Junction and Bridge House Junction.
  /  /1969Stanhope and Tyne Railway Consett South Curve (North Eastern Railway)
Closed from Whitehill Junction to Hownes Gill Junction to Consett East Junction, and from Hownes Gill Junction to Consett South Junction.
  /  /1982Lanchester Valley Railway (North Eastern Railway) Lanchester Railway Extension (North Eastern Railway)
Consett North Junction to Blackhill closed to freight.
  /  /1982Consett Curve (North Eastern Railway)
The whole curve, Consett North Junction to Consett East Junction, is closed entirely.
  /  /1992Bedale Branch (York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway) Bedale and Leyburn Railway Hawes Branch (North Eastern Railway)
Northallerton (excluded) to Redmire closed to limestone traffic from Redmire. Line mothballed.
  /  /1996Bedale Branch (York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway) Bedale and Leyburn Railway Hawes Branch (North Eastern Railway)
Line re-opened to Redmire for military traffic to Catterick Camp.
17/10/2000Great North Eastern Railway
Great North Eastern Railway (GNER) London to Leeds train de-rails and crashes at Hatfield, killing 4 people, when the railway track breaks due to gauge corner cracking. The fault in the track was known, but had not been corrected.
28/02/2001Selby to Askern Junction Line (North Eastern Railway)
Great North Eastern Railway (GNER) York to London train crashes into a Landrover and trailer carrying a car (which had fallen from the M62), then de-rails and hits a Freightliner train at Great Heck near Selby.