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 Tweedsmouth 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.
/ /1851 | Bishop Auckland Branch (North Eastern Railway) Route altered to run from Leamside to Bishop Auckland via Durham and Relly Mill. |
/ /1853 | West 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). |
/ /1854 | York 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. |
/05/1854 | Carmyllie 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. |
/ /1855 | Durham 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. |
/ /1856 | Aberdeen RailwayScottish Midland Junction RailwayScottish North Eastern Railway The Aberdeen Railway merged with Scottish Midland Junction Railway to become Scottish North Eastern Railway. |
/ /1857 | Dearness Valley Railway Bought by North Eastern Railway. |
01/04/1857 | Bishop Auckland Branch (North Eastern Railway) Line opened. |
23/07/1858 | Rosedale 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. |
/ /1862 | Team Valley Railway (North Eastern Railway) Act for a line between Gateshead and Bishop Auckland Branch north of Durham. |
31/01/1862 | Dundee 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). |
17/07/1862 | Newcastle and Carlisle Railway
North Eastern Railway Newcastle and Carlisle Railway merges with the North Eastern Railway. |
/ /1863 | Dundee and Arbroath Railway
Scottish North Eastern Railway Authorisation of the absorption of the Dundee and Arbroath Railway by the Scottish North Eastern Railway. |
/ /1863 | Stockton and Darlington RailwayNorth Eastern Railway Stockton and Darlington Railway absorbed by the North Eastern Railway. |
/ /1863 | North British Railway
Scottish North Eastern Railway Dundee Goods Station is to be used jointly by the North British Railway and Scottish North Eastern Railway. |
01/01/1863 | Newcastle and Carlisle Railway North Eastern Railway trains start to run into Carlisle Citadel station. |
01/02/1863 | Alyth Railway
Scottish North Eastern Railway The Alyth Railway is leased by the Scottish North Eastern Railway |
/ /1864 | Perth, Almond Valley and Methven RailwayScottish North Eastern Railway Perth, Almond Valley and Methven Railway absorbed by the Scottish North Eastern Railway. |
/ /1864 | Crieff and Methven Junction Railway Act receives Royal assent. The Scottish North Eastern Railway is given running powers. |
/ /1864 | Newbottle Waggonway North Eastern Railway makes agreement with Lambton Waggonway for access to staiths at Sunderland over the line between Cox Green and Sunderland. |
/ /1864 | Aberdeen 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). |
/ /1864 | Alyth Railway
Scottish North Eastern Railway Lease of the Alyth Railway by the Scottish North Eastern Railway authorised. |
12/03/1864 | Carmyllie Railway Agreement for working the Carmyllie Railway by the Scottish North Eastern Railway. |
23/06/1864 | Aberdeen 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. |
/ /1865 | West Hartlepool Harbour and Railway Company Merged into North Eastern Railway. |
19/06/1865 | Carmyllie Railway
Scottish North Eastern Railway Carmyllie Railway absorbed by Scottish North Eastern Railway. |
19/06/1865 | Relly Mill to Ferryhill (North Eastern Railway) Act for a line between Relly Mill Junction, south of Durham, to Tursdale Junction, north of Ferryhill, passed. |
/ /1866 | Scottish 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. The SNER's running powers over the Montrose and Bervie Railway are transferred to the Caledonian. |
/ /1866 | Settle 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). |
/ /1867 | [[Lanchester Railway Extension (North Eastern Railway) Line opened from Scotswood (Scotswood Bridge Junction) to [[Consett [1st] (replaced by Benfieldside further north). |
/ /1868 | Team Valley Line (North Eastern Railway) Construction begins of line between Durham and Gateshead |
/ /1868 | Doncaster to York (North Eastern Railway) Construction begins of line to connect to the Great Northern Railway. |
01/12/1868 | Team Valley Railway (North Eastern Railway) Line opened. |
/ /1871 | Team Valley Line (North Eastern Railway) Line opened |
/ /1871 | Doncaster to York (North Eastern Railway) Line opened |
/ /1871 | Sunderland, West Hartlepool and Middlesbrough Railway Two similar independent lines were proposed in response to the North Eastern Railway's Wellfield to Stockton route. |
/ /1872 | Hull and Selby Railway North Eastern Railway Hull and Selby Railway absorbed by the North Eastern Railway. |
/ /1872 | North Eastern Railway Bowesfield Junction, Stockton, to Wellfield line authorised. |
15/01/1872 | Relly Mill to Ferryhill (North Eastern Railway) Line opened. |
/ /1874 | Blyth 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. |
01/05/1877 | North Eastern Railway Bowesfield Juncton to Carlton South Junction (later Redmarshall South Junction) to Carlton West Junction opened. Later used by electrified Shildon Yard to Newport Yard services. Route never opened to regular passenger services. |
26/08/1877 | North Eastern Railway Deviation of the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway approach to Carlisle Citadel opened. Railway No 6. |
/10/1878 | Hawes 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. |
/ /1879 | Sunderland 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. |
01/03/1880 | North Eastern Railway Carlton South Junction to Wellfield, and east to north curve at Carlton opened. |
/ /1882 | Lanchester Railway Extension (North Eastern Railway) Benfieldside renamed Consett. |
/ /1883 | Hylton, Southwick and Monkwearmouth Railway Purchased by North Eastern Railway. |
/ /1885 | Lanchester Railway Extension (North Eastern Railway) Consett renamed Consett and Blackhill. |
16/07/1885 | Scarborough and Whitby Railway Line opened, operated by the North Eastern Railway from the outset. |
/09/1887 | Cornhill Branch (North Eastern Railway) Cornhill Branch (Alnwick to Coldstream) opened September 1887 by North Eastern Railway, Alnwick station re-built. |
31/07/1893 | North Eastern Railway Act passed for Hart to Dalton-le-Dale (Seaham) line to improve coastal route. Also included are improvements to the Londonderry Railway. |
/ /1898 | Scarborough and Whitby Railway Line purchased by the North Eastern Railway for £261,633. |
/ /1900 | Londonderry Railway
North Eastern Railway Line absorbed by the North Eastern Railway. |
/ /1900 | Cawood Wiston Railway North Eastern Railway Line absorbed by the North Eastern Railway. |
/ /1900 | Queen 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. |
30/07/1900 | Londonderry 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. |
06/10/1900 | Londonderry Railway North Eastern Railway starts to work line. |
/ /1901 | North Eastern Railway Carlton curve installed to Leeds Northern route between Eaglescliffe and Stockton. Plan to open route to Wellfield as secondary mainline. |
/ /1902 | North 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. |
/ /1903 | North 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). |
01/04/1905 | North Eastern Railway Seaham to Hart line opened. |
/ /1906 | North 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. |
16/06/1912 | London and North Eastern Railway Imperial Airways Race between Imperial Airways biplane The City of Glasgow and the Flying Scotsman won by the airplane. |
/ /1915 | North Eastern Railway Bowesfield Juncton to Carlton South Junction (later Redmarshall South Junction to Carlton West electrified for ShildonYard to Newport Yard services. |
/ /1921 | Queen 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. |
19/08/1921 | Railways 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. |
/ /1922 | Hull and Barnsley Railway North Eastern Railway Line absorbed by the North Eastern Railway. |
01/01/1923 | North 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. |
01/01/1923 | Dundee 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. |
01/01/1923 | The Great North of England, Clarence and Hartlepool Junction Railway Merged into the London and North Eastern Railway. Previously leased by the North Eastern Railway. |
/ /1924 | Londonderry 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. |
/09/1930 | Cornhill Branch (North Eastern Railway) Closed to passengers. |
02/11/1931 | North Eastern Railway Carlton to Wellfield closed to passengers. |
/ /1934 | Railway 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 |
/ /1942 | Lanchester Railway Extension (North Eastern Railway) High Westwood closed. |
16/06/1947 | London and North Eastern Railway PS Waverley [IV] maiden voyage. Based at Craigendoran Pier. |
01/01/1948 | British Railways
Forth Bridge Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London and North Eastern Railway
Great Western Railway
Southern Railway Britains railways are nationalised. |
/ /1953 | Lanchester Railway Extension (North Eastern Railway) Shotley Bridge, Ebchester, Lintz Green, Swalwell closed to passengers. |
/ /1954 | Lanchester Railway Extension (North Eastern Railway) Rowlands Gill closed |
/04/1954 | Bedale Branch (York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway)
Bedale and Leyburn Railway
Hawes Branch (North Eastern Railway) Closed to passengers. |
/ /1955 | Lanchester Railway Extension (North Eastern Railway) Blackhill closed. |
/ /1963 | Lanchester Railway Extension (North Eastern Railway) Blackhill to Blaydon South Junction closed. |
/ /1964 | Hawes Branch NER (North Eastern Railway) Redmire to Hawes closed. |
/ /1964 | Bishop Auckland Branch (North Eastern Railway) Partially closed. |
15/06/1964 | Kelso Branch NER (North Eastern Railway) Kelso to Tweedsmouth closed to passengers. Alternative date 4/7/1955. |
/ /1965 | Sunderland Station (North Eastern Railway) Station re-built and reduced to one island platform. |
29/03/1965 | Kelso Branch NER (North Eastern Railway) Kelso to Tweedsmouth closed to freight |
/ /1982 | Lanchester Railway Extension (North Eastern Railway) Consett (Old) to Blackhill closed to freight. |
/ /1992 | Bedale 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. |
/ /1996 | Bedale 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. |
17/10/2000 | 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. |
28/02/2001 | 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 |