Ponteland and Darras Hall Branch
Encyclopedia
The Ponteland and Darras Hall Branch was an 11 km (6.8 mi) single-track branch railway line in Northumberland
, England
, that ran from South Gosforth via four intermediate stations to past a sub-line to .
and Ponteland
Light Railway, the line was built to provide a passenger service to link the communities to the north west of Newcastle upon Tyne
— including Ponteland
, Kenton
, Fawdon
, Coxlodge
, and West Gosforth
, with the city and the North Eastern Railway
's network. Construction started in 1900, and the line opened to freight on 1 March 1905, and passengers a few months later on 1 June. As passenger numbers failed to reach expectations, electrification plans were put on hold.
An extension to the "garden city" of Darras Hall
was authorised in 1908 and opened on 1 October 1913. As a result of poor passenger numbers the line closed to passengers on 17 June 1929, but stayed open for freight. In the later years, the line was used primarily for the ICI
chemicals plant at Callerton and the Rowntree's
chocolate factory at Fawdon, which opened in 1958. Parts of the line were taken over in stages to become part of the Tyne and Wear Metro
, which opened on the line in 1981. Until 1989, freight trains continued to use the route.
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, that ran from South Gosforth via four intermediate stations to past a sub-line to .
History
Authorised in 1899 as the GosforthGosforth
Gosforth is an area of Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom, to the north of the city centre. Gosforth constituted an urban district from 1895 to 1974, when it became part of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne. It has a population of 23,620...
and Ponteland
Ponteland
Ponteland is a village situated in Northumberland near Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The name means island in the Pont , as the area consisted of a small piece of solid ground around St. Mary's church and the old bridge, surrounded by marshland. This marshland is now drained, with housing built on...
Light Railway, the line was built to provide a passenger service to link the communities to the north west of Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
— including Ponteland
Ponteland
Ponteland is a village situated in Northumberland near Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The name means island in the Pont , as the area consisted of a small piece of solid ground around St. Mary's church and the old bridge, surrounded by marshland. This marshland is now drained, with housing built on...
, Kenton
Kenton, Newcastle upon Tyne
Kenton is a suburb and electoral ward in the north west of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It borders the Town Moor and Gosforth. Kenton also has close road links to Newcastle Airport....
, Fawdon
Fawdon
Fawdon is an electoral ward of Newcastle upon Tyne. It is close to the A1 western bypass. The population of the ward is 10,890, 5.7% of the total population of Newcastle upon Tyne...
, Coxlodge
Coxlodge
Coxlodge is an area situated between Fawdon, Gosforth and Kenton in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.- History :By order of the Local Government Board on 20 September 1872, the parishes of South Gosforth and Coxlodge were constituted into an urban district, the South Gosforth Local Board. After the...
, and West Gosforth
West Gosforth
West Gosforth is an electoral ward in the north of Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England. It was created in 2004. The population of the ward is 9,681, 3.7% of the total population of Newcastle upon Tyne...
, with the city and the North Eastern Railway
North Eastern Railway (UK)
The North Eastern Railway , was an English railway company. It was incorporated in 1854, when four existing companies were combined, and was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway at the Grouping in 1923...
's network. Construction started in 1900, and the line opened to freight on 1 March 1905, and passengers a few months later on 1 June. As passenger numbers failed to reach expectations, electrification plans were put on hold.
An extension to the "garden city" of Darras Hall
Darras Hall
Darras Hall is a housing estate that resides on the suburbs of Ponteland approximately 8 miles to the north of Newcastle Upon Tyne. It is approximately 2 miles away from Newcastle International Airport and is one of the most affluent estates in the North East of England. Some famous current and...
was authorised in 1908 and opened on 1 October 1913. As a result of poor passenger numbers the line closed to passengers on 17 June 1929, but stayed open for freight. In the later years, the line was used primarily for the ICI
ICI
ICI or Ici may mean:* ICI programming language, a computer programming language developed in 1992* Ici , an alternative weekly newspaper in Montreal, CanadaICI is also an abbreviation which may mean:...
chemicals plant at Callerton and the Rowntree's
Rowntree's
Rowntree's was a confectionery business based in York, England. It is now a historic brand owned by Nestlé, used to market a range of fruit gums and pastilles formerly owned by Rowntree's. Following a merger with John Mackintosh & Co., the Company became known as Rowntree Mackintosh, was listed on...
chocolate factory at Fawdon, which opened in 1958. Parts of the line were taken over in stages to become part of the Tyne and Wear Metro
Tyne and Wear Metro
The Tyne and Wear Metro, also known as the Metro, is a light rail system in North East England, serving Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, South Tyneside, North Tyneside and Sunderland. It opened in 1980 and in 2007–2008 provided 40 million public journeys on its network of nearly...
, which opened on the line in 1981. Until 1989, freight trains continued to use the route.