The South Shields rail link with a famous connection - and the extraordinary story of how it was built

An author has prepared a detailed study on a railway with South Shields links – and the book is available to buy soon.
By Chris Cordner
Published 6th Oct 2020, 16:45 BST
Rob Langham’s book titled the Stanhope & Tyne Railroad Company tells how the line, which was formed in 1834, used horses, steam locomotives, stationary engines and gravity-worked inclines to transport lime, limestone and coal – and how the line stretched from Stanhope to the east coast.Rob Langham’s book titled the Stanhope & Tyne Railroad Company tells how the line, which was formed in 1834, used horses, steam locomotives, stationary engines and gravity-worked inclines to transport lime, limestone and coal – and how the line stretched from Stanhope to the east coast.
Rob Langham’s book titled the Stanhope & Tyne Railroad Company tells how the line, which was formed in 1834, used horses, steam locomotives, stationary engines and gravity-worked inclines to transport lime, limestone and coal – and how the line stretched from Stanhope to the east coast.

Rob Langham’s book titled the Stanhope & Tyne Railroad Company tells how the line, which was formed in 1834, used horses, steam locomotives, stationary engines and gravity-worked inclines to transport lime, limestone and coal – and how the line stretched from Stanhope to the east coast.

The book describes how the ‘company soon found itself in financial trouble, and its downfall almost bankrupted Robert Stephenson, who was consulting engineer for the company’.

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But a change of ownership saw the line become profitable, with one half run by the newly formed Pontop & South Shields Railway Company and the other by the Stockton & Darlington Railway Company.

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The front cover of the new book.The front cover of the new book.
The front cover of the new book.

The two halves later came under the ownership of the North Eastern Railway and later the London & North Eastern Railway and then British Railways.

Documents, personal accounts and newspaper cuttings have all been used to put together the latest Amberley railway book.

The book looks at the S&TR’s ‘remarkable but brief existence’ and it is lavishly illustrated.

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Rob Langham has been passionate about history since childhood, later turning it into his vocation. He spends his spare time researching a diverse

New traffic on the line in 1969.New traffic on the line in 1969.
New traffic on the line in 1969.

range of topics such as the early railways of North East England and the First World War battlefields of Gallipoli.

Rare and unpublished photos are used among the 96 pages of the book which is published by Amberley Publishing and which will be available on November 15.

The book is also available at £14.99 in paperback and also in Kindle, Kobo and iBook formats.

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A bridge crossing the River Don at Brockley Whins. The bridge abutments appear to be original S&TR stonework.A bridge crossing the River Don at Brockley Whins. The bridge abutments appear to be original S&TR stonework.
A bridge crossing the River Don at Brockley Whins. The bridge abutments appear to be original S&TR stonework.

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Related topics:South ShieldsBritish Railways