Lanchester Valley Railway

[1] As a result, the DIC proposed an extension from Crook to the foot of the Meeting Slacks incline, which later became Waskerley, to provide a southern shipping route for their lime and iron products.

The Stanhope to Carrhouse section passed into the possession of the S&DR on 1 January 1845, with the completed 10 miles (16 km) Weardale Extension Railway from the Wear Valley Junction to Waskerley opening on 16 May 1845.

[1] After the opening of the Weardale Extension Railway and the completion of Hownes Gill Viaduct under Thomas Bouch in 1858,[2][3] the DIC had pressured the newly-formed NER to link Consett with the River Tyne via Gateshead.

[5] Passenger numbers were always light on the line, mainly from coal miners taking early morning and late night works trains, and later from workers travelling to Consett.

The expansion of the coal mines in the late Victoria era resulted in the additional opening of a station at Aldin Grange in 1883,which was renamed Bearpark in 1927.

[5] Occasional excursions to the Durham Miners Gala continued until 1954, after the line had passed to the Eastern Region of British Railways on nationalisation in 1948.

[5] The route has been redeveloped by Durham County Council into the Lanchester Valley Railway Path, suitable for walking, cycling and horse riding.