Hartlepool Railway And Docks Company Railway |
| Hob Uid: 1375708 | |
Location :
Hartlepool, County Durham
Monk Hesleden, Haswell, Headland, Shotton, Hart, Shadforth, Wheatley Hill, Thornley, Castle Eden
Non Civil Parish
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| Grid Ref : NZ4426538850 |
| Summary : The Hartlepool Dock and Railway Company, line opened in 1832, was planned from Hartlepool to Moorsley, but was only built as far as Haswell. Of the original branches planned, the Littletown Branch terminated between Thornley and Ludworth, and the Thornley Branch reached the Thornley Colliery. The Cassop Branch from Castle Eden was constructed for one mile, with earthworks beyond, but abandoned. Outside Hartlepool, the long Heselden Bank, a gradient of 1:34 in parts was rope-worked until 1874. Then, an easier gradient was laid out with one track on either side of the original embankment, the new tracks at a gradient of 1:50. Closed in 1964 and dismantled. |
More information : The Hartlepool Dock and Railway Company, line opened in 1832, was planned from Hartlepool to Moorsley, but was only built as far as Haswell. Of the original branches planned, the Littletown Branch terminated between Thornley and Ludworth, and the Thornley Branch reached the Thornley Colliery. The Cassop Branch from Castle Eden was constructed for one mile, with earthworks beyond, but abandoned. Outside Hartlepool, the long Heselden Bank, a gradient of 1:34 in parts was rope-worked until 1874. Then, an easier gradient was laid out with one track on either side of the original embankment, the new tracks at a gradient of 1:50. Closed in 1964 and dismantled. (1)
In 1832 the Hartlepool Dock and Railway Company received Parliamentary approval to construct a passenger/freight line from Hartlepool to Haswell (via Hart Station, Hesleden, Wellfield and Shotton) with the intention of eventually pushing through to Pittington, Moorsley, Rainton and beyond and hopefully diverting coal trade from collieries en route such as the new ventures at Haswell and South Hetton towards Hartlepool. (2)
Hartlepool Dock and Railway Company opened in 1835 from Hartlepool NZ5233 to Hart NZ4836, Hesleden NZ4437, Castle Eden NZ4237, Thornley NZ3939 and Haswell NZ3743. There were branches to Ludworth Colliery, Thornley Colliery, Shotton Colliery and Wheatley Hill Colliery. At Haswell the HD&R crossed the D&SR at a higher level. In 1877 the NER opened a curve joining the two. The planned link with the Durham Junction Railway at Moorsley NZ3346 was never completed, although shown on some old maps. The rope-hauled incline at Hesleden was bypassed in 1874, so that locomotives could climb without assistance. (3) |