Bowes Railway
Encyclopedia
The Bowes Railway, built by George Stephenson
in 1826, is the world's only preserved operational standard gauge
cable railway
system. It was built to transport coal
from Durham
pits
to boats on the River Tyne
. Only part of the system now remains.
. A new railway was needed to transport the coal to the River Tyne. The plan was to combine steam power with gravity on the inclines. The railway was designed by George Stephenson
. Of a similar design was Stephenson's earlier work on the Hetton
Colliery Railway
which was completed in 1822.
. This section was opened in 1826 and comprised two inclined plane
s: one steep incline up from Black Fell to Blackham's Hill, and one down from Blackham's Hill and Springwell. At Blackham's Hill, the summit
of both inclines, was the "hauler house", housing stationary engine
s to wind the ropes on both inclines. The railway was completed in 1855.
Diesel locomotives
Underground electric locomotives
Underground diesel locomotives
Brake vans
The site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument
.
George Stephenson
George Stephenson was an English civil engineer and mechanical engineer who built the first public railway line in the world to use steam locomotives...
in 1826, is the world's only preserved operational standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
cable railway
Cable railway
A cable railway is a steeply graded railway that uses a cable or rope to haul trains.-Introduction:...
system. It was built to transport coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
from Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
pits
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
to boats on the River Tyne
River Tyne
The River Tyne is a river in North East England in Great Britain. It is formed by the confluence of two rivers: the North Tyne and the South Tyne. These two rivers converge at Warden Rock near Hexham in Northumberland at a place dubbed 'The Meeting of the Waters'.The North Tyne rises on the...
. Only part of the system now remains.
Background
A partnership of businessmen, including John Bowes, called the Grand Allies opened a colliery at SpringwellSpringwell village
Springwell Village is, as the name suggests, a village in Tyneside. Although the postal address is Gateshead, the village lies in the Washington West ward of the City of Sunderland. It has one church, two shops and one local pub. In the surrounding areas are an equestrian centre and farmland...
. A new railway was needed to transport the coal to the River Tyne. The plan was to combine steam power with gravity on the inclines. The railway was designed by George Stephenson
George Stephenson
George Stephenson was an English civil engineer and mechanical engineer who built the first public railway line in the world to use steam locomotives...
. Of a similar design was Stephenson's earlier work on the Hetton
Hetton-le-Hole
Hetton-le-Hole is a town and civil parish situated in the City of Sunderland in Tyne and Wear, England. It is on the A182 between Houghton-le-Spring and Easington Lane. It is located on the southwest corner of Sunderland on the A182, off A690 close to the A1. It has a population of 14,402 but this...
Colliery Railway
Hetton colliery railway
The Hetton colliery railway was an 8-mile-long private railway opened in 1822 by the Hetton Coal Company at Hetton Lyons, County Durham, England. It was the first to be designed from the start to be operated without animal power, and was George Stephenson's first entirely new line. When it closed...
which was completed in 1822.
Construction
The first part of the railway to be built was a 1-mile section between Black Fell and SpringwellSpringwell village
Springwell Village is, as the name suggests, a village in Tyneside. Although the postal address is Gateshead, the village lies in the Washington West ward of the City of Sunderland. It has one church, two shops and one local pub. In the surrounding areas are an equestrian centre and farmland...
. This section was opened in 1826 and comprised two inclined plane
Inclined plane
The inclined plane is one of the original six simple machines; as the name suggests, it is a flat surface whose endpoints are at different heights. By moving an object up an inclined plane rather than completely vertical, the amount of force required is reduced, at the expense of increasing the...
s: one steep incline up from Black Fell to Blackham's Hill, and one down from Blackham's Hill and Springwell. At Blackham's Hill, the summit
Route summit
A route summit is the highest point on a transportation route crossing higher ground. The term is often used in describing railway routes, less often in road transportation...
of both inclines, was the "hauler house", housing stationary engine
Stationary engine
A stationary engine is an engine whose framework does not move. It is normally used not to propel a vehicle but to drive a piece of immobile equipment such as a pump or power tool. They may be powered by steam; or oil-burning or internal combustion engines....
s to wind the ropes on both inclines. The railway was completed in 1855.
Locomotives and brake vans
Steam locomotives- Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST W.S.T. In use on the railways brake van rides. Boiler ticket expires in 2012. Formerly used at Long Meg MineLong Meg MineLong Meg Mine is a disused gypsum mine just north of Little Salkeld, Cumbria in the area known as Cave Wood Valley. It was operated between 1880 and 1976.-History:...
. - Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST No 22. In use on the railways brake van rides, boiler ticket expires in 2012.
Diesel locomotives
- PlanetF. C. Hibberd & Co LtdF. C. Hibberd & Co Ltd was a British locomotive-building company founded in 1927 to build industrial petrol and diesel locomotives. In 1932 the company acquired the goodwill of James and Frederick Howard Ltd...
0-4-0 No 101. Used sometimes on shunting duties and freight trains but not as often as the Hunslet due to its small size. - Hunslet Engine CompanyHunslet Engine CompanyThe Hunslet Engine Company is a British locomotive-building company founded in 1864 at Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England by John Towlerton Leather, a civil engineering contractor, who appointed James Campbell as his Works Manager.In 1871, James Campbell bought the company for...
0-4-0 No 6263. Used regularly on freight trains and shunting, the most powerful shunter on the line. - Andrew Barclay 0-6-0 No 613. In use but only on special events due to its size.
- Hunslet 0-6-0 No 503. On display in the wagon shop.
Underground electric locomotives
- English ElectricEnglish ElectricEnglish Electric was a British industrial manufacturer. Founded in 1918, it initially specialised in industrial electric motors and transformers...
4W No 456. On static display.
Underground diesel locomotives
- Hunslet 0-4-0 No 514. Awaiting a cosmetic restoration.
- Hudswell ClarkeHudswell ClarkeHudswell, Clarke and Company Limited was an engineering and locomotive building company in Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.-History:...
0-6-0 No 286 "Victoria". On static display.
Brake vans
- Lambton Hetton & Joicey Collieries Brake van No 1. In use as a passenger vehicle on the trains.
- L.M.S.London, Midland and Scottish RailwayThe London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
No 1, built for use in Derby. In use as a passenger vehicle on the trains. - L.M.S. No 3 Brake van. In use as a passenger vehicle on the passenger trains.
The site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument
Scheduled Ancient Monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a 'nationally important' archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorized change. The various pieces of legislation used for legally protecting heritage assets from damage and destruction are grouped under the term...
.