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PHOTO of Ushaw Moor Viaduct, was wondering if anyone could help with the date, maybe early 60's. Local Council housing can be seen, lots of "spotters" . maybe one of the last passenger trains ?
Thanks to Roy for information on this photo:-
Stephenson Locomotive Society (North West Area) / Manchester Locomotive Society West Durham Rail Tour
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Alan Mason i remember walking across
· 14 February at 19:19
David Clarkson It had to be early 60's, I can remember playing there in 64 and the line had been closed for a couple of years. The station was also in ruins then.
· 14 February at 20:01
I previously made a comment somewhere on this viaduct.
ReplyDeleteI am thinking it must have been about 1959/60 and some of us Broompark kids had gone for a walk and ended up playing right next to it but under it. A train went onto the bridge but then moved back off it in the same direction it came onto it. They must have been just shunting , but the whole thing was creaking and groaning and we were scared it was going to break.
It was not uncommon for people to go for walks along the side of the lines and in the late 50,s we often passed others going in the opposite direction.
I just zoomed in on the photo and there must be about 60 people in that photo. Some are in the bushes to the left on the banks and many of them seem to be looking at the ground as if they are looking for something. a train appears to be at the station with doors open.
But the most intriguing thing for me is that the old building on the banks to the left seems to be ok but in my earlier post i mention an old building that was ruins so if that is the same building this photo could be way older than late 50,s - more like late forties. They are all quite well dressed and i am thinking they might have just all got off the train and might have been to some event. One of the men on the banks to the left seems to have a bottle or drink in his hand. Going to save this photo so i can zoom more.
Thanks for that Ron.... I decided to re-post as I got a higher resolution photo of it.
ReplyDeleteOn second thoughts, the ruins i recall were not of a big house but of a much smaller building below. i think there was a path or steps that probably led up to the house at the top and maybe they had a garden down near the water and perhaps even a pump house.??.
ReplyDeleteGetting back to the photo i notice looking through the viaduct railings to the left there are several people. two at the far left and one might be rolling a cigarette and the other might be holding a drink bottle. In front of them and to their left is another man crouching down ? (wondering if he is being sick lol). It gets better when you look at the next guy up the bank a bit as he certainly looks like he is unzipping or zipping up.
I don't see any women so i am going to take a stab in the dark and say it is a mens event and they have just got off the train and have had a few pints and have felt the urgency to relieve the bladder before the walk from the station to home.
The event could have been the attendance of one of the miners strikes which i think was happening around 1959.
I am also thinking that the photo of Broompark back street dated 1st of September 1959 was also in connection to the strikes and we were held back from schools. Can anyone confirm what day was the 1st of Sept 59 and was there a miners strike around that date.?? Only a theory but if correct you should be able to pin point the exact date.
It must be before the line was resignalled in 1960, when the signal seen on this photo was removed. Also I went to Durham Miners Gala in July 1960 from Ushaw Moor - the last year that Ushaw Moor banner went to the Gala. The signal had gone by then
ReplyDeleteProbably:- 31st August 1958
ReplyDeleteStephenson Locomotive Society (North West Area) / Manchester Locomotive Society
West Durham Rail Tour
Which went to Waterhouses Goods behind K1 No. 62059
I never knew they did rail tours or excursions back then. So i suppose these people could have just taken a walk out onto the via duct for the view and to take a few photos before boarding the train again. Roy seems to have lots of records of trains and their movements so is probably spot on with the date.
ReplyDeleteThe 1958 tour ran from Manchester Exchange to Darlington Bank Top. It then visited Bishop Auckland, Willington, Ushaw Moor, Waterhouses Goods, Lanchester, Consett,Scotswood, Blaydon, Low Fell, Pelaw, Washington, Leamside and back to Darlington. It spent approx 1hr 20mins on the Dearness Valley Branch. Further details including times can be found at:- http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/
ReplyDeleteGreat info. Roy thanks for that. I had a feeling on first seeing the photo that it may have been a Rail Tour. Mainly by seeing the interest the guys had on the railway itself and the camera straps.
ReplyDeleteStephenson Locomotive Society (North West Area) / Manchester Locomotive Society
West Durham Rail Tour