Local area

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This line ran from Crook to Waskerley in an area of mining and bleak moorland.

Chronology 

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Description of route 

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The line ran across moorland with low population from Crook to Waskerley. The line was built to tap coal reserves in the area and to provide another outlet for the Derwent Iron Company (Consett). The contractor for the line was the Stockton and Darlington Railway. Before opening both this line and the Stanhope to Carr House lines were bought by Joseph Pease, Thomas Meynell and John Castell Hopkins and the combined concern was known as the Wear and Derwent Junction Railway.

The original terminus station at Crook was 1/4 of a mile south at the Willington-Wolsingham road. A connection was made south of this and a new station built in Crook.

Crook station had five running lines through it. The passenger station had one platform, for both directions with one of the lines. By this were the other four lines.

To the north of the station the line divided with the Weardale Extension Railway continuing north-west to Waskerley and the Stanley Branch striking off to the north-east.

This incline was cable operated. It was 1.75 miles long and had gradients such as 1 in 13 and 1 in 16. Above the incline locomotives were used for the route through to Waskerley Park.

In the 1850s it was found that some of William Bouch's locomotives were capable of climbing the incline, however the incline was replaced by a line on an easier gradient. Portions of the incline route were retained to access some of the mines owned by the Pease family.

The station at Tow Law was in latter days the terminus for a service which ran from Darlington via Bishop Auckland and Crook. Earlier services had run on to Stanhope (near Weatherhill on the hill above Stanhope, not in the Wear Valley) and Hownes Gill.

High Stoop is shown as a station in older Ordnance Survey Maps. It is not shown in the Railway Clearing House map.

A building stands at the place where the line crossed a road. This may be the gatekeeper's cottage.

At Burnhill Junction the line turned west to run to Waskerley. Running north was the deviation built to replace Nanny Mayor's Incline. A reversal was required at Burnhill Junction to run from Consett to Stanhope. Burnhill station was on the deviation line a short distance north of the junction.

There was a Government store on either side of the line at Burnhill Junction.

In the 1970s the derelict signalbox still stood at Burnhill Junction.

Waskerley was also known as Waskerley Park.

At Waskerley the line joined the former Stanhope and Tyne Railroad at the south end of Nanny Mayor's Incline. This was the bankhead.

There were two locomotive sheds on the line just before the junction. Here the snowplough to keep the lines clear in the high moorland area was kept. To the north of the line in the 'v' of the junction was the goods shed. This still stands. The station building was on the route of the Stanhope and Tyne Railroad just to the west of the junction and on the north side of the line.