The Alston Branch Line Closure 1976
The railway branch line from Haltwhistle to Alston opened in 1852. The line was closed on 3 May 1976 by the British Railways Board, with the last train working two days earlier. It was the last surviving passenger branch line in rural North East England.
Jack Teasdale, a railway/photography enthusiast, travelled by train from Blaydon up the beautiful Tyne Valley line to Haltwhistle, filming his journey on the way, before filming the branch on the final days before closure.
Since 1983 the delightful South Tynedale Railway has been operating narrow gauge passenger trains, gradually extending the line north from Alston station and using the old track bed. It now runs to the village of Slaggyford, a distance of nearly five miles.
PS. There is no soundtrack. Also when the Super8 cine was transferred to VHS video many years ago it has not done the image quality any favours including the top part of the cine pictures missing due to the incompatible frame size. Never mind, it is what it is. It's still a nice record of an absolutely lovely branch line and I highly recommend going up to Alston to see the South Tynedale Railway.
PS. You may be interested in Jack's video on the Blaydon Races Centenary 1962 and another on the Ryton Centenary 1963.
Пікірлер: 20
8:34 - this is my Grandpa (Peter) , thank you so much for posting this video. If you have any more footage from the Alston line I’d really love to see it 😊
@BlaydonAces
Жыл бұрын
Hello Tara. I'm glad you liked the video and it brought back nice memories. It's all we have though. The cine was taken by my late father in law, Jack Teasdale, who was a photography and railway enthusiast. Best wishes. Roly.
He did a great job of filming as it keeps the history of all these places alive for the next generation etc other wise these great places from the past will be lost for ever.
@BlaydonAces
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks very much Gary. He would be so pleased to know folk were appreciating his efforts now, in this way. Roly.
Just been to Alston today from Durham for ride out. Lovely. Have been on railway early 70's. Memories. Ta.
@BlaydonAces
3 жыл бұрын
Hello Christine, glad you enjoyed it.
Lovely to watch. Ta.
@BlaydonAces
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks Christine. Jack was my father in law. He loved railways.
Why did they ever get rid of those wonderful old lines, as no matter what they say it did cut communities off. We have Beeching to thank for that.
@BlaydonAces
3 жыл бұрын
Yeah, and there's talk of reopening some now. We'll see.
Is the 4-car DMU on the last day of services?
@BlaydonAces
Жыл бұрын
Hello. I don't have the exact dates my father in law filmed this but I think it was taken in the days just before closure rather than on the last day.
When I win Euromillions I intend to extend the current narrowgauge line from Slaggyford all the way to Haltwhistle once again.
@BlaydonAces
10 ай бұрын
Here's wishing you a massive win. Best wishes. Roly.
Went to Alston twice before closure. On one trip they stopped so we could take a pic of Lambley vdt. Should not have closed along with Bridport.
@BlaydonAces
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for your comment. Yes, such a shame they closed.
Whats Wylam bridge doing on the alston line please
@BlaydonAces
3 жыл бұрын
Hello Gary. I've altered the text to make that clearer. That he also filmed the journey on the way up the Tyne Valley on his way to film the branch closure. Roly.
@TheGazza636
3 жыл бұрын
@@BlaydonAces loved the film by the way.so many places i know so well.great to see what it was like years ago.
@BlaydonAces
3 жыл бұрын
@@TheGazza636 Thanks very much Gary. Jack was my father in law - a keen photographer and railway enthusiast. He also took quite a lot of cine, family holidays etc. He did a really nice thing in filming this closure, also Blaydon Races and Ryton Festivals. We've had them at home on VHS video then DVD for years and thought it would be nice to make them available to anyone interested, via KZread. Best wishes. Roly.