Former goods dock at Sherburn Colliery station

Image: © Dean Molyneaux Taken: 25 Nov 2012

This is the Leamside Line, which previously linked the East Coast Mainline south of Durham with Heworth in Gateshead, passing through Washington. Passenger services were withdrawn on this section of the line in 1941. It remained for freight use only (as a 'Mineral Railway' for coal). It had served as the East Coast line until 1872, when it was diverted to the west of Durham city. This section, south of what once was Sherburn Colliery station (the main body of the station lay to the north of the bridge in the distance) is due to have the tracks lifted imminently. Trees and vegetation have been removed from the line in anticipation of this work. The trackbed is not to be sold and all plans to reinstate the line have been deferred until at least 2019. The line was first opened in 1839. The platform to the right is the only evidence of Sherburn Colliery station that remains. It was used as a goods dock. Further information on the station, including photographs before and after closure, and of the area following the track removal in 2013, can be found at http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/s/sherburn_colliery/index.shtml

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