{"product_id":"the-railways-of-weardale-9780999011188","title":"The Railways of Weardale","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe River Wear rises near the Cumberland border and flows for some 65 miles to enter the North Sea at Sunderland. Its upper reaches, to the north west of Bishop Auckland, are in the area known as Weardale, one of the wildest and coldest localities in England. This valley was famous for over two centuries for its intense industrial activity in mining and quarrying but today enjoys a peace and serenity in keeping with its remoteness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOver the years, a number of railways were constructed to serve the area and to play their part in extracting the ores and stone which were exploited with grim determination by a succession of prospectors and miners. This work is by an author who has devoted many years to research in tracing the numerous and mostly abandoned railway systems and discovering many aspects of their fascinating and, in many ways, tragic history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are sections dealing with the line up the valley to Wearhead together with the now closed Bishopley branch as well as the sidings and inclines feeding the Wearhead branch. The famous Stanhope \u0026amp; Tyne Railway is dealt with in some detail. With the help of several inclines, this line crossed the northern moorlands at considerable elevation and reached the mouth of the Tyne at South Shields. A chapter is also devoted to the lengthy and privately-owned system of the Weardale Iron Company.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNumerous branches and subsidiary lines are referred to and the author has concisely dealt with the local geography, locomotive history and operating procedures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe work should prove fascinating not only to railway enthusiasts and historians but to those interested in industrial archaeology.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSoftback, 15x20cm, 35 pages, 8 pages of black \u0026amp; white photographs\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition: Good\/Very Good\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"RCTS","offers":[{"title":"Secondhand (289)","offer_id":57503322898815,"sku":"9780999011188","price":12.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1910\/7111\/files\/9780999011188.jpg?v=1778604023","url":"https:\/\/rail-books.co.uk\/products\/the-railways-of-weardale-9780999011188","provider":"Rail Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}