| Railway |
1955-03-04 |
It cost ?20 per week to keep the railway crossing open at Bardon Mill for a few farmers, horses and carts, and occasional herds of cattle. |
| Railway |
1955-08-19 |
Closure proposed of Bardon Mill rail crossing. |
| Railway |
1955-09-23 |
The first diesel train to run as a trial on the Tyne Valley line arrived in Hexham three minutes ahead of schedule after its 50-minute journey from Newcastle. |
| Railway |
1956-03-31 |
The British Transport Commission confirmed plans to close the passenger service between Hexham and Riccarton, which had been running at a loss for a considerable time. |
| Railway |
1956-04-28 |
The North Tyne railway was facing possible closure due to low usage. The British Transport Commission examined details of how much it would cost to stay open. |
| Railway |
1956-08-11 |
Plans were drawn up to introduce diesel trains on the Newcastle-Carlisle line by the following January. |
| Railway |
1956-09-01 |
Hexham Urban District Council lodged its opposition to the proposed closure of the Hexham-Riccarton rail line. It said the replacement bus service would be inadequate. |
| Railway |
1956-10-12 |
British Railways were to run a special ?closure excursion? on Saturday 13th October over the 42-mile stretch of the 96-year-old North Tyne line between Hexham and Riccarton. Fares were reduced for the last journey on the route. Compare Hexham Courant 19/10/1956 and 14/12/1956. |
| Railway |
1956-11-17 |
The closure of the Border Counties Railway meant that a North Tyne pupil attending the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School at Hexham faced a 12-hour day, leaving home before 7 am and not returning until after 7 pm. |
| Railway |
1956-12-29 |
British Railways ruled out a resumption of passenger services on the North Tyne line between Hexham and Riccarton. There was insufficient traffic potential. |
| Railway |
1957-01-11 |
Destruction by fire of a gantry signal box at Corbridge, which was not normally manned. |
| Railway |
1957-01-18 |
Local hauliers were angry at the decision to introduce diesel trains on the Newcastle-Carlisle line when fuel was being rationed in the aftermath of the Suez Crisis. |
| Railway |
1957-11-01 |
The demolition of Whitchester Tunnel would mean that part of a house would have to go. |
| Railway |
1958-02-15 |
A spark from a passing goods train set fire to a hut containing sawdust at Humshaugh Station. |
| Railway |
1958-05-02 |
The British Transport Commission revealed plans to remove tracks and sleepers from the North Tyne line, closed completely to all rail traffic. Passenger services on the line had ended the previous year. |
| Railway |
1958-09-05 |
The last freight train left Hexham up the North Tyne rail line. The driver on the historic journey was Harry Pigg of Redesmouth. |
| Railway |
1959-06-05 |
The work of dismantling the track of the North Tyne railway began with workmen removing the sidings at Kielder prior to the removal of the main track from Riccarton southwards. |
| Railway |
1959-06-12 |
The 101-year old Border Counties Bridge was to go near Hexham as the tearing up of the North Tyne line began over 15 months. Cf. 07/08/1959 and 14/08/1959. |
| Railway |
1959-10-30 |
British Rail carried out an experiment by introducing diesel trains instead of steam locomotives on the Haltwhistle-Alston branch line. |
| Railway |
1960-02-12 |
Work was under way on the removal of stone from the old Border Counties railway bridge spanning the Tyne at Hexham. Work began on 10/02/1960. |
