Tow Law railway station

Tow Law railway station served the town of Tow Law, County Durham, England, from 1847 to 1965 on the Stanhope and Tyne Railway.

Tow Law
The Station Inn in Tow Law
General information
LocationTow Law, County Durham
England
Coordinates54°44′45″N 1°48′54″W / 54.7459°N 1.815°W / 54.7459; -1.815
Grid referenceNZ120390
Platforms1 (first site)
2 (second site)
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Original companyStockton and Darlington Railway
Pre-groupingNorth Eastern Railway
Post-groupingLNER
Key dates
September 1847 (1847-09)First station opened
2 March 1868First station closed to passengers and resited
11 June 1956Second station closed to passengers
5 July 1965 (1965-07-05)Both stations closed to goods traffic

History

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The first station opened in September 1847 by the North Eastern Railway. It was situated on the west side of High Street. It was resited on 2 March 1868 in between Station Road and Church Lane when the Sunnyside deviation opened, although the first site remained for goods traffic.[1] Six blast furnaces were built and served by nearby collieries. Atwood Iron Works closed in 1882 but more iron works opened up around the town. The station building was on the down side and the signal box was at the west end of the up platform. This controlled access to the goods yard which was to the west of the station. On the downside of the goods yard were four sidings, the northernmost siding serving a stone goods shed and the southernmost siding passing the cattle dock. Private sidings served various collieries, gas works, iron works and depots. The station lost passenger traffic, albeit not much as the section of the line to Blackhill closed on 1 May 1939. The line closed completely around 1951 and Tow Law became a terminus for Darlington services, although this didn't last for long. Passenger services were withdrawn on 11 June 1956[2] and goods traffic ceased for both stations on 5 July 1965. The track was lifted from 1966–1967 and it was demolished in 1973. The site is now occupied by Alpine Way housing.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Disused Stations: Tow Law Station". Disused Stations. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  2. ^ Quick, M E (2002). Railway passenger stations in England, Scotland and Wales - a chronology. Richmond: Railway and Canal Historical Society. p. 425. OCLC 931112387.
  3. ^ "Disused Stations: Tow Law Station (2nd site)". Disused Stations. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
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Preceding station Historical railways Following station
High Stoop
Line and station closed
  Stanhope and Tyne Railway   Crook
Line and station closed