Tow Law railway station explained

Tow Law
Status:Disused
Borough:Tow Law, County Durham
Country:England
Coordinates:54.7459°N -1.815°W
Grid Name:Grid reference
Platforms:1 (first site)
2 (second site)
Original:Stockton and Darlington Railway
Pregroup:North Eastern Railway
Postgroup:LNER
Events:First station opened
Years1:2 March 1868
Events1:First station closed to passengers and resited
Years2:11 June 1956
Events2:Second station closed to passengers
Events3:Both stations closed to goods traffic

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

History

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 closed on 1 May 1939. The line closed completely around 1951 and Tow Law became a terminus for 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 Passenger services were withdrawn on 11 June 1956[2] and goods traffic ceased for both stations on 5 July 1965.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]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Disused Stations: Tow Law Station. Disused Stations. 10 January 2021.
  2. Book: Quick, M E. Railway passenger stations in England, Scotland and Wales - a chronology. 2002. Railway and Canal Historical Society. Richmond. 425. 931112387.
  3. Web site: Disused Stations: Tow Law Station (2nd site). Disused Stations. 10 January 2021.