We are delighted to welcome new speaker Richard Heard to the Old Low Light to share his ongoing research and offer a perspective on the role of North Shields railways in transporting coal and as a convenient and quick means of travel for local people who until that point would walk, ride, or use river transport or public coach (all very time consuming).
His talk will focus on the period between the late 18th century and the early 20th century, covering the introduction and expansion of wagonways as an efficient way of transporting coal and the expansion of passenger services after their introduction in 1839 on the North Shields to Newcastle line, still used today for Metro trains.
In those early days, wagonways sprang up across the region and were often lifted from a redundant pit and re-laid to serve a new pit. By the turn of the 20th century some had transmuted into major independent railway systems operated by colliery companies in this intensively mined area. The historian H H Craster plotted about 72 known pits in the area between the Tyne and Backworth over all periods.
Meanwhile the Newcastle and North Shields Railway Company maintained its independence until 1844 when it amalgamated with the Newcastle and Berwick Railway Company. Further amalgamations followed until, by 1854, it was part of North Eastern Railway Company, which also later absorbed the Blyth and Tyne Railway Company.
By the end of the 1860s, there were four railway stations in Tynemouth, all within walking distance of each other.