Northumbrian Railways

Border Counties Railway

42 miles single track line running from Hexham to Riccarton. Although, the line was single track throughout all bridges, except the Hexham Viaduct, and overbridges were built for double track.

There is a permanent exhibition on the Border Counties Railway at the Bellingham Heritage Centre.

• 1851 - Border Railway Company formed.
• 1853 - Robert Nicholson appointed as engineer for proposed line. Prospectus for line placed before Parliament on 29 November.
• 1854 - The Border Counties Railway (N. Tyne Section) Act authorised the building of a 26.25 mile line from Border Counties Junction, west of Hexham, to Belling Burn, near Falstone.
• 1855 - Robert Nicholson dies, his nephew J F Tone takes over as engineer for the line.
• 1855 - Contract for first section of line awarded to William Hutchinson, who will subsequently build the entire line.
• 11/12/1855 - The first sod is cut at a ceremony at Tyne Green to the west of Hexham.
• 1856 - A survey for a route into Scotland is ordered by the BCR Directors.
• 05/04/1858 - Line opens to Chollerford.
• 1858 - Parliment reject a bill for the extension of the line into Scotland.
• 1859 - The Border Counties Railway (Liddesdale & Deviations) Act authorises the building of the line to Riccarton on the Border Union Railway.
• 1860 - The North British and Border Counties Railway Amalgamation Act passed.
• 02/09/1861 - Line opens to Falstone.
• 1862 - Line completed, receives Board of Trade approval on 2 May. However, owing to delays on the Border Union the first goods and passenger trains did not run until 24 June and 1 July respectively.
• 1880 - Deadwater station opened.
• 15/10/1956 - Passenger service withdrawn.
• 01/09/1958 - Line closed except Bellingham to Redesmouth which connected to the Wansbeck Line.
• 09/11/1963 - Bellingham section closed.