Belah Viaduct - in search of a ghost.
25th January 2020
In search of a ghost, 18th February 1993
Looking towards the western abutment and the derelict signal box.
My attention has always been drawn to the amazing and often iconic feats of civil engineering on our railways. We all know the most famous structures, such as the Forth Railway Bridge, the Royal Albert Bridge and London Paddington station's wonderful train shed. But around the UK there have been, and in many cases still remain, some fantastic structures that perhaps are off the radar to many people. Whenever I have had the chance I have tried “root out” out some of those lesser known locations, to discover their place in our landscape, and maybe just to say that "I've been there".
The old North Eastern line between Barnard Castle and Tebay was more commonly referred to as the Stainmore Route. Stainmore, at 1,370 feet, was the highest point on a railway in England until its closure in 1962. The line was also known for its bridges and viaducts, the most notable of which was Belah Viaduct, built in 1860 and very sadly demolished in 1963. Belah is about one mile south of Barras and 4 miles east of Kirkby Stephen. Designed by Thomas Bouch, the man behind the fated first Tay Bridge, Belah Viaduct was an incredible sight to behold, a spindly and fragile-looking viaduct that spanned the River Belah, and many photographs from the 1950s and early '60s show it carrying some significant and heavy coal trains from Cumbrian coal mines in the west to the steelworks of the east, as well as occasional excursion traffic.
This was a place that I just wanted to explore, so in 1993 I had the opportunity to search it out. Arriving at a local farm I sheepishly (an apt word to use given the livestock being kept hereabouts!) knocked on the door in the hope that the farmer could tell me how to get to the location, it being nowhere near a road. As luck would have it the farmer told me that it was indeed on his land and that I could go there, and even drive my car almost up to the abutment, but requested that I closed all the gates as I passed through. Amazing! I could not believe my luck.
No more trains to signal now! Just the occasional sheep.
Tentatively I drove my trusty Ford Escort up the well-maintained track, stopping to open and close the gates as I went and before long I got sight of a familiar structure: a signal box! Incredibly Belah Signal Box still stood, virtually complete structurally, but in very poor condition. The steps had been removed and the windows were long-gone and partly boarded-up, but apart from that it looked surprisingly intact.
Just beyond the signal box, which is located at the west-end of the valley, over which the viaduct spanned, was the abutment of the viaduct, now protected by enormous blocks of stone. Gazing across the valley I could see the abutment on the other side, and looking down you could still make out the footprint of the viaduct, still clearly visible over 30 years after its demolition.
Close-up of the western abutment.
There was evidence of where the cast iron columns were embedded into the stone of the abutment, but other than that not one piece of that incredible structure survived.
Another view from the east side, looking towards the west, and the signal box standing sentinel.
I later managed to get around to the other side of the valley, thus being able to look back to where I had been, and happily able to "tick-off" that I had seen both sides!
From the western abutment this is the scene looking across the valley and the east side. The "footprint" of the viaduct was clear to see.
It was a beautiful and lonely spot, even on a grey but dry February day, so quiet other than for the breeze and occasional bleat of a sheep, but it would not have taken much imagination to visualise the sight and sound of a double-headed and well-laden coal train trudging across the viaduct.
It was a pilgrimages worth taking and I now have some wonderful memories of the visit, as well as a number of photographs, some of which are here for you to see.
This railway was an iconic route, made famous by the 1960s BTF film "Snow Drift at Bleathgill" and will always remain a favourite of mine. Nowadays motorists sail over Stainmore on the A66 oblivious of the railway’s former route, but just occasionally severe weather takes hold and reminds us of just how inhospitable and remote this area really is!
I recommend that you read this piece that I found on the Forgotten Relics website - it will help bring the location to life!
Forgotten Relics - Belah
Looking towards the western abutment and the derelict signal box.
My attention has always been drawn to the amazing and often iconic feats of civil engineering on our railways. We all know the most famous structures, such as the Forth Railway Bridge, the Royal Albert Bridge and London Paddington station's wonderful train shed. But around the UK there have been, and in many cases still remain, some fantastic structures that perhaps are off the radar to many people. Whenever I have had the chance I have tried “root out” out some of those lesser known locations, to discover their place in our landscape, and maybe just to say that "I've been there".
The old North Eastern line between Barnard Castle and Tebay was more commonly referred to as the Stainmore Route. Stainmore, at 1,370 feet, was the highest point on a railway in England until its closure in 1962. The line was also known for its bridges and viaducts, the most notable of which was Belah Viaduct, built in 1860 and very sadly demolished in 1963. Belah is about one mile south of Barras and 4 miles east of Kirkby Stephen. Designed by Thomas Bouch, the man behind the fated first Tay Bridge, Belah Viaduct was an incredible sight to behold, a spindly and fragile-looking viaduct that spanned the River Belah, and many photographs from the 1950s and early '60s show it carrying some significant and heavy coal trains from Cumbrian coal mines in the west to the steelworks of the east, as well as occasional excursion traffic.
This was a place that I just wanted to explore, so in 1993 I had the opportunity to search it out. Arriving at a local farm I sheepishly (an apt word to use given the livestock being kept hereabouts!) knocked on the door in the hope that the farmer could tell me how to get to the location, it being nowhere near a road. As luck would have it the farmer told me that it was indeed on his land and that I could go there, and even drive my car almost up to the abutment, but requested that I closed all the gates as I passed through. Amazing! I could not believe my luck.
No more trains to signal now! Just the occasional sheep.
Tentatively I drove my trusty Ford Escort up the well-maintained track, stopping to open and close the gates as I went and before long I got sight of a familiar structure: a signal box! Incredibly Belah Signal Box still stood, virtually complete structurally, but in very poor condition. The steps had been removed and the windows were long-gone and partly boarded-up, but apart from that it looked surprisingly intact.
Just beyond the signal box, which is located at the west-end of the valley, over which the viaduct spanned, was the abutment of the viaduct, now protected by enormous blocks of stone. Gazing across the valley I could see the abutment on the other side, and looking down you could still make out the footprint of the viaduct, still clearly visible over 30 years after its demolition.
Close-up of the western abutment.
There was evidence of where the cast iron columns were embedded into the stone of the abutment, but other than that not one piece of that incredible structure survived.
Another view from the east side, looking towards the west, and the signal box standing sentinel.
I later managed to get around to the other side of the valley, thus being able to look back to where I had been, and happily able to "tick-off" that I had seen both sides!
From the western abutment this is the scene looking across the valley and the east side. The "footprint" of the viaduct was clear to see.
It was a beautiful and lonely spot, even on a grey but dry February day, so quiet other than for the breeze and occasional bleat of a sheep, but it would not have taken much imagination to visualise the sight and sound of a double-headed and well-laden coal train trudging across the viaduct.
It was a pilgrimages worth taking and I now have some wonderful memories of the visit, as well as a number of photographs, some of which are here for you to see.
This railway was an iconic route, made famous by the 1960s BTF film "Snow Drift at Bleathgill" and will always remain a favourite of mine. Nowadays motorists sail over Stainmore on the A66 oblivious of the railway’s former route, but just occasionally severe weather takes hold and reminds us of just how inhospitable and remote this area really is!
I recommend that you read this piece that I found on the Forgotten Relics website - it will help bring the location to life!
Forgotten Relics - Belah