Springwell Bank Foot to Jarrow

Today I followed the last 3-4 miles of the P&JR / Bowes Railway, the former loco-worked section from Springwell Bank Foot to Jarrow staiths.

Austerities at the south west end of Springwell Bank Foot Shed, May 1964.
I think the locos usually faced chimney to the south west.
(photo Ron Fisher)

Springwell Bank Foot Shed today, with the diesel extension on the left (NW) & housing to the south.  This shed dates from 1829 on George Stephenson's 1826 P&JR route to Jarrow.

Looking south, with the main Pontop & Jarrow route in front, & housing encroaching on all sides .....

.....  especially close to the east end

Today's photos cover from the foot of the Springwell incline to Jarrow staiths
(map - Bowes Railway Museum)

Crossing the A195 Lingey Lane

Heading under the A184 at Wardley .....

..... which was previously Wardley level crossing

The line was on a bridge .....

..... over the Leamside Line - double track still in place under the greenery

The P&JR bridged the Newcastle - Sunderland route, where close by was
Springwell Station of the Brandling Junction Railway (see above map)

Bridge under Mill Lane, beyond which on the right was Monkton coke works

The P&JR previously crossed Mill Lane on the level

An art installation at Monkton Lane crossing

Road bridge on the approach to Monkton Village.
Beyond this bridge the route disappears under modern development .....

..... but reappears with this artwork just beyond Monkton Village

More artwork on the approach to Jarrow Park (on the right)

Crossing Victoria Road / Albert Road, with Oak street on the right - see bottom of map

OS map of the approach to the staiths
(from maps at National Library of Scotland)

The route to the left climbed to join the South Shields - Newcastle line, straight on under this line were the P&JR staiths, bear right for the oil & chemical works

Head under the SS - Newcastle metro route, after which developments swamp the P&JR route until .....

..... arrival at the remains of modernized Bowes Railway staiths on the Tyne

A couple of earlier views of the approach to the staiths, which were modernized to use conveyors following the transition from the Pontop & Jarrow to the Bowes Railway of the 1930s:

The 1936-completed covered conveyor, probably in the 1970s