The Brusselton Incline Group

PROJECTS

1. The beginning - track bed being cleared.
1. The beginning - track bed being cleared.
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Brusselton Sleepers 2024
Brusselton Sleepers 2024

Initial Clearance


April 2014 Onward


When the Brusselton Incline Group was formed, the sections of the original engineering that remained were in a much poorer state than now, overgrown and hard to access, and it was difficult to recognise what you were looking at.


One of the first tasks facing the group was to clear the overgrowth on and around the track bed, and to restore the remaining section of the track bed to a recognisable condition.


In addition there was some work to do to the remaining accommodation bridge.

1. Before Installation
1. Before Installation
The ground is prepared for the sleeper display
2. Sleepers are delivered
2. Sleepers are delivered
Ash ballast has been laid so the sleeper stones are added chronologically west to east
3. The 2-Hole Sleepers
3. The 2-Hole Sleepers
At first only two pins per sleeper held the 'chairs' in place
4. The 4-Hole Sleepers
4. The 4-Hole Sleepers
Later four holes for pins gave the 'chairs' greater stability
5. All of the Sleepers are In-situ
5. All of the Sleepers are In-situ
The site has been tidied up here and grass seed sowed around the display.
6. Generations of Early Rail
6. Generations of Early Rail
Different evolutionary generations of rail are added.
7. Interpretation Board
7. Interpretation Board
A specially designed interpretation board helps the onlooker understand what they see..
8. Viewing Platform
8. Viewing Platform
Paving added to provide a hard surface upon which to read the interpretation board.
Project Completed.
Project Completed.
Site Tidy.
Site Tidy.
We continue to keep the site tidy. Recently bark chip has been laid and the site cleared of litter.

Shildon Works Sleeper Installation


Summer 2020


After Shildon Works, (at the eastern end of the Incline) closed in the 1980s, parts of the works were excavated to create a service road for the industrial estate that replaced it.  In doing so a number of original stone railway sleepers were unearthed. These were stored for decades on private land.


In 2020 the group initiated a project to restore them as part of an installation demonstrating the evolution of rail and sleeper design, close to where the 1825 line would have left the works.

1. Masons Arms Crossing Shildon 1967
1. Masons Arms Crossing Shildon 1967
Electrified since the locomotive depot was at the far western end of the works.
2. Restored signal at right.
2. Restored signal at right.
Level crossing has traditional gates.
3. Masons Arms Crossing Shildon circa 1970
3. Masons Arms Crossing Shildon circa 1970
Note signal changed from NER lower quadrant to BR upper quadrant. New gate box and gates now boom type.
4. The crossing keepers cabin late 60's
4. The crossing keepers cabin late 60's
Original gate cabin and traditional gates.
5. 1975 cavalcade with signal in original condition
5. 1975 cavalcade with signal in original condition
Raveningham Hall crossing the Masons Arms .
6. 2019 signal obscured, rediscovered by BIG
6. 2019 signal obscured, rediscovered by BIG
Trees and bushes planted following the closure of the Wagon Works.
7. Rediscovered signal
7. Rediscovered signal
It became obvious that time and neglect had taken its toll.
8. Signal post being stripped of all the apparatus.
8. Signal post being stripped of all the apparatus.
Sent away to Stockton Castings for shot blasting and priming.
9. Component Parts
9. Component Parts
Shot blasted and primed ready for repainting.
10. Paintwork on post removed to bare metal.
10. Paintwork on post removed to bare metal.
It was repainted as near as possible to original colours.
11. New semaphore arm - original too coroded.
11. New semaphore arm - original too coroded.
With much effort, replacement spectacle glasses and seals were found.
12. Signal being reassembled.
12. Signal being reassembled.
Turned through 180 degrees so more easily seen from road and footpath.
13. Signal fully restored.
13. Signal fully restored.
Signal ''pulled off'' indicating we are heading to the 200th anniversary of the S&DR.

Masons Arms Semaphore Signal 


In 2019 BIG were seeking a location to display a set of stone sleeper blocks. The favoured site was opposite the Masons Arms PH (now Cape to Cairo). DCC cleared the site of trees and shrubs and the signal was discovered.


A signal was first recorded at the western approach to the Masons Arms level Crossing on the Ordanance Survey map of 1897. The previous survey of 1855 did not show the signal. Following the takeover of the S&DR by the NER in 1863 semaphore signals were progressively introduced. Thus it is quite likely that a signal has stood in the same spot in excess of 150 years. Our signal dates from aprox. 1956 based on dates on some of the castings.


Work was delayed by COVID restrictions, but the refurbished signal was finally finished on 21st June 2021. Landscaping by DCC is to be carried out soon and hopefully this will mature before 2025.





S&DR 26 Miles Takeover Day 


An event to celebrate our railway heritage took place in Darlington Market Square on Tuesday 20th August. Several organisations including Brusselton Incline Group provided displays on the day. 





Education.


One of our members supports students from Teesside University who are touring Brusselton as part of their research project.

The Brusselton Incline Group

CURRENT COMMITTEE


Trevor Horner     Hon Chair

Dave Reynolds    Vice Chair

John Raw              Hon Secretary

Paul Harle            Hon Treasurer

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