(02 Nov 2021, 10:23 am)Adrian wrote Yeah, they own all the track bed and infrastructure still. Although most of the track was removed during 2012, supposedly to deter theft (despite being a decade after 2 miles of it was nicked in Penshaw during 2003) and because it was deemed life-expired by Network Rail.

There was an FOI response here (dated 2017) that stated the Viaduct is in a fair state of repair: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/g...ia_viaduct

I've been up there last year when out walking, and although you cannot get onto the Viaduct itself anymore, it doesn't look in too bad a condition apart from I wouldn't trust holding the railings, as they are definitely in need of repair. There's also proper walking routes below and it doesn't look in bad condition from under either. I'm no structural engineer though! 

There's fencing with a gate at each side (as below) now, so you can't use it to walk between Washington and Penshaw. When the gates originally went up, the locks kept getting cut off to reopen it as a through route, but I believe the gate at the Penshaw side has now been welded shut by Network Rail. I'd say it seems to have worked as a deterrent to some degree, as the Washington side is really overgrown now.

Much of the route needs considerable vegetation removal, having cycled all of the routes that interject with the line it is not surprising given the 30 years of uncontrolled growth, the bridge at Leamside on station road itself is shrouded in trees.

It's a lot of work, and has to be done if the region is to keep a toe in.