(05 Oct 2023, 10:29 am)Adrian wrote The A19 and houses aren't in the track line. It's still there as a walking (and I think part, vehicular) route, and I understand that Network Rail still own the track bed between South Hylton and the junction on to the Leamside line.
There is an underpass under the A19. It's been 20 years since I've walked through it, but they'd need to do something with that to allow clearance for trains, which I don't think would be a massive project.
The curve itself from South Hylton to Washington, I agree, I don't think there's ever been one. There's nothing really in the way of it though, and I imagine the TNE plans included purchase of that land, if not already owned.
There's a farm house on the corner that might be a little in the way, but they could easily avoid it by using some of the fields to get a bigger curve to get to the Victoria Viaduct from South Hylton.