Came across this site, which I thought may be of interest to members. Shows the extent of historic railways across the UK: https://www.railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php

railmap.PNG (Size 1.04 MB Downloads 89)

I'm assuming this is a work in progress? There's more missing than that are shown!

I'm assuming this is a work in progress? There's more missing than that are shown!

The one that jumps out to me, is the line which went to Phili Depot and had the spur with the Leamside line at Elba Park.

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Came across this site, which I thought may be of interest to members. Shows the extent of historic railways across the UK: https://www.railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php

Intrigued about that collection of lines near Frankland Prison. 
Can vaguely remember some concrete buildings in that area, but can't remember what they were for. 
Didn't know there were any lines there at all.

I'm assuming this is a work in progress? There's more missing than that are shown!

Yeah. It seems to be a constant work in progress.

You should have the option to select layers to show/hide some other stuff on there.

The one that jumps out to me, is the line which went to Phili Depot and had the spur with the Leamside line at Elba Park.

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Intrigued about that collection of lines near Frankland Prison. 
Can vaguely remember some concrete buildings in that area, but can't remember what they were for. 
Didn't know there were any lines there at all.

Clicking on some of the lines gives you a description, if there's details available.

The one that jumps out to me, is the line which went to Phili Depot and had the spur with the Leamside line at Elba Park.

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Intrigued about that collection of lines near Frankland Prison. 
Can vaguely remember some concrete buildings in that area, but can't remember what they were for. 
Didn't know there were any lines there at all.

The remains of the buildings near the prison estate are the Brasside & Frankland brickworks, closed late 1950s/early 1960s.
Finchale and Frankland collieries were also close by depicted by the fan of lines, railways arrived in the 1840's on the Earl of Durham's estates and the two collieries closed in the early 1900s, but both were reworked between 1922 and 1932.

The one that jumps out to me, is the line which went to Phili Depot and had the spur with the Leamside line at Elba Park.

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Intrigued about that collection of lines near Frankland Prison. 
Can vaguely remember some concrete buildings in that area, but can't remember what they were for. 
Didn't know there were any lines there at all.

As I suspected, as it looked like an industrial line, just had a look at some old OS maps and the 1947 one has a brick and tile works there.

https://www.francisfrith.com/uk/finchale-priory/maps

The one that jumps out to me, is the line which went to Phili Depot and had the spur with the Leamside line at Elba Park.

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Intrigued about that collection of lines near Frankland Prison. 
Can vaguely remember some concrete buildings in that area, but can't remember what they were for. 
Didn't know there were any lines there at all.

The concrete buildings was the Ministry of Supply Brasside Munitions Depot set up to supply the Royal Navy during world war two. The site had 24 concrete storage bunkers and ancillary buildings with a spur from the main railway network. Apparently the link to the main railway network was removed during the building of the prison.
The site covers a huge area and can be viewed on youtube from a drone survey uploaded by John Twist.

As I suspected, as it looked like an industrial line, just had a look at some old OS maps and the 1947 one has a brick and tile works there.

https://www.francisfrith.com/uk/finchale-priory/maps

Didn't know about the brick works, but makes sense with some of the ponds there.

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The concrete buildings was the Ministry of Supply Brasside Munitions Depot set up to supply the Royal Navy during world war two. The site had 24 concrete storage bunkers and ancillary buildings with a spur from the main railway network. Apparently the link to the main railway network was removed during the building of the prison.
The site covers a huge area and can be viewed on youtube from a drone survey uploaded by John Twist.

Munitions dump! That's similar to the story I heard. 
Mind, the prison was only finished late 70s/early 80s, so that's a long time to leave the spur in place.

Didn't know about the brick works, but makes sense with some of the ponds there.

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Munitions dump! That's similar to the story I heard. 
Mind, the prison was only finished late 70s/early 80s, so that's a long time to leave the spur in place.

I had no idea about brickworks in Durham until I spotted a brick on my house with a claypath brickwork imprint. There were some around Crook Hall, too.

I had no idea about brickworks in Durham until I spotted a brick on my house with a claypath brickwork imprint. There were some around Crook Hall, too.

Loads of brick works around that neck of the woods at one point. Lumley and Birtley were big manufacturers of bricks too.

Loads of brick works around that neck of the woods at one point. Lumley and Birtley were big manufacturers of bricks too.

I knew about Birtley as I lived in a house built with Birtley bricks. I never put 2 and 2 together with Claypath, though

https://southpelawjunction.co.uk/wp/

Spent quite a few hours reading this today. 

Some interesting things on there.