(01 Nov 2021, 9:36 pm)54APhotography wrote The funds could have been made available through the regional development fund under that auspices of ONE and South Tyneside Council. Railtrack did the work, the development money would have helped stations which would have safeguarded the line. As it was the work done to reopen the line was wasted, the signalling cable was stolen and track was lifted. The reports of the Leamside being closed since the 1960s are absolute rubbish, the line was still in use in tbe80a and it was the embankment fire north of Tursdale which closed the line.

The fact is, they weren't. Whether that was because the scheme didn't meet the ERDF criteria at the timr or for another reason, I'm not sure we will ever know.

You are right, it didn't close in the 60's. That was when regular passenger services ended.
The ECML diversions stopped in the late 80s if I remember right and I'm sure there were still freight runs until the early 90s.

Having lived close to the line at various stages of the line for quite a few years from the early 90s onwards, it was clear that although officially mothballed - that once the cable and trackbed was stolen and crossings tarmaced over, it was going to take a lot to re-open it.
It was used as a shortcut, it was used by people to hang-out and socialise, it was used by thieves and vandals too. There was no adequate fencing and I'm pretty sure there's been no heavy maintenance carried out on the bridges or the viaduct either. 

I am definitely in the pro-Leamside Line camp. I think the benefits of getting it going again are potentially huge.
Given the issues and delays in getting passenger trains on to the B&T line (where infrastructure is largely intact) and there was a concerted campaign by not only politicians and locals - I do wonder if the Leamside will ever will re-open.