The following link is a short news piece which aired on BBC's Look North sometime during March 1984. The story covers the last ever rail-tour between Newcastle and Consett carrying passengers on the line which once ran through Pelton, Beamish, Stanley, Annfield Plain and Leagate. Also featured, albeit briefly, are members of the Derwentside Rail Action Group (DRAG) who campaigned for the retention of the line so passenger services could once again serve communities situated on the line. Sadly, their efforts failed. But one can only wonder how public transport would look today around Derwentside if DRAG were successful in their campaign to save the line.

Anyways, enough blabbering on. Here's the video 'The Last Train to Consett':



You can read more about the arguments to save the line in the attachment below, taken from a pamphlet issued by the Railway Development Society printed in 1983.