(11 Mar 2015, 12:12 pm)MurdnunoC wrote I tried to do a little research in an attempt to find out if any service used that bus stop and I can't find anything.

There have been a number of local services over the years between Seaham and Murton. When bus services were deregulated in 1986, operators attempted to drum up new business by venturing into estates and villages without established public transport links. It's possible one of the local buses diverted into Dalton-le-Dale for a short while before being withdrawn, however, it's rare that bus stops were erected as many buses operated on a 'hail and ride' basis. For example, Hanover Estate in Winlaton has had a constant bus service since deregulation and is currently part of a main bus route, yet no bus stops have been erected on Hanover Driver, Silverdale Drive or Beverley Drive. Is it possible for a bus to turn around in Dalton-le-Dale or would the bus continue along Dene Road into Seaham? Have you ever noticed any scholar services going into Dalton-le-Dale?

(11 Mar 2015, 12:58 pm)MrFozz wrote Been having a think about this, and the 149 may have gone through there on a Sunday back in the Early 90's, a service which also served Wetherburn Ave, the stop mentioned earlier in the thread...

149 was jointly operated by Northern and Favourite(PM, Sunday and Bank Holidays in the early-mid 90's) and it could be that Sunday Services went through there to Seaham, it comes out at the bottom of Princess Road...

I dont think Scholars Services have ever gone through Dalton-le-Dale...

Will have a hunt around myself and see if I can find anything myself

I have seen those stops in Dalton le Dale a few times (forgetting about them) and could only guess that if a service bus hadn't been down there, either a scholars or workers service operated in the area.
Given the nature of the work around Seaham, the amount of workers buses that came from the pits and the distance from the main road - maybe that is why the stops are there.

There is a big car park in the area, which could have been used as a turning circle, although I have no idea how long that wooded area has been like that.