The LNER Encyclopedia

I received a copy of this photo last year.
Just realised I don't know where East Castles is.
I think it will be in the Darlington - Durham area but not certain.

Any ideas please?

Not sure if remotely relevant or of help, but the closest version to the quoted location, listed in 9th Ed. (1961, repinted '63) of Bartholomew's "Gazetteer of the British Isles", reads :
"East Castle Colliery, locality, Durham, in Consett urb. dist."

Between Annfield Plain and Leadgate below Pontop Pike, NZ148520. Now part of the Consett/Sunderland cycle track.

Thanks
Found it last night on a line diagram.
Raised another question though.
The line diagram just shows the location of the signal box at 9m 50c on the Birtley, Annfield Plain and Consett line.
The signal cabin is named as EAST CASTLES JUNCTION
However on the diagram there is no indication of any junction.
Was there a junction at some time or was one planned but never built?

The map from Keys to the Past shows the line and colliery. If you look at the map you will see the road leading from East Castle to Annfield Plain. That was the original line of the Stanhope and Tyne Railway worked by stationary engines until the opening of the deviation on the 1st January 1886. As you can see the deviation curves south and then east around Annfield Plain. Possibly the box was named after a temporary junction during the changeover.

East Castles box was a very early closure and when it was closed they removed the operating floor and replaced the roof at the former floor level to make it into a platelayer's shed. It was still there until the late 1970's I think - certainly I can remember seeing it.

BTW in 1979 I went on the "County Durham Crusader" railtour to Consett and took this photo from the window as it approaced the summit. The power lines crossing over appear to be the same as those in your photo.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3595/379 ... 4aac_b.jpg

That is just past Greencroft where the line swings round to the north and onward to East Castle, note the snow fence on the right.

Thanks for the replies.
I might be able to sleep now instead of worrying about where it was.