BEYOND PHILADELPHIA

 Leaving Chester-le-Street behind, we fly past Lumley Castle.

At the nearby Lambton Lion Park, we find no lions, but this ex Southdown Leyland was used within the park's confines.

This old Jowett van was photographed on the A183 as it passed through Bournmoor.

Station Avenue, Fenchouses.

Fencehouses signal box, on the Leamside line, survived in use in 1990.

On the Broadway, at Houghton-le-Spring, one could once find Sunderland District trams.

In 1978, United served Houghton-le-Spring bus station, with this ex East Midland Leyland Leopard.

Northern General also ran into Houghton-le-Spring.

Houghton-le-Spring is now home to Maxim Brewery.

The area around Philadelphia, to the north of Houghton-le-Spring, was once riddled with industrial railways. This battery-electric loco was used for shunting at the Philadelphia Power Station (closed 1936).

The Lambton, Hetton & Joicey Collieries ran the rail systems, including that to Dorothea Colliery.

The LHJC later passed to the National Coal Board, who kept a large loco facility at Philadelphia.

Some lovely old signals controlled movements here.

In later years the NCB employed ex BR shunters on the old LHJC system.

The main depot of Sunderland District was at Philadelphia (Photo in my collection, photographer unknown).

By the 1970s, the Sunderland District name was vanishing, to be replaced by "Northern".

Northern General 5076 photographed outside Philadelphia depot.

Not far away, Herrington Burn.

The Leamside line of the NER crossed the Wear Valley near Penshaw. This view was from a southbound diverted ECML express.

From anywhere around here, there are views of Penshaw Monument.

Soon we come to South Hylton station, built by the NER.

Today, South Hylton is a terminus of the Tyne & Wear Metro.

South Hylton was onced served by WH Jolly, who had a depot in the village.

There was once a ferry from South Hylton, over the Wear, to North Hylton.

Today, there's a new bridge (Paul Scott - Creative Commons License).

We end today's travels at the Shipwrights Arms, North Hylton. Sadly, no real ale.

The next post will find us in Sunderland. Follow our route here.