COUNTY DURHAM - THE BITS TOURISTS DON'T SEE

OK, we've now left Sunderland behind and are heading for the coast. In Hollycarrside, near Ryhope, we find this Redby Bristol LH on service.

 As the sea approaches, we come across the Albion Inn. It's still open today, but no longer serves cask beer.

Seaham harbour was built to export coal from the nearby pits. A sailing vessel is departing in this period picture.

A more modern view, without any industry (Tim Bastin - Creative Commons License).

Looking out to sea from the churchyard of St Mary The Virgin, Seaham (Creative Commons License).

Back in 1989, when there was plenty of coal traffic through Seaham station.

JC Bell ran a local bus service around Seaham.

Inland now to Murton, to see the colliery in the 1890s.

Now it's 1905.

Northern General had a depot in Murton.

A fellow called Don Smith had a bus company in Murton and had this ex Coventry Bedford in use (Les Flint).

Don Smith also owned this beautiful Albion (Les Flint).

A bit further westwards and we come to Easington Lane, where the Sunderland District trams once terminated.

At South Hetton Colliery, this Sharp Stewart 0-6-0T "Haverhill" was in use.

Next stop, Easington station, NER, on the coast route.

Seaside Lane, Easington Colliery.

Away from the hustle and bustle of industry, Castle Eden village.

It was here that Castle Eden Brewery could be found, though Whitbread had taken it over.

Yet another pit - Wingate Grange Colliery.

Two views now, of Front Street, Trimdon Grange.

Trimdon Grange was once home to Trimdon Motor Services.

At West Cornforth another small bus company coulld be found - Scarlet Band. A little green light was displayed at the front of serice buses to assist prospective passengers in the dark. A good variety of vehicles were owned. The company ceased trading in 2022.

In Cornforth itself was a railway station, seen here in NER times.

All that was left in the early 1980s.

Another nearby NER station, Coxhoe Bridge.

A smart independent bus company, Gillett Bros., had a garge at Quarrington Hill, where a fleet of AECs was maintained.

United took over Gillett Bros., and continued to use the depot for a while.

Yet another NER station, named Sherburn Colliery.

At the colliery itself, 0-6-0 No  2 (Hudswell Clarke 72-1866).

In April 1931, a United bus came to grief near Sherburn.

To conclude this post, here's the NER station at Shincliffe. To see where we've been, here's a link to the map of the route so far.

Not too much beer in this post, but the next one will see us in the city of Durham - and there's plenty there!