The first railway to penetrate the Gaunless Valley was the Haggerleases Branch. Opened in 1830, it struck off westwards from the Stockton to Darlington to Witton Park at St. Helens Auckland and ran alongside the River Gaunless for about 5 miles before reaching its terminus at Haggerleases Lane. The many pits of the Rev. Luke Prattman were served by this branch. A limited passenger service operated on the branch between 1858 and 1872 when it was withdrawn because of duplication of services with the Bishop Auckland to Barnard Castle line. Goods traffic continued on this branch until final closure in September 1963.

The line was later the called The Butterknowle Branch Line.

Below, a map to show the route

An interesting piece of engineering which still exists today is a stone bridge near West Mill which was built on a skew and thought at the time of building by some as being incapable of taking any loads.

Below, The Skew Bridge over the River Gaunless and a map to show the location

Below: An aerial photo of the branch line near to the Bridge Inn, Ramshaw

Below, Near the Ramshaw crossing and the Bridge Inn

Below, a view over Ramshaw from the “Pit Fields”, Evenwood

Below, the house was located by the Haggerleases line near Evenwood Mill and has been demolished

Below, Cockfield Sidings, Gordon House Colliery screens down by the River Gaunless and the Haggerleases Branch

Below, Cockfield Sidings, “Carbon” running along the tracks

Below, Low Lands cottages, by the Lands crossing, the home of the Robson family

Below, far right is “Shunter Geordie” Robson with his shunter’s pole.

Below, mid 1930’s, Low Lands, a young Norman Robson with industrial buildings in the background