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A little bit of history

The first train sets off in 1867. It is the lead line built to serve the smelt works in the Langley Woods – a considerable employer in its time.

 

When the line is built an unusual bridge must be constructed: the flue bridge, which still stands as a glorious arch, renovated by English Heritage and now marking the Eastern end of The Garden Station’s Woodland Garden. The flue itself runs over a mile up the fields to reach the 100-foot Stublick Chimney on the top of the hill.

On 1st March 1869 the first passenger train runs from Hexham to Allendale. The ‘Hexham Courant’ of the time reports that, ‘the journey was a pleasant one, the weather being extremely fine, old Sol shining in all his refulgence. The inhabitants of the district testified their joy at the auspicious event in a befitting manner...[and at Langley Station] the rejoicings were very demonstrative. Cheer after cheer was heartily given, and the Langley Band struck up a most enlivening air.’

For 61 years the passenger service continues. It makes a profit on a Tuesday, when it transports livestock between the villages and the market in Hexham, where Tuesday is still market day. At other times, barely a handful of tickets are sold, and the proposed continuation of the line to Allenheads never happens.

The ticket office at Langley doubles as the village post office, and this continues until 2000. No-one caught the last train in 1950. It was the largest ever to run on the line, and it was collecting the paraphernalia of the goods and parcels service which had continued after the passenger service had stopped (apart from occasional excursion trains).

 

Fortunately the buildings remained, as they had been built to last.

 

 

More recently

The last person to run the Post Office from Langley Station was Jane Torday.

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