(GR 375 476 )

Directions to point G
After passing through the open farm yard with the house on the right travel along the well-made road for about 400 metres passing a farm cottage on the left then about 200 metres further on there is a well signed footpath on the right which leads directly down hill in a westerly direction. This path follows the track of the Durham to Sunderland railway. It ran uphill to Murton Bridge Station and downhill to Hetton-le-Hole station. The path here is in good condition and sheltered from winds from the north by hedges and rising banks.

( Point G) GR Ref 366 468   QR code or link to information.

Heritage Information Point F

This railway was originally opened during the period 1835- 1839 as a mineral railway. The first section a distance of 9.5 miles from Sunderland to Murton then on to Haswell , known as the Haswell Branch was opened on the 5th July 1836. A further branch from South Hetton colliery first carried coal on the 6th October of the same year and the next section of the line from Murton Junction to Pittington a week later. In one way the line was unique in that parts of it used wooden sleepers instead of stone blocks. It was operated for the first 30 years or so by stationary engines and rope worked throughout its length. The engine in this location was located near the top of the hill and was known as the Murton engine. It was one of seven haulages throughout its length of approximately 15 miles. The Murton engine had two ropes, one which worked the incline from Hetton and the other which worked the Haswell extension. The Hetton line ran down for three quarters of a mile from Murton Junction to the Eppleton engine with a slope of 1:61. This was a conventional single incline with the engine hauling up the fulls then lowering the empties using the brake. The next incline was handled by the Eppleton engine for a distance of 1585 yards with an incline of 1:60 and used in the same way as the Murton engine. The line ran through a tunnel underneath the Hetton Railway nearer to Hetton station. This path follows the track of the Durham to Sunderland railway. It ran uphill to Murton Bridge Station and downhill to Hetton-le-Hole station. The path here is in good condition and sheltered from winds from the north by hedges and rising banks.

Murton Bridge Station showing the Haswell Branch on the left and the Durham to Sunderland Line towards Hetton on the right.	Hetton Station looking east showing the Durham and Sunderland Line and a passing place on the single track.
The D & S Line from Hetton to Murton Bridge Junction with the Eppleton Engine at Eppleton cottages. 1959 OS map.