Key Words :- engine

Address :- Stanhope, Durham
Grid Ref :- NY 998 423
Co-ordinates :- Lat 54.775616 , Long -2.004633
Local Authority :- Durham County Council
Pre 1974 County :- County Durham
Site Status :- Site demolished or no longer extant

Description and History of Site :-
Site of stationary engine house and boilers.

Early locomotives didn't have the power to get up steep hills. By using a stationary engine to pull trains up hills with cables, railway companies could connect a wide range of industries to the growing rail network.

The Weatherhill winding engine stood on top of a steep hill, 427 metres (1,400 feet) above sea level. It was part of the Stanhope and Tyne Railway, which transported lime (used for building construction), coal and iron across the moors of County Durham to South Shields. The line used every means of power available to cope with hugely challenging terrain, including locomotives, stationary engines and horse power.

The engine (built Hawks and Company, Gateshead, 1833) is now on display in the National Railway Museum, York.

Further Reading and References :-
Hoole, K. 'Forgotten Railways: North-East England'. David & Charles, 1973
Langham, Rob. 'The Stanhope & Tyne Railroad Company'. Amberley, 2020

https://www.northeastheritagelibrary.co.uk/features/weatherhill-incline-%26-engine-house

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Contributor :- Robert Mason - 4 December 2025
Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Robert Mason