Bowes Line
Amber Films 1975
Built in the 1820s by George Stephenson, the Bowes Railway linked Kibblesworth Colliery with Jarrow Staithes. The full sets of coal wagons were hauled up the steep hills until they reached Springwell, where they were set free to run down the incline towards the river and the colliers waiting to carry the coal away from the Tyne.
The unique feature of the line was the self-incline system, in which the full coal wagons were used to pull empty ones to the top of the hill before they were sent on to the colliery. This film centres on the daily activity of Matty and Luke, two of the workers on the line.
Railway enthusiasts have made this one of Amber’s most popular productions. As with its other industrial documentaries, the group was advised on the importance of recording the disappearing work places by Tyneside social historian Stafford Linsley.
AMBER FILMS Made with financial assistance from Northern Arts and Tyne & Wear County Council.
Location
County Durham, Gateshead and Jarrow (along the route of the Bowes Line
Credits
Producer: Stafford Linsley
Camera: Peter Roberts
Sound: Tony Heffernan
Editor: Alan MacKay
Director: Murray Martin
Sponsored by Tyne & Wear County Council and Northern Arts
Made under the auspices of the Kodak Bursary
Cast
As themselves: workers on the Bowes Line
Keywords
Coal, Durham, Gateshead, George Stephenson, Industry, Jarrow, Kibblesworth, North East, Railway, Rope-hauled, Train
Associated Work
DVD:
Available on Tyne Documentaries DVD. Follow the link if you would like to buy it.
RELATED WORK:
Bowes Line photographs by Graham Smith.
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