The Londonderry Railway (Rainton)
The collieries were owned by the Londonderry
family, with a railway (wagon way) connecting the collieries to Seaham Harbour.
The colliery railway seemed to employ locomotives which were the "cast
offs".
1855 September
Engine purchased second hand from Warrington for £1200, needed repairs so sent to Messrs Richardson of Hartlepool, the repair bill was another £1,111 9s. She was then sent to Rainton. While working she lost her tyres within three weeks of her arrival, within three years she was scrapped.
1860.
A new locomotive was purchased from messrs Fossick
and Hackworth of Stockton, it was to operate from Framwellgate Colliery to
Rainton bridge, but the workmanship of the loco, was such that within 12 years
it was moved to Seaham Harbour, driving the saw mill.
Another engine seemed to fair no better, purchased for the sum of £570, a
boilersmith had to repair a leakage every night it was then repaired by
Stephenson at a cost of £524 18s, it was then sent to Rainton for a short time
before it was disposed of.
January 1868
The wagon wrights employed at Rainton were moved to Seaham.
1896 April to 18th December
Lord Londonderry terminated the tenancy of the railway between Rainton and Seaham Bankhead, and removed all the plant. Sixty workmen lost their jobs, 1,500 coal wagons and four locomotives were laid off. Stationary engines, boilers and other general plant went on public sale at Rainton. George Hardy worker and manager of the Londonderry Railway for over 47 years