Rope hauled inclines
Next rope haulage day: Date to be confirmed
The Bowes railway is home to worlds only surviving standard gauge rope worked incline planes - the Blackhams Hill East and West inclines. The Blackhams Hill hauler or Blackim's Hill engine as it was recorded in 1826 was built to work waggons up the west incline from Mount Moor colliery before lowering the waggons down to Springwell yard. It is this hauler which is in place today. The original steam hauler was replaced in 1950 by a more powerful electric hauler which remains in place and is operational today. This system was put in place by George Stephenson to raise and lower waggons over hills which were too steep for the early railway locomotives or horses of the day.
The operation of the inclines requires a large number of people. First the rope is attached to a full set at the base of the incline. This involves using a special slip coupling, once attached the hauler at Blackhams hill is signaled using a rapper (a rope and bell arrangement) and the the set is then hauled up the incline using the rope. As the set reaches the reaches the top of the incline it rises up over the Kip - a raised section of track which prevents waggons running back down the incline, whilst also passing over the Monkey tail which also prevents this.
The operation of the inclines requires a large number of people. First the rope is attached to a full set at the base of the incline. This involves using a special slip coupling, once attached the hauler at Blackhams hill is signaled using a rapper (a rope and bell arrangement) and the the set is then hauled up the incline using the rope. As the set reaches the reaches the top of the incline it rises up over the Kip - a raised section of track which prevents waggons running back down the incline, whilst also passing over the Monkey tail which also prevents this.
Once at the top of the Kip the waggons slip coupling is released - this was originally achieved by a set rider standing on the waggons pulling a release cord. However by the 1960's this was considered dangerous, so a new coupling was devised which was released by a man on the trackside using a pole. Once released the haulage rope is pulled clear of the track to allow the waggons to run - at which point the brakes are applied. From here the set would be lowered to Springwell yard using the East bound rope.
Hauling the chain clear of the oncoming waggons.
The other type of rope operation is a self acting incline - these types use the weight of decending waggons to haul others up the bank. The Springwell to Jarrow incline operated with full waggons running down the hill pulling the empties up to Springwell, with the rope passing around a return wheel - the speed of the set is regulated by a brakesman in the bank head cabin. With the waggons passing over the Kip and Dish in the same way as a powered incline. The upper section of this incline can been seen at the northern end of our Springwell yard.
Joe Humphries driver of the original Blackham's Hill steam winder.
WHAT REMAINS TODAY
The railway today houses the remains of three incline planes. The first is the Springwell self acting incline, unfortunately this was almost entirely removed upon the railways closure in 1974 - leaving just the bankhead buildings (wheel pit, bait cabin and brake tower) and the remains of the track work.
The other two inclines have survived rather more successfully - the Blackhams hill east and west banks. These two banks are worked by the Blackhams hill haulage engine, driving two rope drums one for each bank. The East bank forms our main running line for brake van rides but is is still a operational part of the railways rope haulage system. Time has not been so kind to the West bank which is currently heavily overgrown but intact along its full length.
It is hoped to return rope haulage to the East bank in the very near future. Whilst clearance work will shortly begin on the west line to assess its condition for an eventual return to use.
The other two inclines have survived rather more successfully - the Blackhams hill east and west banks. These two banks are worked by the Blackhams hill haulage engine, driving two rope drums one for each bank. The East bank forms our main running line for brake van rides but is is still a operational part of the railways rope haulage system. Time has not been so kind to the West bank which is currently heavily overgrown but intact along its full length.
It is hoped to return rope haulage to the East bank in the very near future. Whilst clearance work will shortly begin on the west line to assess its condition for an eventual return to use.
A waggon set cresting the top of the West incline.