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Etherley ridge was the first major engineering challenge along the route of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in working out how to get heavy coal laden waggons up and over the large incline.
Luckily, some brilliant minds were up for the challenge! George Stephenson, his son Robert, and later, Timothy Hackworth, worked together to create a system that made it possible.
George Stephenson's original design relied on a steam engine – designed by his son Robert – to pull heavy waggons up the 1,014-metre northern incline.
The engine had its own house with a clever cooling system to the west of the ridge summit. Two ponds fed by a spring provided water to keep the engine from overheating, so it could run for long periods without a hitch.
On the southern side of the ridge, things worked a little differently.
Instead of a steam engine, gravity literally did the heavy lifting!
The weight of full waggons at the top of the 1,998-metre incline helped pull empty waggons back up from the bottom.
It worked for a while, but by 1829, engineer John Rastrick, found a better way. He modified the system so that the steam engine could power both sides of the incline. How?
By using ropes and drums of different sizes, like giant spools of thread, to balance the load perfectly.
Etherley Incline kept the railway moving for nearly two decades, but progress never stands still.
In 1843, a new railway line opened east of the incline, making Etherley obsolete.
Still, the incline and Winding House played a key role in the early days of the S&DR, proving to the world just how much could be achieved with innovative engineering.
The incline's story wouldn't be complete without mentioning the hardworking enginemen who kept everything running smoothly. Thomas Greener was the first to take on the role in 1825, followed by his brother John in 1826.
John remained in charge until 1843, when he was involved in an accident at the engine house and tragically died. A reminder that we cannot forget the important contributions people like John made to the railways that we know and love today.
Etherley Ridge was one of the first major obstacle along the original route of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. The challenge was how to move coal-filled waggons up and over a steep incline more than 1,000 metres long. George Stephenson, his son Robert, and later Timothy Hackworth worked together to develop a solution. Robert Stephenson designed a stationary steam engine that hauled waggons up the northern slope using ropes and a drum system. The engine was housed in a building near the top of the ridge, supported by a cooling system fed by spring water from two ponds. This allowed the engine to operate continuously without overheating.
On the southern slope, gravity helped to move the waggons. Full waggons going down pulled empty waggons back up. In 1829, engineer John Rastrick improved the system by modifying the engine to power both sides of the incline. He adjusted the size of the drums to balance the load going up and down the slope. This setup kept the Etherley Incline in use for nearly twenty years. In 1843, a new railway line made the incline obsolete and it was no longer needed. The engine house remains a reminder of early railway engineering. Among the people who worked there were Thomas Greener, the first engine operator in 1825, and his brother John, who held the role until his death in 1843. Their work helped keep one of the first industrial railway inclines running smoothly.
