Report - Wardley Coal Disposal Point, Gateshead, April 2014

[catbalou]

The original Wardley colliery opened in 1868, closing in 1911 and re-opening in 1938. It merged with Follonsby colliery in 1959 and Usworth in 1969 then finally closed in 1974.
In 1989 it re-opened as Wardley Coal Disposal Point, passed on to RJB Mining in 1995 and finally mothballed in 2005. The site on which it stands is currently used for container traffic.
Im amazed I never got around to visiting here long ago (slaps wrist) but a big thanks to Dave for mentioning the place to me, and it seems not to have changed since he first visited 5 year back. Lovely way to spend a rainy morning, and great fun going up and down all those chutes… the place is really deceiving and VERY easy to get lost in. Power was still on… and it took a great deal of effort not to press big shiny buttons in control rooms.
I think the three of us emerged looking like we had put in a day’s work in the place! Visited with Dave and Sed.

Cat.

 

[wellingtonian]

Hey, that's pretty epic. Nice one

 

[The Kwan]

Love the look of this place, nice photos

 

[Sed]

Very enjoyable couple of hours in their and despite most of the place being really dark your pictures came out great! Good job Cat, and good to meet you Dave. Pretty epic explore

 

[Seffy]

Lovely job Cat, looks proper decent that!

 

[stranton]

very nice,
wish I had came with You now rather than Middlesbrough

 

[Ojay]

Get in you, nicely done Cat

 

[The Lone Ranger]

Looks a great place for a stroll, cracking pics too

 

[nsdev]

very nice!!!

 

[fairy]

Good pics

I fancy a visit here

 

[catbalou]

Excellent getting in there! No secca?

it was rather mucky, but all good fun. and yes, 24/7 security... apparently.

Thanks for the comments guys

 

[dave]

Cracking report Cat your pics came out very well i might stick a few of mine up it was a very pleasant stroll round there and brought back some memories of my first visit back in 2009. Also nice to meet you Sed. When i got home my face was black,i wonder if this place will ever get up and running again.

 

[stranton]

i wonder if this place will ever get up and running again.

The staff at the live part told Me that all the equipment is ready too work at the touch or a button,
& checked on an annual basis.
Network Rail has left the track in situ between Wardley Junction & the colliery in case of reuse,
while removing the rest of the Leamside Route too Ferryhill.

I remember seeing the last train leaving Wardley Junction July 2002

 

[catbalou]

The staff at the live part told Me that all the equipment is ready too work at the touch or a button,
& checked on an annual basis.

yes... and it was mighty difficult resisting temptation to press the nice buttons

 

[catbalou]

Cracking report Cat your pics came out very well i might stick a few of mine up it was a very pleasant stroll round there and brought back some memories of my first visit back in 2009. Also nice to meet you Sed. When i got home my face was black,i wonder if this place will ever get up and running again.

Cheers, yes... put some of yours up... from what I saw, they looked really good.