Readers may wonder why so many lines existed in County Durham, many of these existed from the 1600's (pre canal) as wooden “waggon ways” which made it easier for horses to haul heavy waggons over otherwise difficult terrain. Competition at the time meant that almost every colliery had its own waggonway to a staithe somewhere along a river with access to the sea. Landowners could withhold permission for these especially if they were in competition. Research shows Lead and other mines and quarries also used these ways to get ore and stone to ports. There does appear to have been some cooperation although ownership of land is not known. The coal traffic seems to have ensured the survival of many of these lines into the steam age. Some new lines were being built in the early 1900s. Most of the survivors were closed during the 1960s

Northumberland has a similar story north of the River Tyne. We do not know how many of Northumberland's tracks have been made into rideable routes so if you know of any more please let us know.

**Staithes were the places at the riversides where waggons carrying coal were unloaded into keel boats, for onward transport to larger vessels to get the coal to other parts of the country and abroad. Other minerals may have been transferred in a similar way, though we have not found any reference to it.