In 1859 a line was planned between Morpeth and Reedsdale via Scots Gap (this was completed in 1865. In 1863 there was a further plan for a line from Scots Gap, via Rothbury and Wooler to a junction with the Berwick to Kelso line at Ford.

The 13-mile line between Scots Gap and Rothbury was completed in 1870. There were intermediate stations at Rothley (private but later public and renamed Longwitton), Ewesley and Brinkburn. It proved impossible to raise funds to extend the line beyond Rothbury. Brinkburn station was built to service the mine at HaelyCote colliery to which an aerial ropeway was build across the valley

The railway eventually brought prosperity to Rothbury with new housing and by the turn of the century the town had developed as a minor golfing and fishing resort. Passenger traffic was never heavy with only three daily passenger trains. Freight traffic was mainly agricultural with a daily service for colliers and quarries.

The outbreak of WW2 brought a reduced service with only two trains per day. Rothbury was used to store ‘spare’ locomotives as it was thought to be safe from attack by the Luftwaffe. After the war there were still only two trains a day, but four on Saturday.

As people abandoned the train in favour of the car the line became hopelessly uneconomic. The passenger service was finally withdrawn with the last train running on the 13th of September 1952. The branch remained open for freight with occasional passenger excursions. The final steam hauled enthusiasts to Rothbury on 9th November 1963 and the freight service was withdrawn two days later. The very last passenger train was a private diesel working in July 1964 carrying members of the North Eastern Region’s Chief Civil Engineering staff on their annual office outing. The track was lifted later that year.

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Our thanks to Peter Dawson for providing most of the images and newspaper clippings