Brusselton Incline

We recently discovered the Brusselton Incline on a trip to Shildon in County Durham, having never previously known about it. This hidden gem is surrounded by beautiful countryside and a bit of research led us to discover links with our old pal George Stephenson.

The Brusselton Incline opened in September 1825, and was created to help engines move uphill. Early steam locomotives lacked the traction necessary to conquer the steep inclines that stood between coal mines and the markets. A stationary steam engine housed in a towering engine house would haul wagons up the incline using a winding drum and rope. This ingenious system was designed by George Stephenson and allowed the transportation of coal, and later passengers, over previously insurmountable obstacles. You can still see the buildings at Brusselton which would have housed the engine that pulled the locomotives up the hill.

The Brusselton Incline played a pivotal role in the success of the Stockton & Darlington Railway. It enabled the efficient movement of coal, and paved the way for the widespread adoption of steam locomotives. However, the incline's reign was short-lived, and it was abandoned when the line from Shildon Tunnel to West Auckland opened in 1856.

As well as the incline, there is an old Georgian bridge here, which has steps leading up to the top of it. The bridge was built so that the owner of the nearby farm could safely access his land north of the track by passing underneath the incline.