This is the site of Wylam's lesser known station, but one far better connected to the suburbs of Newcastle and as a result the principal station.

This was North Wylam, on the western edge of the village and part of the old colliery settlement. This stretch opened in the 1830s and was originally a colliery waggonway linking the Wylam pits to Lemington. Some 35 years passed until the Scotswood, Newburn & Wylam Railway received assent to construct a full loop line to link the north of the Tyne with the Newcastle & Carlisle, providing a full passenger services without traipsing south of the river and connecting the fast growing suburbs of Benwell, Scotswood, Newburn etc. The purpose of the line was also to the "develop the resources of a district wealthy in minerals and manufactures, and thickly populated by an industrious and enterprising population" (as per the Newcastle Journal on 18/05/1872). The works were extensive - a three hundred yard tunnel, earthworks and several bridges to connect the various high roads and waggonways. Also on the line featured the Throckley Firebrick Works, the Lemington Iron Works, the Newburn Steel Works, the Newburn Glass Works, the old reopened Lemington Iron Woks, the Firebrick Works at Scotswood, another brick works at Bells Close as well as at the Montagu Pit - industry really was its boon. The line overall was designed by Gateshead born John Atkinson Harrison who also surveyed the Blyth & Tyne.

This station was certainly less grand than its historic counterpart though. It was not flashy with humble single storey waiting rooms and a polite signal box at the end of the platform. In later years it had a concrete overbridge slightly ghoulish compared to its iron NER predecessors from 1960. There was a porters room, booking & parcels office, toilets and two waiting rooms for the general populace and women.

Its working life saw 13 return journeys a weekday which isn't so bad considering the size of the village, and certainly with the Newcastle suburbs more in mind. Even Sundays saw a healthy half dozen journeys.

Despite significant opposition it sadly closed in 1968, with the fact it had two stations considered its downfall. The line required significant maintenance and upgrades thanks to its sharp gradients and curves. I'm still not sure that should warrant its closure given the inconvenience of the original station, but such was the decision. The line was retained another 4 years when it was cut to Newburn, with the rest of it gone in 1986. It's now a fantastic walk though which I recommend to anyone.