The Durham and Sunderland Railway opened in 1836 carrying both passengers and goods traffic to the Sunderland Moor Station, with staithes on Low Quay for coal. The railway was originally worked by eight fixed engines, and was the longest public railway to be operated this way. It ran from Sunderland Moor via Ryhope and Seaton to Merton where the line diverged to Haswell and to Sherburn the station for Durham. From Sherburn the passengers were conveyed by stage coach to the city. Regards Stan Mapstone