Rainton and Seaham Railway, Framwellgate Branch was part of the Londonderry Railway which closed in 1896.

The Rainton and Seaham Railway, Plain Pit Branch, linked the Framwellgate branch (HER ref. 3200) to the North Eastern Railway (HER ref. 2625), serving the Plain Pit (HER ref. 3198). It was part of the Marquis of Londonderry's Railway which closed in 1896.

Shown on 1st edition Ordnance Survey map. Owners were the North Hetton Coal Company (Earl of Durham, Messrs Wood, Philipson, Burrell and others) and Lady FA Vane Londonderry, Marquess of Londonderry (in 1850s). Part of Rainton Colliery, which was opened before 1815 and closed in July 1978. Rainton Colliery included Adventure Pit (NZ 315 470), Dun Well Pit (HER 3206), Alexandrina Pit (HER 3219), Hazard Pit (HER 3212), Meadows Pit (HER 6848), North Pit (HER 3197), Plain Pit (HER 3198), Resolution Pit (NZ 311 476). In 1790 a boring had been put down in South Pit in East Rainton by a Mr Rawlings, to a depth of 10 fathoms. Whellan reported that in 1894 Rainton Colliery had 31 stationary engines, 38 boilers, 1185 workers and 835 workmen's houses.

An unnamed pit is shown at this location of a plan of 1777 (NRO 578/321) served by a waggonway (HER 3196). It is shown as a pronounced shaft mound with two long blocks of buildings aligned north-south on the westhand side, probably forerunners of the later pit cottages. There is no indication of an engine house. The collieries at East Rainton were in the possession of Sir Henry Vane Tempest and were let to Robert Blakiston & Company on 9th March 1797 (NRO Bud 5/58). High Main Seam coal was sold under the name of "Old-Ducks" and was in great demand in London (NRO Bell 18, p. 404). The name may derive from Sir John Duck who lived in West Rainton in the late C17 {Mackenzie and Ross 1834, 367}. In June 1797, the workings of North Pit were viewed by Charles Dixon, John Smith, William Stobbart and John Buddle Junior who reported that they were "in a Regular and fair State for the entry of an Undertaker, except on the South Side of the Pit, where there is a Quantity of Water, and several falls come on" {NRO Bud 21, p. 15}. The pit is shown on a late eighteenth century plan of Rainton Colliery Grounds (NRO 3410 Wat 34/18) and on Greenwood's map of 1820. By 1804 the High Main Seam was completely worked out. In 1807 the Rainton Collieries were let again to focus on the Hutton Seam. Borings were made at North Pit in 1817 and 1821 {TWMTL 1996 and NRO Wat 2/27, p 118}. In 1825 the Marquis of Londonderry leased a timber-yard at North Pit to William Russell (DRO D/Lo/E 300-319}. In 1827 there were two engines at North Pit, but North Pit is not listed as working and so the engines may have been used for pumping not winding {DF/WF/28/1, p 479-520}.On the tithe map of 1834 {DRO EP/ER/27/2} North Pit is marked as "old colliery, gardens and waste" suggesting that it had been laid in or abandoned. There are cottages to the east. The pit is still shown on 1st edition Ordnance Survey map but the workings had been abandoned. In 2001 a trench was excavated across an eastern range of buildings associated with North Pit. A sandstone wall and a brick feature of uncertain function were recorded, along with a timber drain and a timber capped brick drain. North Pit Cottages were cleared and recorded. The original form of the building had been an open, roofed storage area, before being rebuilt in brick and being converted to residential use. Four fireplaces were inserted into the partition walls. The building was divided into two separate properties.

Two branches of this waggonway existed in 1777 (shown on a plan surveyed for the Dean and Chapter of Durham by J.C. Mowbray NRO 578/321) within land owned by a Henry Walton, Mr Maskell and Mr Rotherham. It served a pit which lay south of the later Nicholson's Pit and North Pit. The waggonway is also shown on a manuscript plan of Rainton Colliery Grounds of probable late eighteenth century date (NRO 3410 Wat 34/18) and on Greenwood's plan of 1820. With the opening of the Rainton to Seaham Railway (HER 2976) in 1831 the waggonway routes would have lapsed. Only the section south-east of North Pit remained in use, linking into the new line. Three trenches were dug across the waggonway by Pre-Construct Archaeology for Geoquest Associates in July 2001 in advance of the construction of Rainton Bridge South Business Park. The route of the waggonway was defined by two parallel ditches and rudimentary fence lines, and a posthole alignment indicated a more permanent boundary between the waggonway wayleave and the neighbouring land. In trench 2 parts of two timber sleepers survived - a section of oak tree branch pierced by holes for the dowels which would have pegged the rails to the sleepers. A timber drain was recorded. After the abandonment of the waggonway, there were a series of dumping events. A final phase of excavation was undertaken in November 2002. This proved that the waggonway was a double way, diverging to form a four track system approaching the pithead of North Pit. This may represent a marshalling area as opposed to four loading platforms. This wagonway may be the earliest example of a colliery wagonway to be excavated in the country.

Historic Ordnance Survey map evidence shows the Rainton and Seaham Railway, Adventure Branch (the western end of which was outside the county). This line was part of the Londonderry Railway which closed in 1896.

Historic Ordnance Survey map evidence shows Rainton Old Engine on the Rainton and Seaham Railway (HER ref. 2976). The engine was probably out of use by 1857.

Historic Ordnance Survey map evidence shows a Coal Depot on the Rainton and Seaham Railway Hetton Branch (HER ref. 3205). Gone by 1896.

Historic Ordnance Survey map evidence shows the Rainton Bridge Engine and its reservoir on the Rainton and Seaham Railway (HER ref. 2976).

Rainton Mill and Brewery. The 1st edition OS mapping shows a mill dam and malt kilns on the site at the north end of the township beside Rainton Burn. Rainton Mill also served villagers of West Rainton as the priory managed the two Rainton villas as a single manor. Rainton Mill was half owned by the Bishop of Durham and as a result it in the Boldon Book c.1183 where it is stated that it was worth 15 marks (£10) in leasehold value. The rest of the mill was held by the priory. The mill was already in existence by the end of the 12th century when it was divided between the Bishop and the Priory. The value of the mill collapsed during the depression of the 14th and 15th centuries.