During the height of the Rosedale railway and the thriving ironstone industry, Blakey Ridge was the focal point for laden wagons leaving the dale for Teesside.
It was from Rosedale that the wagons carrying calcined ironstone crossed over Blakey Junction, onto the high moor and then down into Teesside via the steep and dangerous Ingleby Incline. It was here that ironstone was used for iron and steel manufacturing. After being unloaded, the wagons were refilled with coal and other supplies and then returned to Rosedale to repeat the whole process. Today you can still see the remnants of the railway at Blakey Junction in the deep cutting on the side of the car park and the bridge parapet on the other side of the road.
