A recent gift (December 2021) from a valued colleague, to mark my pending retirement and my move to Telford, was 'Railways of Telford' by David Clarke https://rogerfarnworth.com/2021/12/26/the-railways-of-telford-part-1-a-book-review This is my review of the book which, as you will read, should become a primer for me for exploring Telford and Wrekin and the wider area of East Shropshire!
The Wellington & Severn Junction Railway (W&SJR) - Part 1 This is the first post about the different railway routes in Telford. The W&SJR ran through Lawley and Dawley which are within a mile or so of our home in Malinslee, Telford. http://rogerfarnworth.com/2022/07/0...n-railway-wsjr-part-1-wellington-to-horsehay/ “The Wellington and Severn Junction Railway … was built between 1857 [and] 1861 and formed part of the Wellington to Craven Arms Railway. For much of its working life, it was operated by the Great Western Railway and subsequently the Western Region of British Railways.”
Interesting when I look at the maps of early years, how quickly various lines were built. They were quite industrious and hopeful of making a go of it. Does the Telford Steam Railway have any potential for future expansion?
They have quite ambitious plans which have some local government support: https://steamingtoironbridge.co.uk/ They are currently working on trackwork south of Horsehay & Dawley Station running to Doseley Halt. planning approval will be required for the next step in the development of the line.
Sad to read of that signal box arson. Is there a map somewhere, which shows their proposed extensions? I did not see one on their site. Or did I somehow overlook it?
As a first step, this article might help there is a sketch map as part of this. The 2019 extension marked on the map was delayed by Covid and is only now making progress. https://www.therailwayhub.co.uk/694...ould-pave-the-way-for-ironbridge-steam-return
Their plans certainly seem reasonable enough. I am wondering about the "Harworth Group". After they remove those materials as proposed, what happens to the line? Does it remain in place, useable?
Hello again. That seems be the plan. The renovation of that length of Iine would be paid for by the contractor and then handed to the preservation line.
A recent post on this thread looked at the length of the W&SJR from Wellington Station to Horsehay & Dawley Station. This next post covers the length from Horsehay & Dawley Station to Lightmoor Station. .... http://rogerfarnworth.com/?p=34673
This post completes the review of the Wellington & Severn Junction Railway route. ..... http://rogerfarnworth.com/2022/07/1...y-wsjr-part-3-lightmoor-junction-to-buildwas/
The LNWR Coalport Branch - Part 1 After the construction of the Wellington and Severn Junction Railway (W&SJR) and it being included in the GWR network, the LNWR found it necessary to take an interest in the Shropshire Canal as an alternative means of accessing the area. The industrial areas immediately North of the River Severn were served by a whole series of tramroads which linked to the River Severn or to the Shropshire Canal and eventually to the W&SJR. Increasing problems with the Shropshire Canal led the LNWR to conclude that it needed to replace it, and the Coalport Branch was the result. This is the first of a series of articles about the line: http://rogerfarnworth.com/2023/03/1...the-lnwr-part-1-hadley-to-malins-lee-station/
The LNWR Coalport Branch again. ... Just after publishing the first article about the branch, I received an email from David Clarke offering some photos from his collection This prompted another look for photos on my part. This addendum to the first article is prompted by David's email and includes a few other items as well. ... http://rogerfarnworth.com/2023/03/24/the-railways-of-telford-the-coalport-branch-part-1a/
Hi boxcabE50 The works had quite chequered history,in the early years of the 20th century. If you scroll down on this link you will find quite a comprehensive (but not too long) history of the site: https://www.baesystems.com/en-uk/heritage/telford---hadley-castle-works Best wishes Roger
The LNWR Coalport Branch - Part 2 This second length of the Branch runs from what was Malins Lee Station (although the area is now known as Malinslee) to Madeley Market Station. .... http://rogerfarnworth.com/2023/03/1...malins-lee-station-to-madeley-market-station/
The single line past the works feeds a railport and goes no further. It used to be a main line to Stafford from Wellington. So very little of our goods go by rail. It is the relatively short distances involved with the added cost of transhipment at each end which leaves rail unable to compete with lorries. The balance may change again if oil becomes much more expensive.
The LNWR Coalport Branch - Part 3 The final length of the Branch running from Madeley Market Station to Coalport East Station http://rogerfarnworth.com/2023/04/0...eley-market-station-to-coalport-east-station/