ROF Swynnerton

Gates to Swynnerton Training Camp

ROF Swynnerton was a Royal Ordnance Filling factory built in 1939–40.[1] It became operational in the middle of 1940 and by mid 1942 the number of people working at the site had grown to approximately 18,500.[2] To meet the need of getting the factory workers to and from the factory the Ministry of Supply asked the LMS to construct a station.[3] The site already had an extensive rail network served from the West Coast main line between Crewe and Stafford[4] but the LMS chose to build a new branch line running to the site from the North Staffordshire Railway line between Stone and Norton Bridge.[5] The branch line, which was double track throughout, ran for just under 2 miles (3.2 km) from Swynnerton Junction to Cold Meece railway station.[5]

The station was for passenger traffic only and no goods facilities were ever provided, all freight movements for the factory were dealt with via the West Coast main line link.[4]

After the war ended the factory and station both continued in use until 1958. The factory closed in May 1958 and although the last scheduled train ran in June 1958, the station did not officially close until August 1959.[3] The branch had been lifted by September 1963.[3]

During the war the factory worked 24 hours a day and the passenger service to Cold Meece reflected this with nineteen trains a day, Monday to Saturday, serving the station in time for the shift changes at 5:35 am, 1:35 pm and 8:35 pm.[6] Services ran to and from three main destinations; Newchapel and Goldenhill, Silverdale and Blythe Bridge picking up at all stations en route except those between Stoke-on-Trent and Stone.[6] In addition there was one service each way classed as a recreational service for people who lived on the site to get into Stoke. Sunday services comprised two trains each way to Silverdale and Blythe Bridge and three each way to Newchapel and Goldenhill.[6]

After the war the site was converted for military training use and became known as Swynnerton Training Camp.[7]

References

Notes
    Footnotes
    1. ↑ Christiansen & Miller 1971, p. 260.
    2. ↑ Jeuda 2012, p. 92.
    3. 1 2 3 Jeuda 2012, p. 94.
    4. 1 2 Christiansen & Miller 1971, pp. 260–261.
    5. 1 2 Christiansen & Miller 1971, p. 261.
    6. 1 2 3 Jeuda 2012, p. 93.
    7. ↑ "The Defence Training Estate". Retrieved 4 October 2016.
    Sources
    • Butt, R. V. J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations: details every public and private passenger station, halt, platform and stopping place, past and present (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85260-508-7. OCLC 60251199.
    • Christiansen, Rex & Miller, Robert William (1971). The North Staffordshire Railway. Newton Abbot, Devon: David & Charles. ISBN 0 7153 5121 4.
    • Jeuda, Basil (2010). The North Staffordshire Railway in LMS days. 1. Lydney, Gloucestershire: Lightmoor Press. ISBN 978 1899889 48 8.
    • Simmons, Jack; Biddle, Gordon, eds. (1997). The Oxford Companion to British railway history. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0 1921 1697 5.

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