Wellington to Craven Arms Railway

Trackbed of the former railway line between Wellington and Ironbridge which is now a footpath

Wellington to Craven Arms Railway
Wolverhampton–Shrewsbury line to Shrewsbury Wellington and Drayton Railway to Market Drayton Drayton Junction Wellington Shropshire Union Railway to Stafford Ketley Junction Wolverhampton–Shrewsbury line to Wolverhampton Ketley Ketley Town Halt New Dale Halt Lawley Bank Heath Hill tunnel 59 yd 54 m Spring Village Horsehay and Dawley Doseley Halt Wolverhampton–Shrewsbury line to Wolverhampton Lightmoor Junction Lightmoor Platform Green Bank Halt Brick Kiln Bank Coalbrookdale Viaduct Coalbrookdale Albert Edward Bridge over River Severn Severn Valley Railway to Bridgnorth Ironbridge Power Station Buildwas Severn Valley Railway to Shrewsbury Farley Halt Much Wenlock Westwood Halt Presthope Easthope Halt Longville Rushbury Harton Road Welsh Marches line to Shrewsbury Marsh Farm Junction Wistanstow Halt Bishops Castle Railway Stretford Bridge Junction Craven Arms and Stokesay Heart of Wales line to Llanelli & Swansea Welsh Marches line to Hereford & Newport

The Wellington to Craven Arms Railway was a railway line that ran from Wellington to Craven Arms in Shropshire, England. It was built by three companies during the period spanning 1857 to 1867 and between Ketley Junction at Wellington to Marsh Farm Junction (3 miles (4.8 km)) north of Craven Arms, the length of the railway was 28 miles (45 km).^[1]

History

The three companies that comprised the railway were: -

• Wellington and Severn Junction Railway 1857 - 1861
• Much Wenlock and Severn Junction Railway 1860 - 1862
• Wenlock, Craven Arms and Lightmoor Extension Railway 1864 - 1867

The first part of the railway to open was the branch from Madeley Junction to Lightmoor Junction (which ironically is the section that was retained for freight working up until 2015) in November 1854.^[2] The railway companies progressed well with openings from Wellington to Horsehay in 1859, Much Wenlock to Buildwas in 1862, Lightmoor to Buildwas in 1863 and Much Wenlock to Craven Arms in 1867.^[3] The last section took longer due to local protests about the route which resulted in a diversion from the planned formation and the addition of a tunnel at Presthorpe.^[1]

Junctions

It had junctions with the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway towards Wellington at Ketley Junction and towards Wolverhampton at Lightmoor Junction via the GWR Madely Branch, with the Severn Valley Railway at Buildwas Junction and joined the Welsh Marches Line at Marsh Farm Junction a few miles north of Craven Arms which opened fully in 1867.^[4]

Successors

Between 1853 and 1896, the constituent companies had been amalgamated with the Great Western Railway and subsequently the Western Region of British Railways.^[2]

Closure

Passenger services between Craven Arms and Much Wenlock were withdrawn on 31 December 1951. From that time the line was closed completely between Marsh Farm Junction and Longville, although an infrequent goods service continued north of Longville. Passenger services between Much Wenlock, Buildwas and Wellington ended on 23 July 1962, with goods services between Longville and Buildwas ending on 2 December 1963.^[5] Passenger services throughout the line had ended before the publication of the 'Beeching Report' in March 1963.

Present day

Part of the route has been saved and is to be found operating as the Telford Steam Railway.^[6] A section of the route between Madeley Junction (on the Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury Line) and Ironbridge was kept open post-Beeching closures to serve the power station. The power station closed in November 2015 and the line is still extant but unused.^[7]

Craven Arms, Marsh Farm, Stretford Bridge, Tenbury & Wellington RJD 19

The section of trackbed from Ketley to Lawley is now part of the Ironbridge way, a long distance footpath from Leegomery to Ironbridge.^[8]

The section from Buildwas to Much Wenlock is now a footpath and the halts have all been demolished and a section of the trackbed from Much Wenlock to Craven Arms has become a mix of roads, farmland and either been built on or unused. The stations at Coalbrookdale, Much Wenlock, Longville, Rushbury and Harton Road remain as private dwellings while Coalbrookdale is a visitor center.

The stations at Wellington and Craven Arms are still open and part of the national network although the route is now via Shrewsbury.

References