Birkenhead Dock Branch
Encyclopedia
Birkenhead Dock Branch is a presently disused railway line running from the South junction of Rock Ferry
, to the site of the former Bidston Dock
on the Wirral Peninsula
, England
.
The branch is approximately 4.5 miles (7.2 km) in length and is accessible by rail from Bidston
East junction. The former Mollington Street Depot
was joined to the branch line. Part of the branch runs through Haymarket Tunnel and a low-level cutting. The cutting is situated in the centre of Birkenhead
, visible from the road flyovers which are in the town centre. The disused Canning Street North signal box
and level crossing
are also situated on the branch. Level crossings are also situated across Duke Street and Wallasey Bridge Road.
The last known locomotives to have served on this stretch of track were Birkenhead North
's allocation of Class 03
shunters, all of which have been preserved. At the northern end of the branch, disused goods yards are situated parallel to Birkenhead North Train Maintenance Depot (TMD), Wallasey Bridge Road sidings, & adjacent to the Kingsway Tunnel
approach road, Bidston Dock sidings. These two sets of sidings are also accessible by rail, through a series of points
between Birkenhead North TMD and Bidston station.
The northern part of the track to the west of Canning Street North signal box and to the east of Wallasey Bridge Road level crossing, was owned by Mersey Docks and Harbour Company
. It is presently understood to be in the ownership of Peel Holdings. The main part of this section runs parallel, on the northern side, to Corporation Road, across Duke Street, parallel Beaufort Road. The sections of the branch between and inclusive of Rock Ferry railway station, Canning Street North signal box, and the section west of Wallasey Bridge Road level crossing are understood to have been in the ownership of Railtrack
and, subsequently, Network Rail
.
The line closed during the 1990s but the tracks remain in place and there is at least one signal box still in existence.
line which would be beneficial to the local economy.
The former Railtrack has, in the past, indicated an interest in seeing the line reopened for goods services.
However, Network Rail as of 2011 has not followed through with any action in this regard.
This track may be available in the future through a long-term lease to a heritage group in exchange for maintenance and running rights.
However, preserving the line could see the very first heritage standard gauge railway on Merseyside. This might could boost both trade and tourism in and around Merseyside.
Rock Ferry railway station
Rock Ferry railway station is situated in the Rock Ferry area of Birkenhead, Wirral, England. It lies south west of on the Chester and Ellesmere Port branches of the Wirral Line, part of the Merseyrail network...
, to the site of the former Bidston Dock
Bidston Dock
Bidston Dock, was a dock at Birkenhead, Wirral Peninsula, England. It was situated to the west of the Great Float, between Bidston and Poulton.-History:...
on the Wirral Peninsula
Wirral Peninsula
Wirral or the Wirral is a peninsula in North West England. It is bounded by three bodies of water: to the west by the River Dee, forming a boundary with Wales, to the east by the River Mersey and to the north by the Irish Sea. Both terms "Wirral" and "the Wirral" are used locally , although the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The branch is approximately 4.5 miles (7.2 km) in length and is accessible by rail from Bidston
Bidston railway station
Bidston railway station is a railway station in Bidston, Birkenhead, on the Wirral, England. It is situated at the junction of the West Kirby branch of the Wirral Line with the Borderlands Line from Wrexham Central .-History:The station was originally built by the Hoylake Railway in 1866 as an...
East junction. The former Mollington Street Depot
Birkenhead Mollington Street
Birkenhead Mollington Street was a former Traction Maintenance Depot located at Mollington Street in Birkenhead, England, on the Birkenhead Dock Branch railway. The depot serviced steam and subsequently diesel locomotives until 1985 when it was closed and demolished. The depot code was BC during...
was joined to the branch line. Part of the branch runs through Haymarket Tunnel and a low-level cutting. The cutting is situated in the centre of Birkenhead
Birkenhead
Birkenhead is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite the city of Liverpool...
, visible from the road flyovers which are in the town centre. The disused Canning Street North signal box
Signal box
On a rail transport system, signalling control is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of railway signals and block systems to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper timetable...
and level crossing
Level crossing
A level crossing occurs where a railway line is intersected by a road or path onone level, without recourse to a bridge or tunnel. It is a type of at-grade intersection. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion...
are also situated on the branch. Level crossings are also situated across Duke Street and Wallasey Bridge Road.
The last known locomotives to have served on this stretch of track were Birkenhead North
Birkenhead North TMD
Birkenhead North TMD is a traction maintenance depot located opposite Birkenhead North railway station for servicing Merseyrail Class 507 and 508 multiple units and rolling stock. The depot code is BD.-History:...
's allocation of Class 03
British Rail Class 03
The British Rail Class 03 locomotive is, together with Class 04, one of BR's most successful smaller 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunters. The class, numbering 230 examples, was built by British Railways' Swindon and Doncaster works in 1957-1962 and numbered D2000-D2199 and D2370-D2399...
shunters, all of which have been preserved. At the northern end of the branch, disused goods yards are situated parallel to Birkenhead North Train Maintenance Depot (TMD), Wallasey Bridge Road sidings, & adjacent to the Kingsway Tunnel
Kingsway Tunnel
The Kingsway Tunnel is a road tunnel under the River Mersey in Merseyside, northwest England, and runs between Liverpool and Wallasey. It is one and half miles long and is often called the Wallasey Tunnel to distinguish it from the older Queensway Tunnel which runs between Liverpool and...
approach road, Bidston Dock sidings. These two sets of sidings are also accessible by rail, through a series of points
Railroad switch
A railroad switch, turnout or [set of] points is a mechanical installation enabling railway trains to be guided from one track to another at a railway junction....
between Birkenhead North TMD and Bidston station.
The northern part of the track to the west of Canning Street North signal box and to the east of Wallasey Bridge Road level crossing, was owned by Mersey Docks and Harbour Company
Mersey Docks and Harbour Company
The Mersey Docks and Harbour Company , formerly the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board , owns and administers the dock facilities of the Port of Liverpool, on the River Mersey, England...
. It is presently understood to be in the ownership of Peel Holdings. The main part of this section runs parallel, on the northern side, to Corporation Road, across Duke Street, parallel Beaufort Road. The sections of the branch between and inclusive of Rock Ferry railway station, Canning Street North signal box, and the section west of Wallasey Bridge Road level crossing are understood to have been in the ownership of Railtrack
Railtrack
Railtrack was a group of companies that owned the track, signalling, tunnels, bridges, level crossings and all but a handful of the stations of the British railway system from its formation in April 1994 until 2002...
and, subsequently, Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
.
The line closed during the 1990s but the tracks remain in place and there is at least one signal box still in existence.
Future
A future option for this line, as the trackwork is still mainly in place, may be to use it as a heritage railwayHeritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
line which would be beneficial to the local economy.
The former Railtrack has, in the past, indicated an interest in seeing the line reopened for goods services.
However, Network Rail as of 2011 has not followed through with any action in this regard.
This track may be available in the future through a long-term lease to a heritage group in exchange for maintenance and running rights.
However, preserving the line could see the very first heritage standard gauge railway on Merseyside. This might could boost both trade and tourism in and around Merseyside.
External links
Overhead view of Bidston Dock, the quayside and sidings]. The sidings and quayside are still present, the dock has since been filled in. Overhead view of Wallasey Bridge Road level crossing and sidings]. Birkenhead North TMD is to the bottom of this photo.- Photograph of Canning Street North signal box in its present state.
- Photograph of diesel shunter no. 03 162 'D2162 Birkenhead South 1879-1985' at Duke Street level crossing in Birkenhead in the early 1990s before the line fell into disuse.
- Photograph of the 'Birkenhead Bandit' railtour on the level crossing at Duke Street.
- the Rail Regulator