Stonebridge Railway
Encyclopedia
The Stonebridge Railway was opened in 1839 in Warwickshire
, England
as part of the main Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway
.
The line ran from Whitacre Junction
to Hampton
and had an intermediate station at Coleshill
(renamed Maxstoke
in 1923). From 1839 until 1840 it was a double track main line
, linking in with the London and Birmingham Railway
at Derby Junction, the remains of which can still be seen north of the current LNWR station in Hampton-in-Arden
.
In 1843, the second running line was removed, believed to be the first singling in railway history. The line lost its final passenger service in 1917 as a wartime
economy measure. The line was closed in 1935 following a bridge failure in Packington, however most of the line was used for the storage of disabled wagon
s until the 1950s, when the track was finally removed.
Two of the most famous men in Midland Railway history were associated with this line - Sir James Joseph Allport, and Matthew Kirtley.
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, 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...
as part of the main Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway
Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway
The Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway was a British railway company. From Birmingham it connected at Derby with the North Midland Railway and the Midland Counties Railway at what became known as the Tri Junct Station...
.
The line ran from Whitacre Junction
Whitacre Heath
Whitacre Heath is a small village in the North Warwickshire district of the county of Warwickshire in England.It is one of 'The Whitacres' - Whitacre Heath, Nether Whitacre and Over Whitacre. Whitacre Heath is actually the heath of Nether Whitacre and not a separate parish.Whitacre Heath is newer...
to Hampton
Hampton-in-Arden
Hampton-in-Arden is a village and civil parish located within the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, in the West Midlands of England. The village was previously located within the county of Warwickshire, until the 1974 county boundary changes. It lies in the countryside between Birmingham and Coventry...
and had an intermediate station at Coleshill
Coleshill, Warwickshire
Coleshill is a market town in the North Warwickshire district of Warwickshire, England, taking its name from the River Cole. It has a population of 6,343 and is situated east of Birmingham.-Location:...
(renamed Maxstoke
Maxstoke
Maxstoke is a hamlet in the North Warwickshire district of the county of Warwickshire, England.-Maxstoke:Maxstoke is a small residential area.In the fields around the priory can be seen traces of medieval earthworks for fish farming and water control....
in 1923). From 1839 until 1840 it was a double track main line
Main line (railway)
The Mainline or Main line of a railway is a track that is used for through trains or is the principal artery of the system from which branch lines, yards, sidings and spurs are connected....
, linking in with the London and Birmingham Railway
London and Birmingham Railway
The London and Birmingham Railway was an early railway company in the United Kingdom from 1833 to 1846, when it became part of the London and North Western Railway ....
at Derby Junction, the remains of which can still be seen north of the current LNWR station in Hampton-in-Arden
Hampton-in-Arden
Hampton-in-Arden is a village and civil parish located within the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, in the West Midlands of England. The village was previously located within the county of Warwickshire, until the 1974 county boundary changes. It lies in the countryside between Birmingham and Coventry...
.
In 1843, the second running line was removed, believed to be the first singling in railway history. The line lost its final passenger service in 1917 as a wartime
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
economy measure. The line was closed in 1935 following a bridge failure in Packington, however most of the line was used for the storage of disabled wagon
Wagon
A wagon is a heavy four-wheeled vehicle pulled by draught animals; it was formerly often called a wain, and if low and sideless may be called a dray, trolley or float....
s until the 1950s, when the track was finally removed.
Two of the most famous men in Midland Railway history were associated with this line - Sir James Joseph Allport, and Matthew Kirtley.
External links
- http://www.warwickshirerailways.com/lms/hamptoninardenwhitacre.htm
- http://www.railaroundbirmingham.co.uk/Stations/coleshill.php
- http://www.photobydjnorton.com/StonebridgeRailway.html
- http://www.ishepherd.co.uk/bartys/bart/History/srailway.htm