Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway
Encyclopedia
The Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway was a standard gauge
railway in Cumberland
, England
. It opened for goods traffic in 1855 and for passenger traffic in 1857.
- Moor Row
(junction)
- Frizington
- Eskett (later Yeathouse) - Winder - Rowrah
- Wright Green (later Lamplugh
) - Ullock
- Branthwaite
- Bridgefoot - Marron Junction (junction with the London & North Western Railway who took over the Cockermouth and Workington Railway
in 1866) (Route in Google Maps)
- Egremont
- Beckermet
- Sellafield
In reality this was an independent railway to the WC&ER as it was jointly owned by the WC&ER and the Furness Railway
and was known as the Cleator and Furness Railway
, although it was worked by the WC&ER. This section was opened to traffic in 1869. There was one station on the line that was located at Beckermet. This section of railway also became part of the 'Joint Lines' when the WC&ER was taken over. (see below)
- Ullock
. This branchline is often overlooked by some authors and historians. It was important for it served an iron works at Distington.
In 1878 the Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway was taken over by the London and North Western Railway
and the Furness Railway
objected to the takeover. The London and North Western Railway
had in 1866 acquired two railways in the west of the county and had entered into an understanding with the Furness Railway
that the L&NWR would not expand any further south in West Cumberland than the lines that were acquired in 1866. As a result the former WC&ER became joint property of the London and North Western Railway
and the Furness Railway
. At the 1923 grouping
, both these railways were absorbed into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
(LMS). The LMS became part of British Railways at the 1948 nationalisation.
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
railway in Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
, 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...
. It opened for goods traffic in 1855 and for passenger traffic in 1857.
Route
Mirehouse Junction, one mile south of Whitehaven (Corkickle)Corkickle railway station
Corkickle Railway Station serves the Whitehaven suburb of Corkickle in Cumbria, England. The railway station is a request stop on the scenic Cumbrian Coast Line south east of Carlisle. The station opened in 1855 and is at the southern end of the tunnel from Whitehaven railway station...
- Moor Row
Moor Row
Moor Row is a village situated in North West England. It is in Cumbria and is located on a minor road off the A595 road south of Whitehaven.Moor Row is a residential community situated between Whitehaven and Egremont on Cumbria's coastal plain...
(junction)
Northern section
Moor Row - Cleator MoorCleator Moor
Cleator Moor is a small town and civil parish in the English county of Cumbria and within the boundaries of the traditional county of Cumberland....
- Frizington
Frizington
Frizington is a village in Cumbria, England. Historically, it was a collection of farms and houses, but became a unified village as a result of the mining opportunities in the area. The village is known for its church, which was built in 1867-1868...
- Eskett (later Yeathouse) - Winder - Rowrah
Rowrah
Rowrah is a village in Cumbria and spans the civil parishes of Arlecdon and Frizington and Lamplugh. The majority of Rowrah is within Arlecdon and Frizington...
- Wright Green (later Lamplugh
Lamplugh
Lamplugh is a scattered community and civil parish located in west Cumbria on the edge of the English Lake District. It is the starting point for a number of walks, and is on the Sea to Sea / C2C / Coast to Coast Cycle Route....
) - Ullock
Ullock
-External links:...
- Branthwaite
Branthwaite
Branthwaite is a hamlet in the borough of Allerdale. Branthwaite is approx. 5 miles from Workington and is 7 miles from Cockermouth, the small village has few amenities but is a sought after area. There are two pubs, The Wild Duck, and The Riverside. The River Marron runs through Branthwaite....
- Bridgefoot - Marron Junction (junction with the London & North Western Railway who took over the Cockermouth and Workington Railway
Cockermouth and Workington Railway
The Cockermouth & Workington Railway was a railway between the towns of Workington and Cockermouth established by Act of Parliament in 1845. A single-tracked line of eight and a half miles length, it was built primarily to carry coals from the pits of West Cumberland to the port at Workington for...
in 1866) (Route in Google Maps)
Southern section
Moor Row - WoodendWoodend, Egremont, Cumbria
Woodend is a village near Egremont, Cumbria, England. It formerly had a station on the Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway but the station closed in 1947....
- Egremont
Egremont, Cumbria
Egremont is a market town and civil parish in the Borough of Copeland in Cumbria, England, south of Whitehaven and on the River Ehen. The town, which lies at the foot of Uldale Valley and Dent Fell, was historically within Cumberland and has a long industrial heritage including dyeing, weaving and...
Company Branch Lines
In addition to the locations shown in the Northern and Southern sections there were also several important WC&ER branchlines that served local industry. They were the Bigrigg, Beckermet, Crossfield, Eskett, Ehen Valley, Gillfoot, Mowbray, Palaflat, Ullcoats Branches. The Gillgaron Branch is included below.The Egremont to Sellafield Section
EgremontEgremont, Cumbria
Egremont is a market town and civil parish in the Borough of Copeland in Cumbria, England, south of Whitehaven and on the River Ehen. The town, which lies at the foot of Uldale Valley and Dent Fell, was historically within Cumberland and has a long industrial heritage including dyeing, weaving and...
- Beckermet
Beckermet
Beckermet is a village, civil parish and post town in the English county of Cumbria, located near the coast between Egremont and Seascale. Historically within Cumberland, it is served by Braystones railway station and is less than a mile west of the A595 road...
- Sellafield
Sellafield railway station
Sellafield railway station serves the nuclear facility of Sellafield in Cumbria, England. The railway station is a stop on the scenic Cumbrian Coast Line. Some through trains to the Furness Line stop here...
In reality this was an independent railway to the WC&ER as it was jointly owned by the WC&ER and the Furness Railway
Furness Railway
The Furness Railway was a railway company operating in the Furness area of Lancashire in North West England.-History:The company was established on May 23, 1844 when the Furness Railway Act was passed by Parliament...
and was known as the Cleator and Furness Railway
Cleator and Furness Railway
Egremont - Beckermet - Sellafield.This line was the joint properties of the Furness Railway and the Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway. It was worked by the WC&ER intil the company sold out to the London & North Western Railway and Furness Railway in 1878/9 after which it became part of the...
, although it was worked by the WC&ER. This section was opened to traffic in 1869. There was one station on the line that was located at Beckermet. This section of railway also became part of the 'Joint Lines' when the WC&ER was taken over. (see below)
The Gillgaron Branch
Parton - DistingtonDistington
Distington is a large village and civil parish in Cumbria, England, south of Workington and north-northeast of Whitehaven.Historically a part of Cumberland, the civil parish includes the nearby settlements of Common End, Gilgarran and Pica...
- Ullock
Ullock
-External links:...
. This branchline is often overlooked by some authors and historians. It was important for it served an iron works at Distington.
Mergers
Note: The Whitehaven & Furness Junction Railway that ran south from Whitehaven was absorbed into the Furness railway in 1866 and all references to the WFJR after this date should read Furness railway.In 1878 the Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway was taken over by the London and North Western Railway
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
and the Furness Railway
Furness Railway
The Furness Railway was a railway company operating in the Furness area of Lancashire in North West England.-History:The company was established on May 23, 1844 when the Furness Railway Act was passed by Parliament...
objected to the takeover. The London and North Western Railway
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
had in 1866 acquired two railways in the west of the county and had entered into an understanding with the Furness Railway
Furness Railway
The Furness Railway was a railway company operating in the Furness area of Lancashire in North West England.-History:The company was established on May 23, 1844 when the Furness Railway Act was passed by Parliament...
that the L&NWR would not expand any further south in West Cumberland than the lines that were acquired in 1866. As a result the former WC&ER became joint property of the London and North Western Railway
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
and the Furness Railway
Furness Railway
The Furness Railway was a railway company operating in the Furness area of Lancashire in North West England.-History:The company was established on May 23, 1844 when the Furness Railway Act was passed by Parliament...
. At the 1923 grouping
Railways Act 1921
The Railways Act 1921, also known as the Grouping Act, was an enactment by the British government of David Lloyd George intended to stem the losses being made by many of the country's 120 railway companies, move the railways away from internal competition, and to retain some of the benefits which...
, both these railways were absorbed into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
(LMS). The LMS became part of British Railways at the 1948 nationalisation.