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Skeleton This article incorporating gives details of '''unsuccessful proposals for railways in, or associated with, the Severn Valley'''. These fall into three main categories:*Early proposals for railways pre-dating the construction of the Severn Valley Railway itself;*Proposals for railways connecting Wolverhampton and Bridgnorth;*Other proposals, including failed schemes for the Kidderminster Loop lineThe article incorporates information from the SVR-Online Forum "[https://forum.svr-online.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=4280&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=120 ''Early history of the SVR on the British Newspaper Archive''" thread].

<div class==Background==The [[Oxford Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway]] which would form the southern connection of the Severn Valley Railway was authorised in 1845 and opened throughout in 1853. The Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway which would form the northern connection was authorised in 1846 and also opened throughout in 1853.<ref"toclimit-2">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrewsbury_and_Hereford_Railway Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway on Wikipedia]__TOC__</refdiv> [[The Severn Valley Railway Company (19th Century)]] was authorised to build the SVR in 1853 and completed its construction in 1862.

The world’s first inter-city passenger railway, the Liverpool and Manchester, opened in 1830. Within a few years the 'Railway Mania' to build new railways had begun, with boom years in the mid-1830s and in 1845–47. Between 1835 and 1853, a number of railways schemes were proposed, with varying degrees of credibility, to build a line railways crossing, following or terminating in the Severn Valley somewhere between Stourport and Ironbridge. Many Some of the schemes during the Mania were for so-called 'direct' railways which were simply planned to run in straight lines across large areas of countryside; these proposals originated would have been difficult to construct and nearly impossible for the locomotives of the day to work on. For context, the '''[[Oxford Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway]]''' which would form the southern connection of the Severn Valley Railway was authorised in 1845 and opened throughout in the 1853. The '''Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway Mania''' which peaked would form the northern connection was authorised in 1846 and also opened throughout in 1853.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrewsbury_and_Hereford_Railway Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway on Wikipedia]</ref> [[The Severn Valley Railway Company (19th Century)]] was authorised to build the mid-1840sSVR in 1853 and completed its construction in 1862.

*'''===Birmingham, Dudley and Wolverhampton Railway''': ===Proposed in the '''early 1830s''', the route would run "''...from the line of the Grand Junction Railway near Wolverhampton through Dudley, Stourbridge, Kidderminster and Stourport to unite with the Birmingham and Gloucester Railway at or near Worcester''." A survey had been completed by March 1836. The Company wanted the Grand Connection Railway to join their route at Dudley rather than continuing to Wolverhampton, which became a source of dispute between the two companies.<ref>Worcester Journal, 10 March 1836, via the British Newspaper Archive</ref>*'''===Grand Connection Railway''': ===Advertised in '''December 1835''', seeking capital of £800,000.<ref>Worcester Journal, 31 December 1835, via the British Newspaper Archive</ref> It was originally intended to run west of the Severn from Gloucester, crossing the river at Worcester. One branch would connect to Birmingham, the other continue via Stourport, Kidderminster, Stourbridge and Dudley to Wolverhampton.<ref>Worcester Journal, 25 February 1836, via the British Newspaper Archive</ref> Despite changes to the route, the Bill for the line was rejected in Parliament in 1837 and again in 1838.<ref>[https://www.worcesterpeopleandplaces.org.uk/news/356/146/The-Grand-Connection-Railway.html worcesterpeopleandplaces.org.uk]</ref>*'''===Worcester and Cardiff Junction Railway''': ===Proposed in '''1843''', the main branch would begin at the Taff Vale Railway near Cardiff and pass through Leominster, [[Wyre Forest Line#Easton Court|Little Hereford]] and [[Wyre Forest Line#Tenbury Wells|Tenbury]]. A branch was to run from [[Wyre Forest Line#Newnham Bridge|Newnham]] to Stourport.<ref>The Railway Times for 1843, Vol 6, p. 1092.</ref> A meeting was held in September 1844 at which it was resolved to ask the Company "...''to bring a branch line from Tenbury to Cleobury Mortimer, Bewdley and Kidderminster''.".<ref>Worcester Herald, 21 September 1844, via the British Newspaper Archive</ref>*===London, Worcester and South Staffordshire Railway===Originally proposed in '''Hereford and Kidderminster RailwayMarch 1844''': Advertised in as the ''London and Worcester and Rugby and Oxford Railway Company'', renamed the London, Worcester and South Staffordshire Railway in February 1845. The proposed 'standard gauge'' seeking capital of £750route from Oxford and Aylesbury in the south ran to Wolverhampton via Banbury,000. It proposed "''...connecting HerefordEvesham, LeominsterWorcester, KingtonStourport, LudlowKidderminster, TenburyStourbridge and Dudley, Cleobury, Bewdley, Stourport and adjacent country, etc, with and was shown on a map of the proposed route of the Mining and Manufacturing districts OWW which covered much of Kidderminster, Stourbridge, Dudley, Birmingham and the Metropolis.''"same ground.The Bill did not pass through Parliament and winding up was completed by October 1846<ref>Hereford Times, 22 February 1845, via the British Newspaper Archive<[https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C12626 National Archives]</ref> By April 1845 it was to be amalgamated with the Welsh Midland Railway.<ref name=LES14041845>London Evening Standard, 14 April 1845, via [https://postlmg.cc/R6DY2YFX Map of the proposed OWW held in the British Newspaper ArchiveNational Archives]</ref> Three months earlier in November 1844, a newspaper article referred to a meeting at Ludlow to discuss a proposed ". ===Hereford, Leominster, Ludlow and Birmingham Kidderminster Railway" which was probably this proposal.<ref>Worcester Herald, 9 November 1844, via the British Newspaper Archive</ref>*===Advertised in '''Welsh Midland RailwayFebruary 1845''': Advertised in '''April 1845''' seeking capital of £3.5Mseeking capital of £750,000. It proposed "''...to connect the manufacturing districts and the seaports of south Wales ... connecting Hereford, Leominster, Kington, Ludlow, Tenbury, Cleobury, Bewdley, Stourport and adjacent country, etc, with Birmingham the Mining and the great manufacturing Manufacturing districts of Staffordshire.Kidderminster, Stourbridge, Dudley, Birmingham and the Metropolis.''".<ref>London Evening StandardHereford Times, 14 April 22 February 1845, via the British Newspaper Archive</ref> A meeting took place at Worcester on 30 By April 1845 at which it was noted that to be amalgamated with the proposed railway would be beneficial to the interests of the City. At that time the question of whether the railway would be built to 'broad gauge' had not been decidedWelsh Midland Railway.<refname=LES14041845>Worcester JournalLondon Evening Standard, 1 May 185414 April 1845, via the British Newspaper Archive</ref> Notice of the intention Three months earlier in November 1844, a newspaper article referred to bring a Bill meeting at Ludlow to Parliament discuss a proposed "Hereford, Leominster, Ludlow and Birmingham Railway" which was advertised in November 1845probably this proposal.<ref>[https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3334419/3334420/4/Cilgerran The Cambrian, 21 November 1845, Worcester Herald, 9 November 1844, via National Library of Wales]the British Newspaper Archive</ref> By 1846 the affairs  ===Welsh Midland Railway===Advertised in '''April 1845''' seeking capital of the company were being wound up£3.5M.<ref>[http://wwwIt proposed "''.gwentarchives.gov.uk/media/46833/d4131-newport-abergavenny-to connect the manufacturing districts and the seaports of south Wales ... with Birmingham and-hereford-railway-company-records-relating-to-the-taff-vale-extensiongreat manufacturing districts of Staffordshire.''".html#toc Gwent Archives]</ref>*'''WorcesterLondon Evening Standard, Shrewsbury and Crewe Union Railway''': Advertised in '''14 April 1845''' seeking capital of £1.5M. The proposed route was described as "''Forming a junction at Stourport with , via the London, Worcester and South Staffordshire Railway, British Newspaper Archive</ref> A meeting took place at Worcester on 30 April 1845 at which it was noted that the proposed railway will pass up would be beneficial to the valley interests of the Severn, and through or in City. At that time the immediate neighbourhood question of Bewdley, Kidderminster, Bridgnorth, Much Wenlock, Madeley, Ironbridge, Coalbrookdale, whether the railway would be built to Shrewsbury, and thence… will terminate at Crewe'broad gauge'."had not been decided.<ref>Morning ChronicleWorcester Journal, 18 April 1 May 1845, via the British Newspaper Archive</ref>*'''Kidderminster and Welsh Midland Junction Railway''': Advertised Notice of the intention to bring a Bill to Parliament was advertised in '''May November 1845''' seeking capital of £650,000. This appears to follow on from the April <ref>[https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3334419/3334420/4/Cilgerran The Cambrian, 21 November 1845 proposal to merge the Hereford and Kidderminster Railway with the Welsh Midland Railway, as the advertisement repeated word for word the proposal , via National Library of the former.Wales]</ref>Worcester Herald, 24 May 1845, via By 1846 the affairs of the British Newspaper Archivecompany were being wound up.</ref>*'''[[Shropshire Union Railways http://www.gwentarchives.gov.uk/media/46833/d4131-newport-abergavenny-and Canal Company]]''': First proposed by Robert Stephenson in '''July 1845''' as one of four planned railways for -hereford-railway-company-records-relating-to-the Shropshire Union-taff-vale-extension. Stephenson surveyed the route from html#toc Gwent Archives]</ref> ===Worcester to , Shrewsbury and Crewe Union Railway===Advertised in 1846. A Bill '''April 1845''' seeking capital of £1.5M. The proposed route was raised in Parliament described as "''Forming a junction at Stourport with the same yearLondon, Worcester and South Staffordshire Railway, but never enacted. Proposals for formation the proposed railway will pass up the valley of a company to build railway appeared in July 1847the Severn, but no further action had been taken by 1848 after which time and through or in the Shropshire Union let the plan lapse. However Stephensonimmediate neighbourhood of Bewdley, Kidderminster, Bridgnorth, Much Wenlock, Madeley, Ironbridge, Coalbrookdale, to Shrewsbury, and thence… will terminate at Crewe''s plans were used by [[Robert Nicholson]] for what became .".<ref>Morning Chronicle, 18 April 1845, via the [[The Severn Valley Railway Company (19th Century)]].British Newspaper Archive</ref> *'''Oxford ===Kidderminster and Worcester Extension and Chester Welsh Midland Junction Railway''': ===Advertised in '''September May 1845''' seeking capital of £2£650,000.25M. Planned as a broad gauge extension This appears to follow on from the April 1845 proposal to merge the Hereford and Kidderminster Railway with the OWW's Oxford to Worcester routeWelsh Midland Railway, as the proposed extension from advertisement repeated word for word the proposal of the former.<ref>Worcester was described as "''Passing up the Severn ValeHerald, 24 May 1845, it reaches Stourport and proceeding thence through Kidderminster arrives at Bewdley. Leaving Stourbridge a little to via the British Newspaper Archive</ref> ===Direct East, the line is taken to Bridgnorthand West Junction Railway===Advertised in '''August 1845''' seeking capital of £800,000. Passing through or near to Much WenlockThe route was described as "''This important railway is 42 miles in length; will commence at the railway station of the Oxford Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway at Kidderminster, Broseley and Madeley, will proceed from which there will be a branch thence by way of Tenbury and Leominster to ShrewsburyHereford''". The article also noted that "''The line is free from engineering difficulties, the line ascends Coalbrookdale and approaching in its course Wellington and Wem, enters Whitchurch. The trunk line will continue from Whitchurch and passing through or near Malpas, will have its northern terminus in the city of Chestergradients highly favourable''.".<ref>Shrewsbury ChronicleShipping and Mercantile Gazette, 19 September 21 August 1845, via the British Newspaper Archive</ref> The proposal did That description does not go ahead and shareholders in really accord with the Company voted to wind it up in November 1846.<ref>London Evening StandardEngineer's map, 30 November 1846which shows the proposed line crossing the Severn by a bridge approximately where Dowles Bridge was built, then entering a tunnel at Northwood Lane which ended beyond Habberley Valley, via a length of around 1.8 miles or about the British Newspaper Archivesame as Brunel's famous Box Tunnel.<ref>Copy of map prepared by J Gardener, held by Worcester Archive</ref>*'''Cambrian By 1846 it had been amalgamated with another scheme backed by the same promoters, the Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Grand Worcestershire Junction Railway''': Advertised in '''September 1845''' seeking capital of £2.2M. The prospectus began "''This important line<ref>Worcestershire Chronicle, 4 November 1846 via the only one having for its object the direct communication between South WalesBritish Newspaper Archive</ref> It was later alleged that this merger was unlawful, Birmingham, the Midland counties, Liverpool, Manchester and the North, will commence at Hereford, and passing and by 1851 action was being taken to wind up the Vale affairs of the Severn via Bewdley, Bridgnorth'Direct East and West'.<ref>Worcester Journal, Broseley, Iron Bridge 26 June 1851 via the British Newspaper Archive</ref> ===Shropshire Union Railways and Coalbrook Dale, take a direct route through or near Wellington Canal Company===:''Main article: [[Shropshire Union Railways and Market Drayton to Crewe, or to Runcorn, whence Canal Company]]''First proposed by Robert Stephenson in '''July 1845''' as one of four planned railways for the existing lines will continue Shropshire Union. Stephenson surveyed the traffic route from Worcester to LiverpoolShrewsbury in 1846. A Bill was raised in Parliament the same year, Manchester and the Northbut never enacted. At Bewdley there will be Proposals for formation of a branch line through Kidderminster company to Birmingham and build railway appeared in July 1847, but no further action had been taken by 1848 after which time the Shropshire Union let the Midland Countiesplan lapse.However Stephenson''".<ref>Worcestershire Chronicle, 24 September 1845, via s plans were used by [[Robert Nicholson]] for what became the British Newspaper Archive</ref> [[The Severn Valley Railway Company (19th Century)]]. ===Oxford and Worcester Extension and Chester Junction Railway===*'''Shropshire Mineral Railway''': Advertised in Advertised in '''September 1845''' seeking capital of £700,000£2.25M. It was intended Planned as a broad gauge extension to form "...the OWW's Oxford to Worcester route, the proposed extension from Worcester was described as "''in conjunction with other existing Passing up the Severn Vale, it reaches Stourport and projected lines, a direct connection between Liverpool, Manchester Sheffield, York and Hull and Swansea and South Walesproceeding thence through Kidderminster arrives at Bewdley.''" The proposed Railway itself formed Leaving Stourbridge a connection between little to the East, the Grand Junction Railway at Norton Bridge (line is taken to Bridgnorth. Passing through or near Stafford) to Much Wenlock, Broseley and the ShrewsburyMadeley, Hereford and North Wales Railway at Wistanstow (north of Ludlow)from which there will be a branch to Shrewsbury, Shropshire. From Oakengates the planned route southwards passed through "line ascends Coalbrookdale and approaching in its course Wellington and Wem, enters Whitchurch...''Priors Lee, Stirchley, Dawley, Madeley The trunk line will continue from Whitchurch and Ironbridge to Coalbrookdale, there crossing passing through or near Malpas, will have its northern terminus in the proposed "Worcester and Crewe Railway"city of Chester''.".<ref group="note">Presumably referring to the WorcesterShrewsbury Chronicle, Shrewsbury and Crewe Union Railway.</ref>".<ref>Worcestershire Chronicle, 17 19 September 1845, via the British Newspaper Archive</ref>*'''Direct London The proposal did not go ahead and Holyhead Railway''': Advertised shareholders in '''October 1845''' seeking capital of £2M, the Company voted to wind it proposed a direct route between up in November 1846.<ref>London and Holyhead. The southern end of Evening Standard, 30 November 1846, via the route was described thus: British Newspaper Archive</ref> ===Cambrian and Grand Junction Railway===Advertised in '''September 1845''' seeking capital of £2.2M. The prospectus began "''It will commence by a junction with This important line, the only one having for its object the proposed Buckinghamshire Railway at Banburydirect communication between South Wales, Birmingham, the Midland counties, Liverpool, Manchester and the North, and will proceed by way of Kinetoncommence at Hereford, Stratford and Bromsgrove passing to Kidderminster. From Kidderminsterthe Vale of the Severn via Bewdley, passing near Bridgnorth, MadeleyBroseley, Broseley Iron Bridge and Coalbrook Dale, take a direct route through or near Wellington and Market Drayton to Shrewsbury''.".<ref>Worcester JournalCrewe, 9 October 1845or to Runcorn, via whence the existing lines will continue the British Newspaper Archive</ref>*'''Dudleytraffic to Liverpool, Madeley, Broseley Manchester and Ironbridge Railway''': Advertised in the North. At Bewdley there will be a branch line through Kidderminster to Birmingham and the Midland Counties.'''October ".<ref>Worcestershire Chronicle, 24 September 1845, via the British Newspaper Archive</ref>  ===Shropshire Mineral Railway===Advertised in '''September 1845''''' seeking capital of £800£700,000. The prospectus began It was intended to form "...''This company has been formed for the purpose of constructing in conjunction with other existing and projected lines, a direct line of railway from Dudley to Madeleyconnection between Liverpool, Manchester Sheffield, Broseley York and Hull and Iron Bridge, at or near which place it is proposed to form a junction with the proposed Shrewsbury, Worcester Swansea and Crewe Union RailwaySouth Wales.''<ref group="note">Presumably referring to The proposed Railway itself formed a connection between the Worcester, Shrewsbury and Crewe Union Grand Junction Railway.</ref>...".<ref>Aris's Birmingham Gazetteat Norton Bridge (near Stafford) and the Shrewsbury, 6 October 1845Hereford and North Wales Railway at Wistanstow (north of Ludlow), via Shropshire. From Oakengates the British Newspaper Archive</ref> In November 1845 planned route southwards passed through "...''Priors Lee, Stirchley, Dawley, Madeley and Ironbridge to Coalbrookdale, there crossing the Company determined to extend their line to Wolverhampton proposed "Worcester and Stourbridge by a direct line through Kingswinford, noting this would provide a connection to Stourport Crewe Railway"''...in conjunction with <ref group="note">Presumably referring to the BirminghamWorcester, Wolverhampton Shrewsbury and Stour Valley Crewe Union Railway''.</ref>".<ref>Worcester JournalWorcestershire Chronicle, 13 November 17 September 1845, via the British Newspaper Archive</ref>*===Direct London and Holyhead Railway===Advertised in '''Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Stour Valley RailwayOctober 1845''' (often shortened to Stour Valley Railway seeking capital of £2M, it proposed a direct route between London and now known as Holyhead. The southern end of the Stour Valley Line)route was described thus: The Company was authorised "''It will commence by an Act of Parliament in August 1846 a junction with the proposed Buckinghamshire Railway at Banbury, and successfully built the line from Birmingham will proceed by way of Kineton, Stratford and Bromsgrove to Wolverhampton via Smethwick which opened in 1852 Kidderminster. From Kidderminster, passing near Bridgnorth, Madeley, Broseley and is still in use todayWellington to Shrewsbury''.".<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stour_Valley_Line Stour Valley Line on Wikipedia]Worcester Journal, 9 October 1845, via the British Newspaper Archive</ref>The 'Stour Valley ===Dudley, Madeley, Broseley and Ironbridge Railway===Advertised in '''October 1845'' by which the line is known referred to a branch (proposed but never built) from Smethwick following ' seeking capital of £800,000. The prospectus began "''This company has been formed for the River Stour via Stourbridge and Kidderminster to its junction with the Severn at Stourport.<ref>Worcestershire Chroniclepurpose of constructing a direct line of railway from Dudley to Madeley, 20 August 1845Broseley and Iron Bridge, via the British Newspaper Archive</ref> *'''at or near which place it is proposed to form a junction with the proposed Shrewsbury, Ironbridge Worcester and Bridgnorth Crewe Union Railway''' (known as Peele<ref group="note">Presumably referring to the Worcester, Shrewsbury and Crewe Union Railway.</ref>...".<ref>Aris's LineBirmingham Gazette, probably after Joshua John Peele6 October 1845, a prominent Bridgnorth Solicitor): Plans via the British Newspaper Archive</ref> In November 1845 the Company determined to extend their line to Wolverhampton and sections for this proposed railway were deposited in '''November 1852'Stourbridge by a direct line through Kingswinford, noting this would provide a connection to Stourport "''. The Book of Reference noted it was "...''to incorporate a Company for making Railways from in conjunction with the Shifnal and Madeley Branch of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway to the towns of Ironbridge and Bridgnorth, Wolverhampton and to Lightmoor; and to authorise working arrangement with other Companies.Stour Valley Railway''".<ref>[http://search.shropshirehistory.org.uk/collections/getrecord/CCA_XQ_E_7_1_348/ Shropshire History]</ref> [[Robert Nicholson]]'s original route for the SVRWorcester Journal, which passed to the east of the [[Linley|Apley Estate]] and towards Madeley was supported by the Estate's owner and local MP [[Linley|Thomas Whitmore]]. When the SVR announced an alternative route to Shrewsbury via [[Linley]] in late 1852, Whitmore switched his support to the Shrewsbury, Ironbridge and Bridgnorth Railway instead.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Marshall (1989)]] p. 23.</ref>*'''Wolverhampton & Bridgenorth''' (sic) '''Railway''': Advertised in '''1860''' (the first of a number of [[Wolverhampton#Proposed Railways between Wolverhampton and Bridgnorth|proposed railways between Wolverhampton and Bridgnorth]] to be advertised). A plan for the route was drawn up although it did not include the engineer’s name. It would have run from the Shrewsbury & Birmingham Railway 3 miles west of Wolverhampton via Wergs, Pattingham and Worfield to join the SVR (then still under construction) around 2 miles north of Bridgnorth. The proposal did not gain sufficient interest for a Bill to be presented to Parliament.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Marshall (1989)]] p. 114.</ref>*'''South Staffordshire & Central Wales Railway Dudley & Bridgenorth''' (sic): Advertised in 1861. A plan and section were deposited, prepared by engineer Richard Taylor. The line would have run from the South Staffordshire Railway at Dudley13 November 1845, passing south of Himley and Claverley to join via the SVR (still under construction) a mile south of Bridgnorth.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Marshall (1989)]] p. 115.British Newspaper Archive</ref>

==Proposals after =Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Stour Valley Railway'===(Often shortened to Stour Valley Railway and now known as the opening Stour Valley Line): The Company was authorised by an Act of Parliament in '''August 1846''' and successfully built the SVR line from Birmingham to Wolverhampton via Smethwick which opened in 1852 and is still in 1862==After 1862, use today.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stour_Valley_Line Stour Valley Line on Wikipedia]</ref>The 'Stour Valley' by which the line is known referred to a branch (proposed but never built) from Smethwick following railways were proposed the [[River Stour]] via Stourbridge and Kidderminster to form a its junction with the SVRSevern at Stourport.<ref>Worcestershire Chronicle, 20 August 1845, via the British Newspaper Archive</ref>

{===Shrewsbury, Ironbridge and Bridgnorth Railway===(Known as Peele's Line, probably after Joshua John Peele, a prominent Bridgnorth Solicitor): Plans and sections for this proposed railway were deposited in '''November 1852'''. The Book of Reference noted it was "...''to incorporate a Company for making Railways from the Shifnal and Madeley Branch of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway to the towns of Ironbridge and Bridgnorth, and to Lightmoor; and to authorise working arrangement with other Companies.''".<ref>[http://search.shropshirehistory.org.uk/collections/getrecord/CCA_XQ_E_7_1_348/ Shropshire History]</ref> [[Robert Nicholson]]'s original route for the SVR, which passed to the east of the [[Linley|Apley Estate]] and towards Madeley was supported by the Estate's owner and local MP [[Linley|Thomas Whitmore]]. When the SVR announced an alternative route to Shrewsbury via [[Linley]] in late 1852, Whitmore switched his support to the Shrewsbury, Ironbridge and Bridgnorth Railway instead.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books| classMarshall (1989)]] p. 23.</ref> ==Proposals for railways connecting Wolverhampton and Bridgnorth==[[File:Bridgnorth-Wolverhampton_1899.jpg|thumb|300px|right|19th Century Wolverhampton and Bridgnorth proposals]] [[File:Bridgnorth-Wolverhampton_1908.jpg|thumb|300px|right|GWR Wolverhampton and Bridgnorth proposals]] ===Wolverhampton & Bridgenorth Railway===Advertised in '''1860''' (the first of a number of [[Wolverhampton#Proposed Railways between Wolverhampton and Bridgnorth|proposed railways between Wolverhampton and Bridgnorth]] to be advertised). A plan for the route was drawn up although it did not include the engineer’s name. It would have run from the Shrewsbury & Birmingham Railway 3 miles west of Wolverhampton via Wergs, Pattingham and Worfield to join the SVR (then still under construction) around 2 miles north of Bridgnorth. The proposal did not gain sufficient interest for a Bill to be presented to Parliament.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Marshall (1989)]] p. 114.</ref> ===South Staffordshire & Central Wales Railway Dudley & Bridgenorth===Advertised in 1861. A plan and section were deposited, prepared by engineer Richard Taylor of 'Bridgenorth'.<ref group="wikitablenote">This scheme, and that of 1860, included the spelling 'Bridgenorth', which appeared on the 1 inch OS map of that time.</ref> The line would have run from the South Staffordshire Railway at Dudley, passing south of Himley and Claverley to join the SVR (still under construction) a mile south of Bridgnorth.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Marshall (1989)]] p. 115.</ref> ===Wolverhampton & Bridgnorth Railway===Plans were drawn up by John Addison in 1862, following a similar route to the 1860 scheme but passing north of Worfield and including a short extension to join the LNWR line at Bushbury as well as the Shrewsbury & Birmingham. A Bill was presented in Parliament in February 1863 but it was thrown out after the preamble was not proved. It was presented again in 1864 and 1865, without the LNWR extension on the latter occasion, but both times withdrawn by its promoters. Addison then drafted a new scheme in 1865 with a connection south of Oxley Viaduct and following the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal for 3&frac12; miles before joining his earlier route to Bridgnorth. This final scheme was never presented in Parliament.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Marshall (1989)]] pp. 115-116.</ref> ===Central Wales and Staffordshire Junction Railway===Proposed in 1864, the route would have run from the S&HR at Craven Arms via Corvedale, Bridgnorth and thence via Trysull to Dudley and Wolverhampton.<ref name=Trysull>[https://wikivisually.com/wiki/Trysull Trysull on Wikivisially]</ref> ===Bridgnorth, Wolverhampton & Staffordshire Railway===Proposed in 1865 with a route planned by engineer J. Fogerty. From a connection at Oxley Viaduct, the route would run via Trysull, Wombourn,<ref group="note">The GWR station was named Wombourn, the standard spelling of the time, in preference to the modern spelling Wombourne</ref> Halfpenny Green and crossing the Severn via a viaduct near Oldbury to join the SVR south of Bridgnorth. A 4-mile branch from Wombourn was to run south to join the GWR (former OWW) Kingswinford Branch; a short branch would also run to Swindon (Staffordshire). The Act for this railway received Royal Assent in June 1866, but money could not be raised and the powers lapsed. Another line, following a similar route but with an additional connection to the LNWR near Dunstall, Wolverhampton and without the southern branches, was planned by engineers W.J. Kingsbury and T. Dowell in 1871. A Bill was presented to Parliament in February 1872 but thrown out when the preamble was not proved.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Marshall (1989)]] p. 116.</ref><ref name=Trysull/>!===Wolverhampton and Bridgnorth Light Railway!! First proposed !! ===Proposed in 1897 under the Light Railways Act of 1896 which meant a separate Act of Parliament would not be required. The route !! Other information, planned by W.B. Myers-Beswick, was to run from both the GWR and LNWR lines near Priestfield to join the SVR south of Bridgnorth, with a separate station in Bridgnorth Low Town. However this scheme did not proceed; the GWR and LNWR worked together to defeat the project in 1899<Ref>Light Railways in England and Wales, Peter Boseley (1990), p65 [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=2Q68AAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=isbn:0719017580&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjS0t3LmtTJAhUEPRQKHVgxA6sQuwUIIDAA#v=onepage&q&f=false Google Books preview]</ref>. ===GWR Proposals===The GWR Act of 11 July 1905 broadly followed the Bridgnorth, Wolverhampton and Staffordshire Railway scheme of 1865, with a line from the Shrewsbury & Birmingham Railway at Oxley Viaduct passing west of Wombourn and via Halfpenny Green before crossing the Severn near Quatford and joining the SVR at junctions 1 and 1&frac12; miles south of Bridgnorth, with a branch running south to join the Kingswinford Branch. A revised scheme was authorised in GWR (Additional Powers) Act of 1908 which moved the junction into Wombourn. In 1913 the Bridgnorth line was postponed while work went ahead on the Kingswinford section. After the First World War, the Oxley to Kingswinford Branch was completed in 1925 with the ‘branch’ having become the main line. However it was little used and closed for passenger services in 1932. The GWR (Additional Powers) Act of 1924 had extended the deadline for the Bridgnorth connection until 1927, but the decision was quickly taken to abandon it due to the rapid development of road transport.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Marshall (1989)]] pp. 118-120.</ref>  ==Other proposals after the opening of the SVR in 1862==[[File:Birmingham, Kidderminster and Stourport Railway 1892.jpg| thumb|300px|right|Plan of part of the Birmingham, Kidderminster and Stourport Railway]]After 1862, the following railways were proposed to form a junction with, or cross, the SVR (incomplete list) ===Stourbridge Railway, Valley of the Stour Extension||===Proposed in 1866||An , the route would form an extension from the Stourbridge Town branch via Kinver and Wolverley, passing 2 miles north of Kidderminster and joining the SVR north of Bewdley via a north-facing junction || Rejected . The proposal was rejected by Parliament in 1866.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Marshall (1989)]] p. 61.</ref>|-| ===West Staffordshire Railway||===Proposed in 1874 || From , the route would run from the LNWR line south of Wolverhampton via Kingswinford, west of Stourbridge, Wolverley, west of Kidderminster to connect to the Tenbury and Bewdley Railway with a short branch to Bewdley.||Backed The scheme, which was backed by the LNWR as an alternative to the [[Kidderminster Loop Line]]. Rejected , was rejected by Parliament in 1875.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Marshall (1989)]] p. 81.</ref><ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001590/18741212/049/0003 County Express; Brierley Hill, Stourbridge, Kidderminster, and Dudley News Saturday 12 December 1874 on the British Newspaper Archive]</ref> |===Birmingham, Kidderminster and Stoke Railway===Proposed around 1888-9, this would have provided a loop line to relieve the busy GWR main line and the Lickey Incline (the Stoke referred to is near Bromsgrove). A Bill went to Parliament in 1890 but failed under opposition from the GWR<ref>[https://www.flickr.com/photos/tarkaman/9380075176 Ian Dinmore on Flickr]</ref>.  ===Wolverhampton, Birmingham, and Hereford and South Wales Junction Railway.===Proposed in 1891, the main railway would have run from Wolverhampton (Monmore Green) to Hereford, passing through Kinver, Kidderminster, Stourport and Areley Kings. The Birmingham branch would run from Kidderminster to Harborne via Halesowen.<ref>[https://postimg.cc/xcD9PBP1 Railway News, 23 May 1891, via the British Newspaper Archive]</ref> ===Birmingham, Kidderminster and Stourport Railway===Proposed in 1892, this followed the same route in the Northfield area as the previous scheme and presumably had the same objectives. A branch of this railway would have crossed the Loop Line near Falling Sands Viaduct and the SVR near Stourport Station, ending at the Basin in Stourport.<ref>Plans held at [http://archivesunlocked.warwickshire.gov.uk/calmview/TreeBrowse.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&field=RefNo&key=01510%2f1%2f3%2f10%2f1%2f471 Warwickshire Archives (Item 471)]</ref> ===Cleobury Mortimer and Ditton Priors Light Railway (extensions)===|:''Main article: [[Cleobury Mortimer and Ditton Priors Light Railway]]'' Some time after opening in 1908, the CM&DPLR considered an extension to Billingsley, whose [[Collieries served by the Severn Valley Railway|colliery]] was instead served by a [[Kinlet and Billingsley Sidings signal box|branch from the SVR]] authorised in 1911 and opened in 1913. In 1912||An extension the railway considered three other possible extensions from the terminus at Ditton Priors to , one of which would have joined the SVR near Bridgnorth||One . None of 3 possible the extensions, none of which were taken up after the First World War.<ref>[[Bibliography#Other References|Price (1995)]] pp.39-40.</ref>|}.