Changes

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>*'''Hereford ===London, Worcester and Kidderminster South Staffordshire Railway===Originally proposed in ''': Advertised in March 1844'''February 1845as the ''' seeking capital of £750London and Worcester and Rugby and Oxford Railway Company'', renamed the London,000Worcester and South Staffordshire Railway in February 1845. It The proposed "'standard gauge'...connecting Herefordroute from Oxford and Aylesbury in the south ran to Wolverhampton via Banbury, LeominsterEvesham, Kington, Ludlow, Tenbury, Cleobury, BewdleyWorcester, Stourport and adjacent country, etc, with the Mining and Manufacturing districts of Kidderminster, Stourbridge, and Dudley, Birmingham and was shown on a map of the proposed route of the OWW which covered much of 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://ref> By April 1845 it was to be amalgamated with the Welsh Midland Railway.discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C12626 National Archives]</ref name=LES14041845>London Evening Standard, 14 April 1845, via the British Newspaper Archive</ref> Three months earlier [https://postlmg.cc/R6DY2YFX Map of the proposed OWW held in November 1844, a newspaper article referred to a meeting at Ludlow to discuss a the National Archives]</ref>. ===Hereford and Kidderminster Railway===Advertised in '''February 1845''' seeking capital of £750,000. It proposed "''...connecting Hereford, Leominster, Kington, Ludlow and , Tenbury, Cleobury, Bewdley, Stourport and adjacent country, etc, with the Mining and Manufacturing districts of Kidderminster, Stourbridge, Dudley, Birmingham Railwayand the Metropolis.''" which was probably this proposal.<ref>Worcester HeraldHereford Times, 9 November 184422 February 1845, via the British Newspaper Archive</ref>*'''By April 1845 it was to be amalgamated with the Welsh Midland Railway''': Advertised in '''April 1845''' seeking capital of £3.5M. It proposed "''...to connect the manufacturing districts and the seaports of south Wales ... with Birmingham and the great manufacturing districts of Staffordshire.''".<ref>name=LES14041845>London Evening Standard, 14 April 1845, via the British Newspaper Archive</ref> A Three months earlier in November 1844, a newspaper article referred to a meeting took place at Worcester on 30 April 1845 at which it was noted that the Ludlow to discuss a proposed railway would be beneficial to the interests of the City"Hereford, Leominster, Ludlow and Birmingham Railway" which was probably this proposal. At that time <ref>Worcester Herald, 9 November 1844, via the question of whether the railway would be built to 'broad gauge' had not been decided.<ref>Worcester Journal, 1 May 1854, via the British Newspaper British Newspaper Archive</ref> Notice of the intention to bring a Bill to Parliament was advertised  ===Welsh Midland Railway===Advertised in November '''April 1845''' seeking capital of £3.<ref>[https://newspapers5M.library.wales/view/3334419/3334420/4/Cilgerran The Cambrian, 21 November 1845, via National Library It proposed "''...to connect the manufacturing districts and the seaports of south Wales]</ref> By 1846 ... with Birmingham and the affairs great manufacturing districts of the company were being wound upStaffordshire.''".<ref>[http:London Evening Standard, 14 April 1845, via the British Newspaper Archive<//wwwref> A meeting took place at Worcester on 30 April 1845 at which it was noted that the proposed railway would be beneficial to the interests of the City.gwentarchives.gov.uk/media/46833/d4131-newport-abergavenny-and-hereford-At that time the question of whether the railway-company-records-relating-would be built to-the-taff-vale-extension'broad gauge' had not been decided.html#toc Gwent Archives]</ref>*'''WorcesterJournal, Shrewsbury and Crewe Union Railway''': Advertised in '''April 1 May 1845''' seeking capital , via the British Newspaper Archive</ref> Notice of £1the intention to bring a Bill to Parliament was advertised in November 1845.<ref>[https://newspapers.5Mlibrary. The proposed route was described as "''Forming a junction at Stourport with the Londonwales/view/3334419/3334420/4/Cilgerran The Cambrian, Worcester and South Staffordshire Railway21 November 1845, via National Library of Wales]</ref> By 1846 the proposed railway will pass up the valley affairs of the Severn, and through or in the immediate neighbourhood of Bewdley, Kidderminster, Bridgnorth, Much Wenlock, Madeley, Ironbridge, Coalbrookdale, to Shrewsbury, and thence… will terminate at Crewe''company were being wound up.<ref>[http://www.gwentarchives."gov.<ref>Morning Chronicle, 18 April 1845, via the British Newspaper Archive<uk/media/46833/ref>*'''Kidderminster d4131-newport-abergavenny-and Welsh Midland Junction Railway''': -hereford-railway-company-records-relating-to-the-taff-vale-extension.html#toc Gwent Archives]</ref> ===Worcester, Shrewsbury and Crewe Union Railway===Advertised in '''May April 1845''' seeking capital of £650,000£1.5M. This appears to follow on from The proposed route was described as "''Forming a junction at Stourport with the April 1845 proposal to merge the Hereford London, Worcester and Kidderminster Railway with the Welsh Midland South Staffordshire Railway, as the advertisement repeated word for word proposed railway will pass up the proposal valley of the former.<ref>Worcester HeraldSevern, 24 May 1845, via and through or in the British Newspaper Archiveimmediate neighbourhood of Bewdley, Kidderminster, Bridgnorth, Much Wenlock, Madeley, Ironbridge, Coalbrookdale, to Shrewsbury, and thence… will terminate at Crewe''.".</ref>*'''[[Shropshire Union Railways Morning Chronicle, 18 April 1845, via the British Newspaper Archive</ref> ===Kidderminster and Canal Company]]Welsh Midland Junction Railway===Advertised in ''': First proposed by Robert Stephenson in '''July May 1845''' as one seeking capital of four planned railways for the Shropshire Union£650,000. Stephenson surveyed This appears to follow on from the route from Worcester April 1845 proposal to Shrewsbury in 1846. A Bill was raised in Parliament merge the Hereford and Kidderminster Railway with the same yearWelsh Midland Railway, but never enacted. Proposals as the advertisement repeated word for formation word the proposal of a company to build railway appeared in July 1847the former.<ref>Worcester Herald, 24 May 1845, but no further action had been taken by 1848 after which time via the Shropshire Union let the plan lapseBritish Newspaper Archive</ref> ===Direct East and West Junction Railway===Advertised in '''August 1845''' seeking capital of £800,000. However StephensonThe route was described as "''s plans were used by [[Robert Nicholson]] for what became This important railway is 42 miles in length; will commence at the railway station of the [[The Severn Valley Oxford Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway Company (19th Century)]].*'''Oxford at Kidderminster, and Worcester Extension will proceed from thence by way of Tenbury and Chester Junction RailwayLeominster to Hereford''': Advertised in ". The article also noted that "''The line is free from engineering difficulties, and gradients highly favourable'September 1845''' seeking capital of £2.25M. Planned as a broad gauge extension to the OWW's Oxford to Worcester route"<ref>Shipping and Mercantile Gazette, 21 August 1845 via the British Newspaper Archive</ref> That description does not really accord with the Engineer's map, which shows the proposed extension from Worcester was described as "''Passing up line crossing the Severn Valeby a bridge approximately where Dowles Bridge was built, it reaches Stourport and proceeding thence through Kidderminster arrives at Bewdleythen entering a tunnel at Northwood Lane which ended beyond Habberley Valley, a length of around 1. Leaving Stourbridge a little to 8 miles or about the East, the line is taken to Bridgnorthsame as Brunel's famous Box Tunnel. Passing through or near to Much Wenlock<ref>Copy of map prepared by J Gardener, Broseley and Madeleyheld by Worcester Archive</ref> By 1846 it had been amalgamated with another scheme backed by the same promoters, from which there will be a branch to Shrewsburythe Derbyshire, the line ascends Coalbrookdale Staffordshire and approaching in its course Wellington and Wem, enters WhitchurchWorcestershire Junction Railway. The trunk line will continue from Whitchurch and passing through or near Malpas, will have its northern terminus in the city of Chester''.".<ref>Shrewsbury Chronicle, 19 September 1845<ref>Worcestershire Chronicle, 4 November 1846 via the British Newspaper Archive</ref> The proposal did not go ahead It was later alleged that this merger was unlawful, and shareholders in the Company voted by 1851 action was being taken to wind it up in November 1846the affairs of the 'Direct East and West'.<ref>London Evening Standard, 30 November 1846Worcester Journal, 26 June 1851 via the British Newspaper Archive</ref>*'''Cambrian ===Shropshire Union Railways and Grand Junction RailwayCanal Company===:''Main article: [[Shropshire Union Railways and Canal Company]]'': Advertised First proposed by Robert Stephenson in '''September July 1845''' seeking capital as one of £2.2M. The prospectus began "''This important line, the only one having four planned railways for its object the direct communication between South Wales, Birmingham, Shropshire Union. Stephenson surveyed the Midland counties, Liverpool, Manchester and route from Worcester to Shrewsbury in 1846. A Bill was raised in Parliament the Northsame year, will commence at Hereford, and passing but never enacted. Proposals for formation of a company to the Vale of the Severn via Bewdleybuild railway appeared in July 1847, Bridgnorth, Broseley, Iron Bridge and Coalbrook Dale, take a direct route through or near Wellington and Market Drayton to Crewe, or to Runcorn, whence the existing lines will continue the traffic to Liverpool, Manchester and the Northbut no further action had been taken by 1848 after which time the Shropshire Union let the plan lapse. At Bewdley there will be a branch line through Kidderminster to Birmingham and However Stephenson's plans were used by [[Robert Nicholson]] for what became the Midland Counties[[The Severn Valley Railway Company (19th Century)]].''".<ref>Worcestershire Chronicle, 24 September 1845, via the British Newspaper Archive</ref> *'''Shropshire Mineral Railway''': ===Oxford and Worcester Extension and Chester Junction Railway===Advertised in '''September 1845''' seeking capital of £700£2.25M. Planned as a broad gauge extension to the OWW's Oxford to Worcester route,000. It the proposed extension from Worcester was intended to form described as "...''in conjunction with other existing Passing up the Severn Vale, it reaches Stourport and projected lines, proceeding thence through Kidderminster arrives at Bewdley. Leaving Stourbridge a direct connection between Liverpoollittle to the East, Manchester Sheffield, York and Hull and Swansea and South Walesthe line is taken to Bridgnorth.''" The proposed Railway itself formed a connection between the Grand Junction Railway at Norton Bridge (Passing through or near Stafford) to Much Wenlock, Broseley and the ShrewsburyMadeley, Hereford from which there will be a branch to Shrewsbury, the line ascends Coalbrookdale and approaching in its course Wellington and North Wales Railway at Wistanstow (north of Ludlow)Wem, Shropshireenters Whitchurch. From Oakengates The trunk line will continue from Whitchurch and passing through or near Malpas, will have its northern terminus in the planned route southwards passed through city of Chester''."...''Priors Lee<ref>Shrewsbury Chronicle, Stirchley19 September 1845, Dawley, Madeley and Ironbridge to Coalbrookdale, there crossing via the proposed "Worcester and Crewe Railway"''British Newspaper Archive</ref group="note">Presumably referring to The proposal did not go ahead and shareholders in the Worcester, Shrewsbury and Crewe Union RailwayCompany voted to wind it up in November 1846.</ref>".<ref>Worcestershire ChronicleLondon Evening Standard, 17 September 184530 November 1846, via the British Newspaper Archive</ref>*'''Direct London ===Cambrian and Holyhead Grand Junction Railway''': ===Advertised in '''October September 1845''' seeking capital of £2M, it proposed a direct route between London and Holyhead£2.2M. The southern end of the route was described thus: "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 British Newspaper Archive</ref>*'''Dudleyexisting lines will continue the traffic to Liverpool, Madeley, Broseley Manchester and the North. At Bewdley there will be a branch line through Kidderminster to Birmingham and Ironbridge Railwaythe Midland Counties.''': ".<ref>Worcestershire Chronicle, 24 September 1845, via the British Newspaper Archive</ref>  ===Shropshire Mineral Railway===Advertised in '''October 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, Broseley Manchester Sheffield, York and Iron Bridge, at or near which place it is proposed to form a junction with the proposed Shrewsbury, Worcester Hull and Swansea and Crewe Union RailwaySouth Wales.''<ref group="note">Presumably referring to The proposed Railway itself formed a connection between the Grand Junction Railway at Norton Bridge (near Stafford) and the WorcesterShrewsbury, Shrewsbury Hereford and Crewe Union North Wales Railwayat Wistanstow (north of Ludlow), Shropshire.</ref> From Oakengates the planned route southwards passed through "...".<ref>Aris's Birmingham Gazette'Priors Lee, Stirchley, Dawley, 6 October 1845Madeley and Ironbridge to Coalbrookdale, via there crossing the British Newspaper Archiveproposed "Worcester and Crewe Railway"''</refgroup="note"> In November 1845 Presumably referring to the Company determined to extend their line to Wolverhampton Worcester, Shrewsbury and Stourbridge by a direct line through Kingswinford, noting this would provide a connection to Stourport "''Crewe Union Railway...in conjunction with the Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Stour Valley 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 the Stour Valley Line): Holyhead. The Company was authorised by an Act southern end of Parliament in August 1846 and successfully built the line from Birmingham route was described thus: "''It will commence by a junction with the proposed Buckinghamshire Railway at Banbury, and will proceed by way of Kineton, Stratford and Bromsgrove to Wolverhampton via Smethwick which opened in 1852 and is still in use todayKidderminster. From Kidderminster, passing near Bridgnorth, Madeley, Broseley and Wellington to Shrewsbury''.".<ref>[https:Worcester Journal, 9 October 1845, via the British Newspaper Archive<//enref> ===Dudley, Madeley, Broseley and Ironbridge Railway===Advertised in '''October 1845''' seeking capital of £800,000.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stour_Valley_Line Stour Valley Line on Wikipedia]</ref>The The prospectus began "'Stour Valley' by which This company has been formed for the purpose of constructing a direct line is known referred of railway from Dudley to a branch (Madeley, Broseley and Iron Bridge, at or near which place it is proposed but never built) from Smethwick following the River Stour via Stourbridge and Kidderminster to its form a junction with the Severn at Stourport.proposed Shrewsbury, Worcester and Crewe Union Railway''<refgroup="note">Worcestershire ChroniclePresumably referring to the Worcester, 20 August 1845, via the British Newspaper ArchiveShrewsbury and Crewe Union Railway.</ref> *'''Shrewsbury, Ironbridge and Bridgnorth Railway''' (known as Peele...".<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 Stourbridge by a direct line through Kingswinford, noting this proposed railway were deposited in '''November 1852'would provide a connection to Stourport "''. The Book of Reference noted it was "...in conjunction with the Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Stour Valley Railway''to incorporate a Company for making Railways from the Shifnal and Madeley Branch of ".<ref>Worcester Journal, 13 November 1845, via the Shrewsbury and British Newspaper Archive</ref> ===Birmingham Railway to the towns of Ironbridge and Bridgnorth, Wolverhampton and to Lightmoor; Stour Valley Railway'===(Often shortened to Stour Valley Railway and to authorise working arrangement with other Companies.''".<ref>[httpnow known as the Stour Valley Line)://search.shropshirehistory.org.uk/collections/getrecord/CCA_XQ_E_7_1_348/ Shropshire History]</ref> [[Robert Nicholson]]The Company was authorised by an Act of Parliament in ''s original route for 'August 1846''' and successfully built the SVR, line from Birmingham to Wolverhampton via Smethwick which passed to the east of the [[Linley|Apley Estate]] opened in 1852 and towards Madeley was supported by the Estate's owner and local MP is still in use today.<ref>[[Linley|Thomas Whitmore]]https://en.wikipedia. When the SVR announced an alternative route to Shrewsbury via [[Linley]org/wiki/Stour_Valley_Line Stour Valley Line on Wikipedia] in late 1852, Whitmore switched his support to the Shrewsbury, Ironbridge and Bridgnorth Railway instead.</ref>The 'Stour Valley' by which the line is known referred to a branch (proposed but never built) from Smethwick following the [[Bibliography#Books|Marshall (1989)River Stour]] p. 23via Stourbridge and Kidderminster to its junction with the Severn at Stourport.<ref>Worcestershire Chronicle, 20 August 1845, via the British Newspaper Archive</ref>*'''Wolverhampton & Bridgenorth''===Shrewsbury, Ironbridge and Bridgnorth Railway===(Known as Peele' (sics Line, probably after Joshua John Peele, a prominent Bridgnorth Solicitor) : Plans and sections for this proposed railway were deposited in '''RailwayNovember 1852''': Advertised in . The Book of Reference noted it was "...'''1860''' (the first of to incorporate a number of [[Wolverhampton#Proposed Company for making Railways between Wolverhampton from the Shifnal and Bridgnorth|proposed railways between Wolverhampton Madeley Branch of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway to the towns of Ironbridge and Bridgnorth]] , and to Lightmoor; and to be advertised)authorise working arrangement with other Companies. A plan for the route was drawn up although it did not include the engineer’s name''".<ref>[http://search.shropshirehistory.org. It would have run from the Shrewsbury & Birmingham Railway 3 miles west of Wolverhampton via Wergsuk/collections/getrecord/CCA_XQ_E_7_1_348/ Shropshire History]</ref> [[Robert Nicholson]]'s original route for the SVR, Pattingham and Worfield which passed to join the SVR (then still under construction) around 2 miles north east of Bridgnorth. The proposal did not gain sufficient interest for a Bill to be presented to Parliament.<ref>the [[Bibliography#BooksLinley|Marshall (1989)Apley Estate]] p. 114.</ref>*and towards Madeley was supported by the Estate'''South Staffordshire & Central Wales Railway Dudley & Bridgenorth''' (sic): Advertised s owner and local MP [[Linley|Thomas Whitmore]]. When the SVR announced an alternative route to Shrewsbury via [[Linley]] in 1861. A plan and section were depositedlate 1852, prepared by engineer Richard Taylor. The line would have run from Whitmore switched his support to the South Staffordshire Shrewsbury, Ironbridge and Bridgnorth 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 instead.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Marshall (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="note">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===Proposed in 1897 under the Light Railways Act of 1896 which meant a separate Act of Parliament would not be required. The route, 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, 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. The proposal was rejected by Parliament in 1866.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Marshall (1989)]] p. 61.</ref> ===West Staffordshire Railway===Proposed in 1874, 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. The scheme, which was backed by the LNWR as an alternative to the [[Kidderminster Loop Line]], 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 (1989Item 471)]] p. 115.</ref>

==Proposals after the opening of the SVR in 1862==After 1862, the following railways were proposed to form a junction with the SVR Cleobury Mortimer and Ditton Priors Light Railway (incomplete listextensions)*'''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 and Staffordshire Railway''': Proposed in 1865, the route would also have connected main line Shropshire to the Black Country networks via the Smestow Valley at Trysull.<ref name=Trysull/>=*'''Stourbridge Railway, Valley of the Stour Extension''': Proposed in 1866, 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. The proposal was rejected by Parliament in 1866.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Marshall (1989)]] p. 61.</ref>*'''West Staffordshire Railway'''Main article: Proposed in 1874, 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. The scheme, which was backed by the LNWR as an alternative to the [[Kidderminster Loop Line]], was rejected by Parliament in 1875.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Marshall (1989)]] p. 81.</ref>*'''[[Cleobury Mortimer and Ditton Priors Light Railway]]''' (extensions): 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 the railway considered three other possible extensions from the terminus at Ditton Priors, one of which would have joined the SVR near Bridgnorth. None of the extensions were taken up after the First World War.<ref>[[Bibliography#Other References|Price (1995)]] pp.39-40.</ref>.