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Unsuccessful proposals for railways in the Severn Valley

Revision as of 17:57, 28 November 2019 by Robin (talk | contribs) (→‎Proposals prior to the construction of the SVR: additional info and history)

Skeleton article incorporating information from the SVR-Online Forum "Early history of the SVR on the British Newspaper Archive" thread.

Contents

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.[1] The Severn Valley Railway Company (19th Century) was authorised to build the SVR in 1853 and completed its construction in 1862.

Proposals prior to the construction of the SVR

Between 1835 and 1853, a number of railways proposed, with varying degrees of credibility, to build a line crossing, following or terminating in the Severn Valley somewhere between Stourport and Ironbridge. Many of these proposals originated in the 'Railway Mania' which peaked in the mid-1840s.

Proposals included the following:

  • 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.[2]
  • Grand Connection Railway: Advertised in December 1835, seeking capital of £800,000.[3] 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.[4] Despite changes to the route, the Bill for the line was rejected in Parliament in 1837 and again in 1838.[5]
  • Worcester and Cardiff Junction Railway: Proposed in 1843, the main branch would begin at the Taff Vale Railway near Cardiff and pass through Leominster, Little Hereford and Tenbury. A branch was to run from Newnham to Stourport.[6] 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.".[7]
  • Hereford and Kidderminster Railway: Advertised in February 1845 seeking capital of £750,000. It proposed "...connecting Hereford, Leominster, Kington, Ludlow, Tenbury, Cleobury, Bewdley, Stourport and adjacent country, etc, with the Mining and Manufacturing districts of Kidderminster, Stourbridge, Dudley, Birmingham and the Metropolis.".[8] By April 1845 it was to be amalgamated with the Welsh Midland Railway.[9]
  • 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.".[10] 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. At that time the question of whether the railway would be built to 'broad gauge' had not been decided.[11] Notice of the intention to bring a Bill to Parliament was advertised in November 1845.[12] By 1846 the affairs of the company were being wound up.[13]
  • Worcester, Shrewsbury and Crewe Union Railway: Advertised in April 1845 seeking capital of £1.5M. The proposed route was described as "Forming a junction at Stourport with the London, Worcester and South Staffordshire Railway, the proposed railway will pass up the valley 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.".[14]
  • Kidderminster and Welsh Midland Junction Railway: Advertised in May 1845 seeking capital of £650,000. This appears to follow on from the April 1845 proposal to merge the Hereford and Kidderminster Railway with the Welsh Midland Railway, as the advertisement repeated word for word the proposal of the former.[15]
  • Oxford and Worcester Extension and Chester Junction Railway: Advertised in September 1845 seeking capital of £2.25M. Planned as a broad gauge extension to the OWW's Oxford to Worcester route, the proposed extension from Worcester was described as "Passing up the Severn Vale, it reaches Stourport and proceeding thence through Kidderminster arrives at Bewdley. Leaving Stourbridge a little to the East, the line is taken to Bridgnorth. Passing through or near to Much Wenlock, Broseley and Madeley, from which there will be a branch to Shrewsbury, 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 Chester.".[16] The proposal did not go ahead and shareholders in the Company voted to wind it up in November 1846.[17]
  • Direct London and Holyhead Railway: Advertised in October 1845 seeking capital of £2M, it proposed a direct route between London and Holyhead. The southern end of the 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 Kidderminster. From Kidderminster, passing near Bridgnorth, Madeley, Broseley and Wellington to Shrewsbury.".[18]
  • Hereford, Leominster, Ludlow and Birmingham Railway
  • Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Stour Valley Railway
  • Shropshire Union Railways and Canal Company
  • Shropshire Mineral Railway
  • Cambrian and Grand Junction Railway
  • Dudley, Madeley, Broseley and Ironbridge Railway
  • Shropshire Union Railway (Worcester to Crewe)
  • Wellington and Severn Junction Railway

Proposals after the opening of the SVR in 1862

After 1862, the following railways were proposed to form a junction with the SVR

Railway First proposed Proposed route Other information
Stourbridge Railway, Valley of the Stour Extension 1866 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 by Parliament in 1866.[19]
West Staffordshire Railway 1874 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 by the LNWR as an alternative to the Kidderminster Loop Line. Rejected by Parliament in 1875.[20]
Cleobury Mortimer and Ditton Priors Light Railway 1912 An extension from Ditton Priors to Bridgnorth One of 3 possible extensions, none of which were taken up after the First World War.[21]

See also

The Severn Valley Railway under GWR/BR ownership

References

  1. ↑ Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway on Wikipedia
  2. ↑ Worcester Journal, 10 March 1836, via the British Newspaper Archive
  3. ↑ Worcester Journal, 31 December 1835, via the British Newspaper Archive
  4. ↑ Worcester Journal, 25 February 1836, via the British Newspaper Archive
  5. ↑ worcesterpeopleandplaces.org.uk
  6. ↑ The Railway Times for 1843, Vol 6, p. 1092.
  7. ↑ Worcester Herald, 21 September 1844, via the British Newspaper Archive
  8. ↑ Hereford Times, 22 February 1845, via the British Newspaper Archive
  9. ↑ London Evening Standard, 14 April 1845, via the British Newspaper Archive
  10. ↑ London Evening Standard, 14 April 1845, via the British Newspaper Archive
  11. ↑ Worcester Journal, 1 May 1854, via the British Newspaper Archive
  12. ↑ The Cambrian, 21 November 1845, via National Library of Wales
  13. ↑ Gwent Archives
  14. ↑ Morning Chronicle, 18 April 1845, via the British Newspaper Archive
  15. ↑ Worcester Herald, 24 May 1845, via the British Newspaper Archive
  16. ↑ Shrewsbury Chronicle, 19 September 1845, via the British Newspaper Archive
  17. ↑ London Evening Standard, 30 November 1846, via the British Newspaper Archive
  18. ↑ Worcester Journal, 9 October 1845, via the British Newspaper Archive
  19. ↑ Marshall (1989) p. 61.
  20. ↑ Marshall (1989) p. 81.
  21. ↑ Price (1995) pp.39-40.

Links

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From this week's featured article
E1682 is a BRBritish Rail or British Railways Mk 1 Buffet Restaurant carriage. It was acquired by the SVRSevern Valley Railway (BRBritish Rail or British Railways) Buffet Car Fund in 1981 and used for many years on the Severn Valley Venturer dining service. (Full article...)
Schematic Map of the SVRSevern Valley Railway
BridgnorthEardingtonHampton LoadeCountry Park HaltHighleyThe Engine HouseArleyVictoria BridgeNorthwood HaltWyre Forest LineBewdleyStourport BranchBewdley TunnelConnection to Network RailKidderminsterMaps#Schematic maps of the pre-closure SVRMapandlinks3.png
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For 101 years between 1862 and 1963, the Severn Valley Railway formed part of the national railway network, running for 40 miles between Hartlebury and Shrewsbury. Established as a separate company, it was mainly operated by the Great Western Railway (GWRGreat Western Railway) and later by British Railways (BRBritish Rail or British Railways).

The present day Severn Valley Railway (SVRSevern Valley Railway) was established in 1965 to preserve part of the line as a heritage railway. Today it has six stations and two halts and runs for 16 miles along the Severn Valley between Bridgnorth in Shropshire and Kidderminster in Worcestershire, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route. Operations involve a mixture of steam and heritage diesel-hauled services.

This unofficial website is a project aimed to collect information and record events relating to the SVRSevern Valley Railway, both past and present.

For timetables, fare information, and news about special events, please visit the SVR Official Website. Other news and information of interest to members, shareholders and enthusiasts can be found on SVRLive.

In April 2023 the SVRSevern Valley Railway announced the launch of a Survival Fund to enable it to overcome the current financial crisis and implement longer-term plans for its future. Information and details of how to donate may be found on the SVRSevern Valley Railway's Survival Fund page.

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Query Corner

Unsurprisingly, there are a large number of questions about the SVRSevern Valley Railway, both in pre-preservation days and for a number of historical items since then. Take a visit down to Query Corner to see if you have a recollection relating to some long forgotten event, or know of a reliable source (maybe an early edition of the SVR News?) that might have the information we need!

In addition are a number of stub articles requiring further input.

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