Difference between revisions of "Waterworks Crossing"

From SVR Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
m (Edited the fatal section.)
(featured article)
 
Line 1: Line 1:
[[File: Waterworks_Crossing_20150610.jpg|thumb|300px|right| Waterworks Crossing]]
+
[[File: Waterworks_Crossing_20150610.jpg|thumb|300px|right| Waterworks Crossing looking north. with the Treatment Works to the right]]
 
[[File: Waterworks_20150610.jpg|thumb|300px|right| The Waterworks bridge]]
 
[[File: Waterworks_20150610.jpg|thumb|300px|right| The Waterworks bridge]]
The Waterworks Crossing is situated north of milepost 145&frac34;. It provides access for a private road to the Hampton Loade Water Treatment Works which is owned by South Staffs Water. The plant which can be partly seen on the left in the second picture. The site produces water and sends it to Sedgley Reservoir where it is shared between South Staffs Water and Severn Trent Water in order to supply Birmingham and the surrounding area<ref Name = "FTW">From the Window, SVR publication</ref>.
+
The '''Waterworks Crossing''' is situated north of milepost 145&frac34;, a short distance north of [[Hampton Loade|Hampton Loade station]]. It provides access for a private road to the Hampton Loade Water Treatment Works which is owned by South Staffs Water.  
  
Water is taken from the river and piped over the bridge before settling in the nearby Chelmarsh Reservoir, which is close to the railway on the western side although not visible. It is then sent back under the train line and over the bridge to to the treatment plant. After passing under the railway in the vicinity of the crossing, the pipes cross the Severn, forming the two blue arches that support the decking of the private road bridge before heading onto site for treatment<ref name = "FTW" />.
+
==The waterworks==
 +
The plant can be partly seen on the left in the second picture. The site produces water and sends it to Sedgley Reservoir where it is shared between South Staffs Water and Severn Trent Water in order to supply Birmingham and the surrounding area.<ref Name = "FTW">From the Window, SVR publication</ref>
  
The crossing has appeared in a number of films and TV series.  These include the 1972 ITV series “[[Doctor in Charge]]and the 1977 Walt Disney Productions live action family film [[Candleshoe]].
+
Water is taken from the [[River Severn]] and piped over the bridge before settling in the nearby Chelmarsh Reservoir, which is close to the railway on the western side, although not visible from it. It is then sent back under the railway line and over the bridge to the treatment plant. After passing under the railway in the vicinity of the crossing, the pipes cross the Severn, forming the two blue arches that support the decking of the private road bridge before heading onto site for treatment<ref name = "FTW" />.
  
Tragically, the crossing was the location of a fatal [[Accidents | accident]] in January 1994 where a locomotive struck a van whilst it was negotiating the crossing fatally injuring the driver who was on his way home after finishing his shift. An inquest in May recorded a verdict of 'accidental death' with no blame attached to the Railway.
+
==The crossing==
 +
The bridge was built in 1966.<ref>[https://www.southstaffswaterarchives.org.uk/Hampton%20Loade.pdf South Staffs Water Archives, picture of the bridge under construction] (retrieved 20 January 2020)</ref> The access road and railway crossing may be assumed to be of the same date, as there is no evidence of any track or crossing at that location on OS maps as late as 1960.<ref>[https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16&lat=52.4820&lon=-2.3787&layers=11&b=1 NLS 1960 OS Map]</ref>
  
The crossing is normally gated when not in use, as seen in the first photograph.
+
Tragically, the crossing was the location of a fatal [[Accidents | accident]] on 12 January 1994 where a locomotive struck a van whilst it was negotiating the crossing, fatally injuring the driver who was on his way home after finishing his shift.  The train involved was an inspection special for a party of bank officials.<ref>SVR News 110, "Boardroom Notes"</ref> An inquest on 18 May recorded a verdict of 'accidental death' with no blame attached to the Railway.<ref>SVR News 111, "Boardroom Notes"</ref>
  
==References==
+
The crossing is normally kept gated when not in use, as seen in the first photograph.
<references />
+
 
 +
==The crossing in film and television==
 +
The crossing has appeared in several [[List of film and TV productions filmed on the Severn Valley Railway|film and TV productions filmed on the SVR]]. It was featured in the 1972 ITV series "[[Doctor in Charge]]" in a scene where the doctors' car becomes trapped on it. It was also used in the 1977 Walt Disney Productions live action family film "[[Candleshoe]]" as the location at the end of the chase scene where David Niven's character parks a Rolls Royce on the crossing and flags the train to a stop.
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
Line 18: Line 22:
 
[[List of infrastructure]]<br>
 
[[List of infrastructure]]<br>
 
[[Farm crossing south of milepost 146½ | Towards Bridgnorth]]<br>
 
[[Farm crossing south of milepost 146½ | Towards Bridgnorth]]<br>
[[Accidents]]<br>
+
*[[Accidents]]
 +
*[[From The Window]]
 +
 
 +
==References==
 +
<references />
  
[[From The Window]]
+
==Links==
 +
*[https://www.south-staffs-water.co.uk/environment/managing-water-resources/where-our-water-comes-from South Staffs Water: "Where our water comes from"]
  
 
{{#coordinates:52.480759|2.377882|[primary|][dim:1000]}}
 
{{#coordinates:52.480759|2.377882|[primary|][dim:1000]}}
 +
[[Category:Featured articles]]

Latest revision as of 15:55, 20 January 2020

Waterworks Crossing looking north. with the Treatment Works to the right
The Waterworks bridge

The Waterworks Crossing is situated north of milepost 145¾, a short distance north of Hampton Loade station. It provides access for a private road to the Hampton Loade Water Treatment Works which is owned by South Staffs Water.

The waterworks

The plant can be partly seen on the left in the second picture. The site produces water and sends it to Sedgley Reservoir where it is shared between South Staffs Water and Severn Trent Water in order to supply Birmingham and the surrounding area.[1]

Water is taken from the River Severn and piped over the bridge before settling in the nearby Chelmarsh Reservoir, which is close to the railway on the western side, although not visible from it. It is then sent back under the railway line and over the bridge to the treatment plant. After passing under the railway in the vicinity of the crossing, the pipes cross the Severn, forming the two blue arches that support the decking of the private road bridge before heading onto site for treatment[1].

The crossing

The bridge was built in 1966.[2] The access road and railway crossing may be assumed to be of the same date, as there is no evidence of any track or crossing at that location on OSOrdnance Survey maps as late as 1960.[3]

Tragically, the crossing was the location of a fatal accident on 12 January 1994 where a locomotive struck a van whilst it was negotiating the crossing, fatally injuring the driver who was on his way home after finishing his shift. The train involved was an inspection special for a party of bank officials.[4] An inquest on 18 May recorded a verdict of 'accidental death' with no blame attached to the Railway.[5]

The crossing is normally kept gated when not in use, as seen in the first photograph.

The crossing in film and television

The crossing has appeared in several film and TV productions filmed on the SVR. It was featured in the 1972 ITV series "Doctor in Charge" in a scene where the doctors' car becomes trapped on it. It was also used in the 1977 Walt Disney Productions live action family film "Candleshoe" as the location at the end of the chase scene where David Niven's character parks a Rolls Royce on the crossing and flags the train to a stop.

See also

Towards Kidderminster
List of infrastructure
Towards Bridgnorth

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 From the Window, SVRSevern Valley Railway publication
  2. South Staffs Water Archives, picture of the bridge under construction (retrieved 20 January 2020)
  3. NLS 1960 OS Map
  4. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 110, "Boardroom Notes"
  5. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 111, "Boardroom Notes"

Links