|
The Wenlock Branch Wellington to Craven Arms by Ken Jones w/ dust jacket
The Wenlock Branch Wellington to Craven Arms by Ken Jones
Hard cover with dust jacket
Copyright Ken Jones and Oakwood Press 1998
256 pages
Contents
Introduction 5
Chapter OneEarly Transport 9
Chapter TwoBuilding the Line 33The Wellington & Severn Jn Railway (Ketley Jn to Lightmoor) 33The Wenlock & Severn Jn Railway (Much Wenlock to Buildwas) 43The Wenlock Railway Company (Much Wenlock to Craven Arms) 53The Coalbrookdale Extension (Buildwas Jn to Coalbrookdale) 57The Lightmoor Extension (Lightmoor to Coalbrookdale) 61
Chapter ThreeThe Madeley Branch 63
Chapter FourThe Much Wenlock & Severn Jn (Lightmoor Extensions) Act 65
Chapter FiveAlong the Line - The Route Described 69
Chapter SixOperating the Line 115
Chapter SevenLocomotives 161
Chapter EightPeople of the Line 175
Chapter NineBranch Line Days and Branch Line Ways - My Memories 205
Chapter TenDeclining Years 221
Chapter ElevenThe Future 231
Appendix OneWellington & Severn Jn Share Prospectus; October 1853 234
Appendix TwoWilliam Penny Brookes' Papers 235
Appendix ThreeWenlock Railway Share Prospectus 236
Appendix FourInspector's Report for the Wenlock & Severn Junction Railway, 1861 238
Appendix FiveInspector's Reports for the Lightmoor Extension, 1864 239
Appendix SixInspector's Reports for the Wenlock Railway, 1867 241
Appendix SevenW.G. Norris' Report to the Coalbrookdale Company's Directors, 1876 243
Appendix EightLocomotives at Wellington and Wenlock 244
Appendix NineSignal Boxes 245
Appendix TenEarly Signal Box Staff Appointments on the Wenlock Branch 247
Appendix ElevenTravelling Transformation 248
Appendix TwelveRequest for a Station at Lightmoor 250
Appendix ThirteenThe Last Passenger Train from Craven Arms to Wenlock 251
Appendix Fourteen Significant Dates Relating to the Wenlock Branch 252
Acknowledgements and Bibliography 253
Index 254
The Wenlock branch with its four original constituent companies passed through areas as complex and diverse as its original organization: from the slag tips and pennystone pit mounds of the East Shropshire coalfield to the wooded crest of Wenlock Edge and Ape Dale. The one central strand however on which the companies focused their attention was the ironworks nestling in the tree-lined Coalbrookdale valley, the success of their venture depending on the support which they would receive from the Coalbrookdale Company. The Wenlock branch met the transport needs for the community both for work and leisure from the opening until the dismal last day when locomotive No. 4178 (with wreath attached to its smokebox door) hauled the last train from Much Wenlock to Wellington on Saturday 21st July, 1962. It is the intervening years that this book sets out to record.
The author joined the Great Western Railway at Oxley Shed in April 1938, eventually securing a transfer to Wellington Shed, where he eventually passed as a driver. This move enabled him to work over the Wenlock branch between Wellington and Craven Arms, a line over which as a boy he had been able to observe its every movement both by travel and lineside observation.
Born at Lightmoor in the heart of the Coalbrookdale coalfield, his family connections both with the Coalport China Works and the Coalbrookdale Ironworks fostered in him a great interest in the industrial past of this remarkable district, an area which had produced so many great innovations which had a worldwide impact.
In 1968 the Telford Development Corporation was instrumental in setting up the Ironbridge Gorge Museum to interpret for visitors the industrial past of the area, and preserve for posterity its industrial remains. This filled a long felt want as far as the author was concerned, and he soon became involved with the museum. He became one of the founder members of the Friends of the Museum, later becoming its Secretary, and Chairman, and at present its Vice President. He is also a member of- the Board of Trustees of the Museum. His main interest has been the social history of the area, setting up in 1975 an oral history group within the museum's Social History Group. This enabled the lives not just of the leaders, and entrepreneurs to be unfolded but the unknown majority who had played a considerable part in making this a most extraordinary district.
All pictures are of the actual item. There may be reflection from the lights in some photos. We try to take photos of any damage. If this is a railroad item, this material is obsolete and no longer in use by the railroad. Please email with questions. Publishers of Train Shed Cyclopedias and Stephans Railroad Directories. Large inventory of railroad books and magazines. Thank you for buying from us.
Shipping charges
US Shipments: Ebay will add $1.25 each additional items, there are a few exceptions.
Ebay Global shipping charges are shown. These items are shipped to Kentucky and forwarded to you. Ebay collects the shipping and customs / import fees. Refunds may be issued if you add multiple items to your cart and pay with one payment. For direct postage rates to these countries, send me an email. Shipping varies by weight.
Payment options
Payment must be received within 7 days. Paypal is accepted.
Terms and conditions
All sales are final. Returns accepted if item is not as described. Contact us first. No warranty is stated or implied. Please e-mail us with any questions before bidding.
Thanks for looking at our items.
| 
