North Wales Mineral Railway: Difference between revisions

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The North Wales Mineral Railway was constructed in 1844 during the early years of the so-called Railway Mania. It was originally intended to link Chester via Wrexham to Ruabon; there were branches to Brymbo and Minera from Wheatsheaf junction via a tunnel and inclined plane. The initial plan (as indicated by the name) was to tap the mineral reserves of the area.

With the realisation that it could become part of a through route, a second Act of Parliament was sought in 1845 to extend the line southwards to Shrewsbury: the title of the line then became the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway (S&CR). in 1854 the railway was taken over by the Great Western Railway (GWR), much to the consternation of the London and North Western Railway, who saw the line as being within their sphere of influence. There followed much legal wrangling and hostility concerning access agreements to Chester railway station; but this did not prevent the line becoming part of the G.W.R. main line to Birkenhead.

Although part of the GWR, the S&CR was never converted to Brunel's Broad Gauge; but it did contribute to the ending of the Brunel system because it meant that the company had to operate two different systems and tranship goods.

The S&CR rolling stock was overhauled at Wolverhampton works.

References

For more information on the intensive workings of railways in the Wrexham area, see:

Forgotten Railways-North and Mid Wales, by Rex Christiansen (David & Charles, 1984)
Wrexham@s Railways volumes 1 and 2 (Bridge Books)

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+The '''North Wales Mineral Railway''' was constructed in 1844 during the early years of the so-called  [[Railway Mania]]. It was originally intended to link [[Chester]] via [[Wrexham]] to [[Ruabon]]; there were branches to [[Brymbo]] and [[Minera]] from [[Wheatsheaf junction]] via a tunnel and inclined plane. The initial plan (as indicated by the name) was to tap the mineral reserves of the area.
-[[North Wales Mineral Railway]]
-The railway was begun in 1844 amid the [['railway mania']] of the time. It was only intended to go as far as [[Wrexham]] with a branch to [[Brymbo]] and [[Minera]] from [[Wheatsheaf junction]] via a tunnel and inclined plane. The initial plan as indicated by the name was to tap the mineral reserves of the area. It was only with the realisation that it could become part of a through route that another act was sought in 1845 to extend the line to [[Shrewsbury]], thereby making the line the [[Shrewsbury and Chester Railway]]. The railway was swallowed up by the [[Great Western Railway]] in 1854, much to the consternation of the [[L.N.W.R.]] who saw the line as being within their sphere of influence. There followed much legal wrangling and hostility concerning access agreements to [[Chester Railway Station]],but this did not prevent the line becoming part of the [[G.W.R.]]'s main line to [[Birkenhead]] -[[Penbedw]] in Welsh.
+With the realisation that it could become part of a through route, a second [[Act of Parliament]] was sought in 1845 to extend the line southwards to [[Shrewsbury]]: the title of the line then became the '''Shrewsbury and Chester Railway''' (S&CR). in 1854 the railway was taken over by the [[Great Western Railway]] (GWR), much to the consternation of the [[London and North Western Railway]], who saw the line as being within their sphere of influence. There followed much legal wrangling and hostility concerning access agreements to [[Chester railway station]]; but this did not prevent the line becoming part of the G.W.R. main line to [[Birkenhead]].
-The line is interesting in that it was part of the Northern section of the G.W.R. that never complied with [[Brunel's Broad Gauge]] this was also due to protests from other railways companies, but it did sound the death knell of the [[Brunel]] system because it meant that the company had to operate two different systems and tranship goods. The rolling stock was overhauled at [[Wolverhampton works]].
-For more information on the intensive workings of railways in the [[Wrexham]] area Forgotten Railways-North and Mid Wales, by Rex Christiansen is a very good starting point along with the books of pictures entitled '[[Wrexhams Railways]]' volumes 1 and 2 by  [[Bridge Books]]
+Although part of the GWR, the S&CR was never converted to [[Rail gauge|Brunel's Broad Gauge]];  but it did contribute to the ending of the Brunel system because it meant that the company had to operate two different systems and tranship goods.
+The S&CR rolling stock was overhauled at [[Wolverhampton]] works.
+==References==
+For more information on the intensive workings of railways in the [[Wrexham]] area, see:
+* ''Forgotten Railways-North and Mid Wales'', by Rex Christiansen (David & Charles, 1984)
+* ''Wrexham@s Railways'' volumes 1 and 2 (Bridge Books)