-
Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
Tamworth chord line
- Thread starter L+Y
- Start date
- Status
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
martinsh
Established Member
I don't think it was ever completed. It was a N-E curve, and if you know where to look there are still some remains.
This map shows it clearly
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?...fordshire+[Town]&searchp=ids.srf&mapp=map.srf
Oops, no it doesn't. Switch to Zoom level 3 and it will
This map shows it clearly
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?...fordshire+[Town]&searchp=ids.srf&mapp=map.srf
Oops, no it doesn't. Switch to Zoom level 3 and it will
Merthyr Imp
Member
There used to be a north to west chord which was in use from 1847 to 1969. I don't think there was ever a regular passenger service over it.
jp4712
Member
- Joined
- 1 May 2009
- Messages
- 470
If you click on the photo link below and zoom in, you’ll see the connection from the chord to the Derby-Birmingham line.
Hi-Res R0124 by Bill Wright, on Flickr
Hi-Res R0124 by Bill Wright, on Flickr
DelW
Established Member
- Joined
- 15 Jan 2015
- Messages
- 3,880
The excellent NLS maps site shows evidence of both north-to-west and north-to-east connections. However even the earliest (mid 1880s) maps don't show any track laid on the eastern chord:
https://maps.nls.uk/view/115475220
and by around 1900 it's being referred to as "dismantled":
https://maps.nls.uk/view/115475223
which suggests that possibly it was never completed.
The north-to-west chord layout is shown on those as well.
The two railways at Tamworth were of course in rival ownership at that time, and it's possible that the earthworks were built as part of skirmishes over routes and running powers. A similar never-used embankment for a junction chord exists near me in Surrey, built for that reason.
https://maps.nls.uk/view/115475220
and by around 1900 it's being referred to as "dismantled":
https://maps.nls.uk/view/115475223
which suggests that possibly it was never completed.
The north-to-west chord layout is shown on those as well.
The two railways at Tamworth were of course in rival ownership at that time, and it's possible that the earthworks were built as part of skirmishes over routes and running powers. A similar never-used embankment for a junction chord exists near me in Surrey, built for that reason.
mailbyrail
Member
- Joined
- 23 Dec 2010
- Messages
- 356
Cobb's atlas shows the Western chord opened 1847, closed 1969 but it doesn't show the Eastern chord. The base OS map shows the dotted route of the track bed but no railway line, as on the NLS maps.
Dr Hoo
Established Member
The Railway Clearing House junction diagrams suggest that the west connection involved a double shunt. I.e. it was really an exchange siding arrangement. I am not clear that it was ever a 'running' connection. The one at Lichfield Trent Valley gave better functionality anyway.
WesternLancer
Established Member
- Joined
- 12 Apr 2019
- Messages
- 7,186
Did one of these chords enclose 'the field' at Tamworth which an old spotter mate of mine who was a kid in the 50s used to go to - which I understand the railway owned or leased and used to clear spotters into to get them off the station which was too crowded with kids, presumably in a nod to their safety when spotting at such a key location?
I think this is also mentioned in the superb Platform Souls book, a location the author knew from his youth in Burton.
I think this is also mentioned in the superb Platform Souls book, a location the author knew from his youth in Burton.
The_Train
Established Member
- Joined
- 2 Jun 2018
- Messages
- 4,358
Am I right in thinking that the chord(s) were mainly used for postal purposes to allow Royal Mail a link from the WCML to the North East and South West? I believe Tamworth was an important postal railway hub because of its links all over the country back in the day.
I may be wrong here as well, but I also believe that the lift on platform 4 was originally built purely for the mail to be transferred from each level quickly and easily and that is why it is so far away from any of the station buildings
I may be wrong here as well, but I also believe that the lift on platform 4 was originally built purely for the mail to be transferred from each level quickly and easily and that is why it is so far away from any of the station buildings
WesternLancer
Established Member
- Joined
- 12 Apr 2019
- Messages
- 7,186
Highly likely ref the lift - even back in the 80s it seemed rare for passengers to be allowed to use station lifts unaccompanied I seem to recall. so they were mainly used for mail / parcels and eg a wheelchair user being pushed by a member of staff for example.
- Status