Stafford to Shrewsbury (Direct)

[Masboroughlad]

Been pottering around Staffs and Shrewsbury looking for somewhere to live.

Seen a nice village called Derrington, just outside Stafford, which is on the old track of the Stafford to Shrewsbury line. Provoked a few questions...

Anyone know when it closed?
Was it ever part of a network operated by diesels?
Which services used it?
Any good books about it?
Any good picture websites with information?

We have come across a few lines in Staffordshire that are now walkways/cyclepaths that I am sure would have justified a service nowadays!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

The line via Newport to Wellington closed on 7 September 1964. I don't know whether some of the old line in Salop has been used for the MoD terminal at Donnington.

 

[martinsh]

There is a book - "Shropshire Union Railway: Stafford to Shrewsbury Including the Coalport Branch (Oakwood Library of Railway History)" which I can thoroughly recommend.

Note also that the old line near Derrington is a favourite stomping ground of the "Beast of Gnosall" ! (Staffordshire's own "big cat")

 

[Masboroughlad]

There is a book - "Shropshire Union Railway: Stafford to Shrewsbury Including the Coalport Branch (Oakwood Library of Railway History)" which I can thoroughly recommend.

Note also that the old line near Derrington is a favourite stomping ground of the "Beast of Gnosall" ! (Staffordshire's own "big cat")

Thank you - think I'll get that book.

Not sure I want to live in Derrington anymore though......... I'll get some Kitekat in!

 

[flymo]

Seen a nice village called Derrington, just outside Stafford, which is on the old track of the Stafford to Shrewsbury line. Provoked a few questions...

........

Which services used it?

........

Looking at the 1922 Bradshaws there are services from Stafford to Shrewsbury General with some services carrying on to/starting from Welshpool

There were also some services from London Euston to Aberyswyth and London Paddington to Aberyswyth and Towyn all of these were Mon-Sat.

There was only one return service on Sundays, Stafford - Shrewsbury General

 

[PHILIPE]

There were never any Diesels on the route before closure - still all steam.
Trains generally ran just between Stafford and Shrewsbury in latter times apart from between Stafford and Wellington only during the evening. Was 1 train through from Stafford to Crewe via Shrewsbury (depart 14 20 ish) and which on occasions could produce a Coronation Class Loco.

 

[flymo]

Actually the 1962 timetable for the route is online !!!

Timetable world has this table in their winter 1962 LMR timetable. Just navigate to table 75 of the '62/'63 LMR book.

If that link doesn't work just go their homepage and navigate from there.

Marvellous.

 

[Masboroughlad]

Actually the 1962 timetable for the route is online !!!

Timetable world has this table in their winter 1962 LMR timetable. Just navigate to table 75 of the '62/'63 LMR book.

If that link doesn't work just go their homepage and navigate from there.

Marvellous.

Just read that it is on ATOCs hit list of lines to re-open. Seriously, what are the chances of the line re-opening in this generation?