The Ironbridge Line in Telford.

[Jacob Porrett]

For a number of weeks now there has been a "LB" on the Ironbridge Line heading towards the old Power Station. Now "LB" suggests a Line Block so I'm wondering if anything is going on like works for example? Wondering if anyone knows/have any information. Last train to use the Line was Clun Castle on a vintage trains rail tour back in 2019.

 

[Surreytraveller]

Possibly a defect has been detected. No point fixing it if nothing booked to use it?

 

[The Planner]

Apparently one of the bridges is weak, but I expect its been placed as out of use by the asset managers to reduce the amount of inspections and maintenance.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Possibly a defect has been detected. No point fixing it if nothing booked to use it?

I'm not sure but the line was used to deliver coal to the power station when it was open so a coal flow was using the line. Now the power station has gone the line never gets used anymore unfortunately. I just wondered that was all really.

 

[D Williams]

The Albert Edward Bridge

This is the bridge over the Severn just before the site of ironbridge power station. I'm told it no longer meets whatever structural standards are in place so may be the reason for the LB. The power station has been demolished and lots and lots of houses are going on the site. There's some talk of a passenger line involving the Telford Steam Railway but don't hold your breath.

 

[alexironbridge]

For a number of weeks now there has been a "LB" on the Ironbridge Line heading towards the old Power Station. Now "LB" suggests a Line Block so I'm wondering if anything is going on like works for example? Wondering if anyone knows/have any information. Last train to use the Line was Clun Castle on a vintage trains rail tour back in 2019.

A major project to re enforce the ALBERT EDward Bridge commences this autumn. Expected to take 12 months. I understand in readiness to allow use of the bridge again for rail traffic.

 

[Signal_Box]

For a number of weeks now there has been a "LB" on the Ironbridge Line heading towards the old Power Station. Now "LB" suggests a Line Block so I'm wondering if anything is going on like works for example? Wondering if anyone knows/have any information. Last train to use the Line was Clun Castle on a vintage trains rail tour back in 2019.

-LB- represent a Line Blockage (blocked to trains, but can be handed back for the passage of).

Generally when you have a line which has been closed for a period of time, is in need of prolonged work like Ironbrigde the person incharge will change so to save paperwork you’ll produce once line blockage form then change the person in charge as and when.

The LB in the branch TD will be just to remind the signaller to change their name on the paperwork and the PICs name.

The actual protection will remain in place in the form of signal collars on the workstation or frame.

 

[The Planner]

A major project to re enforce the ALBERT EDward Bridge commences this autumn. Expected to take 12 months. I understand in readiness to allow use of the bridge again for rail traffic.

Whats going to use it?

 

[MisterSheeps]

this, somewhat delayed?

Ironbridge Power Station: Fruitful bridge repair talks ahead of demolition

Fruitful talks are underway between railway chiefs and the owners of Ironbridge Power Station over the cost of repairs to a bridge.

www.shropshirestar.com

At the heart of the re-development is the reopening of the railway line which crosses the River Severn via the Edward Albert Bridge, and the creation of a passenger service.
The developer hopes to transport the demolition and minerals due to be extracted site by rail.

talks about 'minerals extraction' (presumably remnant coal), and demolition debris

 

[The Planner]

this, somewhat delayed?

Ironbridge Power Station: Fruitful bridge repair talks ahead of demolition

Fruitful talks are underway between railway chiefs and the owners of Ironbridge Power Station over the cost of repairs to a bridge.

www.shropshirestar.com

talks about 'minerals extraction' (presumably remnant coal), and demolition debris

Doesn't seem a long term thing though, unless there is something else they are digging out.

 

[MisterSheeps]

yes ... i read that and wondered why anyone would invest in a rail service for a park & ride and 1000 homes, not enough traffic to justify it, the line doesn't (now) go to Telford, and it's no real use for Ironbridge attractions

 

[tomuk]

Doesn't seem a long term thing though, unless there is something else they are digging out.

The CEGB bought some surrounding land to expand the coal storage areas and maybe with thoughts of an Ironbridge C. This untouched land stands on large sand and gravel deposits it is these which Haworth want to extract it also provides a nice level area for more houses once the extraction is complete.

A southern extension of the existing quarry yielding 2 million tonnes of aggregates

• 5 years extraction period with a further 2 years required for the removal of minerals

• The majority of mineral is to be removed by rail

JPE Aggregates Buildwas Quarry · Much Wenlock Rd, Ironbridge, Telford TF8 7BP

★★★★★ · Building materials supplier

goo.gl

 

[The Planner]

The CEGB bought some surrounding land to expand the coal storage areas and maybe with thoughts of an Ironbridge C. This untouched land stands on large sand and gravel deposits it is these which Haworth want to extract it also provides a nice level area for more houses once the extraction is complete.

JPE Aggregates Buildwas Quarry · Much Wenlock Rd, Ironbridge, Telford TF8 7BP

★★★★★ · Building materials supplier

goo.gl

To be fair, they have said that about the Silverdale branch for more years than I can remember. Still hasnt got anywhere yet.

 

[tomuk]

To be fair, they have said that about the Silverdale branch for more years than I can remember. Still hasnt got anywhere yet.

I just checked and spookily the planning application for mineral extraction was approved yesterday. One of the clauses states:

Railway use and Albert Edward Bridge
v. The applicant will need to enter into further dialogue with Network Rail to ensure that the rail
line is available for use for mineral export within the timescale anticipated in the planning
application. In particular, it is necessary to ensure that repairs to the Albert Edward Bridge
are undertaken as soon as reasonably practical, at the outset of the development.

vi. Should the rail link be delayed then the applicant will need to put forward additional
measures to offset the carbon production of this site as part of any formal variation to the
current application submission.

 

[The Planner]

I expect a document covering vi is already prepared.

 

[tomuk]

I expect a document covering vi is already prepared.

You old cynic you. The overall figures for the mineral extraction are 2 million tonnes with 75% exported by rail and 25% HGV for local use with a 100,000t by HGV annual limit.

 

[zwk500]

You old cynic you. The overall figures for the mineral extraction are 2 million tonnes with 75% exported by rail and 25% HGV for local use with a 100,000t by HGV annual limit.

It will depend on the bill for repairing the bridge. Could probably plant a fair few trees for the cost of the refurbishment.

 

[tomuk]

It will depend on the bill for repairing the bridge. Could probably plant a fair few trees for the cost of the refurbishment.

It probably wouldn't come to that. Shropshire Council are renowned for the uselessness.

In this specific realm they bodged the expansion of Bayston Hill\Sharpstones Quarry. Tarmac were going to reinstate the rail terminal if a marginal increase in the proposed quarry extension was to be agreed instead the council said no. I can't recall the exact numbers but it was of he order of a 10% larger extension then was granted would lead to 60 to 70% transported by rail instead we are stuck with 100% HGV for the life of the quarry. There was also potential for it to act as railhead for other quarries in the area such as Haughmond where some stone is HGv'd to Coton Hill near the Town Centre for transhipment.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

The Albert Edward Bridge

This is the bridge over the Severn just before the site of ironbridge power station. I'm told it no longer meets whatever structural standards are in place so may be the reason for the LB. The power station has been demolished and lots and lots of houses are going on the site. There's some talk of a passenger line involving the Telford Steam Railway but don't hold your breath.

That's what I have heard as well for a future prospect.

A major project to re enforce the ALBERT EDward Bridge commences this autumn. Expected to take 12 months. I understand in readiness to allow use of the bridge again for rail traffic.

Very interesting. Something to look out for then in the future.

yes ... i read that and wondered why anyone would invest in a rail service for a park & ride and 1000 homes, not enough traffic to justify it, the line doesn't (now) go to Telford, and it's no real use for Ironbridge attractions

You would have to modify Madeley Junction to get trains into Telford. The shape of the junction heades toward Wolverhampton only at the moment.

Have Telford Steam Railway had any further updates/information about the possibility of an extension to Ironbridge?

It probably wouldn't come to that. Shropshire Council are renowned for the uselessness.

In this specific realm they bodged the expansion of Bayston Hill\Sharpstones Quarry. Tarmac were going to reinstate the rail terminal if a marginal increase in the proposed quarry extension was to be agreed instead the council said no. I can't recall the exact numbers but it was of he order of a 10% larger extension then was granted would lead to 60 to 70% transported by rail instead we are stuck with 100% HGV for the life of the quarry. There was also potential for it to act as railhead for other quarries in the area such as Haughmond where some stone is HGv'd to Coton Hill near the Town Centre for transhipment.

At least some of that material at Coton Hill does get transported by rail which is better than roads.

 

[tomuk]

At least some of that material at Coton Hill does get transported by rail which is better than roads.

It does after a 6 mile journey around and virtually into the town centre by multiple 32 tonne tipper trucks from the quarry.

 

[zwk500]

You would have to modify Madeley Junction to get trains into Telford. The shape of the junction heades toward Wolverhampton only at the moment.

You'd have to take out a fair few industrial units to put the third side of the triangle in. May be cheaper to just shift the line to the East and put a triangle on top of the airfield if there was a case for Shrewsbury-Telford-Madeley.
An even cheaper option than either of those would be to refurb the siding at the junction into a reversing line, although you'd still need to put some points in to get that working.

 

[8A Rail]

I'm not sure but the line was used to deliver coal to the power station when it was open so a coal flow was using the line. Now the power station has gone the line never gets used anymore unfortunately. I just wondered that was all really.

Latterly before the Power Station closed, from beginning of 2013, it was Biomass that was delivered to the one generator that was working. Biomass came from Liverpool Docks and Tyne Dock. Last traffic was in November 2015 when the Power Station time limit operation expired.

 

[Mollman]

yes ... i read that and wondered why anyone would invest in a rail service for a park & ride and 1000 homes, not enough traffic to justify it, the line doesn't (now) go to Telford, and it's no real use for Ironbridge attractions

Apart from going past the Coalbrookdale museum, the old Coalbrookdale station being about a 15 minute walk from the Ironbridge and the line finishing at Buildwas Abbey

 

[MisterSheeps]

Apart from going past the Coalbrookdale museum, the old Coalbrookdale station being about a 15 minute walk from the Ironbridge and the line finishing at Buildwas Abbey

Yes, there are attractions, which involve walking to, so not very attractive for a lot of folk, but it was one thing to run specials while the line was open for freight, another to run a viable public transport option ... the roads aren't exactly crammed, and where would the trains go? A shuttle to Wellington would involve reversal at Madeley Jc, which seems a no-no; could maybe run all stations to Wolverhampton, and let Shrewsbury trains have first stop at Shifnal.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

You'd have to take out a fair few industrial units to put the third side of the triangle in. May be cheaper to just shift the line to the East and put a triangle on top of the airfield if there was a case for Shrewsbury-Telford-Madeley.
An even cheaper option than either of those would be to refurb the siding at the junction into a reversing line, although you'd still need to put some points in to get that working.

I think a reverse movement sounds ok but there again would be complicated I feel. I think adding a another line it would be better than having to reverse all of the time to get to Telford up to Shrewsbury.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Yes, there are attractions, which involve walking to, so not very attractive for a lot of folk, but it was one thing to run specials while the line was open for freight, another to run a viable public transport option ... the roads aren't exactly crammed, and where would the trains go? A shuttle to Wellington would involve reversal at Madeley Jc, which seems a no-no; could maybe run all stations to Wolverhampton, and let Shrewsbury trains have first stop at Shifnal.

A shuttle service between Wellington an Ironbridge would be great for local people and and would make use of the line and also make use of P3 at Wellington as that never gets used only on the odd occasion.

 

[train_lover]

Doesn't seem a long term thing though, unless there is something else they are digging out.

Sand

this, somewhat delayed?

Ironbridge Power Station: Fruitful bridge repair talks ahead of demolition

Fruitful talks are underway between railway chiefs and the owners of Ironbridge Power Station over the cost of repairs to a bridge.

www.shropshirestar.com

talks about 'minerals extraction' (presumably remnant coal), and demolition debris

It's sand

To be fair, they have said that about the Silverdale branch for more years than I can remember. Still hasnt got anywhere yet.

It'll never come back now unfortunately. They've been working on the branch at Madeley on preparation for HS2. HS2 will cross where the silverdale branch crosses the wcml

 

[The Planner]

It'll never come back now unfortunately. They've been working on the branch at Madeley on preparation for HS2. HS2 will cross where the silverdale branch crosses the wcml

HS2 are going over the top of it, not through it, they were told they couldn't do that in the Hybrid Bill.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Sand


It's sand


It'll never come back now unfortunately. They've been working on the branch at Madeley on preparation for HS2. HS2 will cross where the silverdale branch crosses the wcml

I wasn't aware HS2 was coming through Telford?

 

[train_lover]

I wasn't aware HS2 was coming through Telford?

Madeley Staffordshire