Cleator and Workington Junction Railway
Encyclopedia
The Cleator & Workington Junction Railway (C&WJR) was located in West Cumberland
in Northern England
, serving the towns of Cleator Moor
and Workington
and intermediate villages. It was mainly used for coal
, limestone
and iron ore traffic for the local industries.
presented to Parliament
in the same year. Construction began shortly after and the line between Workington and Cleator Moor was opened in 1879. The line continued from Workington to a junction with the London & North Western Railway at Siddick, approximately two miles north of Workington. The principal station and company headquarters were in Central Square, Workington and the station soon became known as Workington Central
. A second main line was built from a junction on the C&WJR main line at Calva Junction to Linefoot Junction, where it adjoined the Maryport and Carlisle Railway
. This section was known as the Northern extension. Several branch lines were built including that to Rowrah
of which a short 300 yard section remained in use at Rowrah
as a backshunt until 1978.
To the people of West Cumberland the line became affectionately known as the "Track of the Ironmasters." The C&WJR never ran its own services on the main lines: this was done on their behalf by the Furness Railway
. In later years the C&WJR purchased its own engines to work its branch lines (see below).
At the railway grouping
of 1923, the line was incorporated into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
network. The Northern Extension section that served the Broughton Moor Armaments Depot
closed on 4 June 1992.
- Moresby Parks - Distington
- High Harrington
- Workington Central
(Route in Google Maps)
(Route in Google Maps)
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
in Northern England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, serving the towns of Cleator Moor
Cleator Moor
Cleator Moor is a small town and civil parish in the English county of Cumbria and within the boundaries of the traditional county of Cumberland....
and Workington
Workington
Workington is a town, civil parish and port on the west coast of Cumbria, England, at the mouth of the River Derwent. Lying within the Borough of Allerdale, Workington is southwest of Carlisle, west of Cockermouth, and southwest of Maryport...
and intermediate villages. It was mainly used for coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
, limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
and iron ore traffic for the local industries.
History
The Cleator & Workington Junction Railway was incorporated in 1876 and a BillBill (proposed law)
A bill is a proposed law under consideration by a legislature. A bill does not become law until it is passed by the legislature and, in most cases, approved by the executive. Once a bill has been enacted into law, it is called an act or a statute....
presented to Parliament
Parliament of Great Britain
The Parliament of Great Britain was formed in 1707 following the ratification of the Acts of Union by both the Parliament of England and Parliament of Scotland...
in the same year. Construction began shortly after and the line between Workington and Cleator Moor was opened in 1879. The line continued from Workington to a junction with the London & North Western Railway at Siddick, approximately two miles north of Workington. The principal station and company headquarters were in Central Square, Workington and the station soon became known as Workington Central
Workington Central railway station
Workington Central railway station served the town of Workington in Cumbria, England. The railway station was located on the Cleator and Workington Junction Railway; it lay slightly inland of the current Workington station on a parallel rival line.- History :...
. A second main line was built from a junction on the C&WJR main line at Calva Junction to Linefoot Junction, where it adjoined the Maryport and Carlisle Railway
Maryport and Carlisle Railway
The Maryport & Carlisle Railway was a small but highly profitable railway formed in 1836 to connect the town of Maryport to the county town of Carlisle and to allow the output of collieries inland of Maryport to be more cheaply transported to Maryport for oward movement by sea. Its headquarters...
. This section was known as the Northern extension. Several branch lines were built including that to Rowrah
Rowrah
Rowrah is a village in Cumbria and spans the civil parishes of Arlecdon and Frizington and Lamplugh. The majority of Rowrah is within Arlecdon and Frizington...
of which a short 300 yard section remained in use at Rowrah
Rowrah
Rowrah is a village in Cumbria and spans the civil parishes of Arlecdon and Frizington and Lamplugh. The majority of Rowrah is within Arlecdon and Frizington...
as a backshunt until 1978.
To the people of West Cumberland the line became affectionately known as the "Track of the Ironmasters." The C&WJR never ran its own services on the main lines: this was done on their behalf by the Furness Railway
Furness Railway
The Furness Railway was a railway company operating in the Furness area of Lancashire in North West England.-History:The company was established on May 23, 1844 when the Furness Railway Act was passed by Parliament...
. In later years the C&WJR purchased its own engines to work its branch lines (see below).
At the railway grouping
Railways Act 1921
The Railways Act 1921, also known as the Grouping Act, was an enactment by the British government of David Lloyd George intended to stem the losses being made by many of the country's 120 railway companies, move the railways away from internal competition, and to retain some of the benefits which...
of 1923, the line was incorporated into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
network. The Northern Extension section that served the Broughton Moor Armaments Depot
RNAD Broughton Moor
RNAD Broughton Moor is a decommissioned Royal Naval Armaments Depot located between Great Broughton and Broughton Moor in the County of Cumbria, England....
closed on 4 June 1992.
Main line
Cleator Moor WestCleator Moor
Cleator Moor is a small town and civil parish in the English county of Cumbria and within the boundaries of the traditional county of Cumberland....
- Moresby Parks - Distington
Distington
Distington is a large village and civil parish in Cumbria, England, south of Workington and north-northeast of Whitehaven.Historically a part of Cumberland, the civil parish includes the nearby settlements of Common End, Gilgarran and Pica...
- High Harrington
Harrington, Cumbria
Harrington is on the Cumbrian coast south of Workington and north of Whitehaven. Its industrial history, which largely ended in the late 1930s, included an iron works, coal mining, and steel making. It once had five railway stations...
- Workington Central
Workington Central railway station
Workington Central railway station served the town of Workington in Cumbria, England. The railway station was located on the Cleator and Workington Junction Railway; it lay slightly inland of the current Workington station on a parallel rival line.- History :...
(Route in Google Maps)
Northern extension
Workington Central - Seaton - Great Broughton (Route in Google Maps)Rowrah line
A branch line that left the mainline at Distington, terminating at RowrahRowrah
Rowrah is a village in Cumbria and spans the civil parishes of Arlecdon and Frizington and Lamplugh. The majority of Rowrah is within Arlecdon and Frizington...
(Route in Google Maps)
Cleator & Workington Junction Railway locomotives
All the nameplates used on this company's locomotives were named after residences of C&WJR company directors. Until recently there was uncertainty about the name of No. 2 but the personal notebook of the Company Accountant shows otherwise. The engine never ran in service with the name "Ennerdale"- Notes on the Locomotives The first two locomotives were outside cylinder 0-4-0 tank engines. They proved not to be powerful enough for the severe inclines so engines 3 to 10 were 0-6-0 inside cylinder saddle tanks from a wide range of builders. Some poorly researched historical sources often get this fact wrong and describe the larger saddle tank engines as outside cylinder engines.
- No.1, Brigham Hall (1st) and Rothersyke (1st.)
An outside cylinder 0-4-00-4-0Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-0 represents one of the simplest possible types, that with two axles and four coupled wheels, all of which are driven...
T. Built in 1894 by Fletcher Jennings Ltd for C&WJR. Builders No. 187.
Nameplates carried: Brigham Hill (1882–1894) and Rothersyke (1894–1897)
Renumbered: No known renumbering of this engine.
Disposal: To West Stanley Colliery Coy. County DurhamCounty DurhamCounty Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
in 1897
- No.2, Unnamed for fifteen years, then Rothersyke (2nd) an outside cylinder 0-4-0ST. Built circa 1875 by Barclay & Co. (Not an Andrew Barclay product) Built originally for Ward, Ross & Liddlelow, railway contractors to the C&WJR. No.2 was purchased second hand in 1882. No.2 was originally named Ennerdale but the nameplates were removed after acquisition by the C&WJR on the order of the Managing Director. One unverified source says that the name "Ennerdale" was only painted upon the engine and when it was purchased by the C&WJR the name "Ennerdale" was painted over on authority of the Board of Directors.
Nameplates Carried: None from 1882 to 1897. The redundant plates from engine No.1 Rothersyke were fitted when it was decided to sell the engine.
Renumbered: No known renumbering of this engine.
Disposal: To SD Coasdell of Workington in July 1898 for £150. - No.3, South Lodge an inside cylinder 0-6-00-6-0Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...
ST of 1884, built by Robert Stephenson and CompanyRobert Stephenson and CompanyRobert Stephenson and Company was a locomotive manufacturing company founded in 1823. It was the first company set up specifically to build railway engines.- Foundation and early success :...
for the C&WJR. Builders No. 2553. The saddle tank did not cover the smokebox.
Nameplates carried: South Lodge. (1884 to 1920)
Renumbered: No known renumbering of this engine.
Disposal: To J.F. Wake Ltd., Dealers, DarlingtonDarlingtonDarlington is a market town in the Borough of Darlington, part of the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It lies on the small River Skerne, a tributary of the River Tees, not far from the main river. It is the main population centre in the borough, with a population of 97,838 as of 2001...
, County Durham, July 1920
- No.4, Harecroft an inside cylinder 0-6-0ST built in 1885 by the Lowca Engineering Co. Ltd. for the C&WJR. Builders No. 196. Similar in appearance to No.3 and the saddle tank did not cover the smokebox.
Nameplates carried: Harecroft. (1885 to 1915)
Renumbered: After disposal by new owner to 46
Disposal: Withdrawn September 1915 and sold to Workington Iron & Steel Company.
- No.5, Moresby Hall an inside cylinder 0-6-0ST built in 1890 by Robert Stephenson and CompanyRobert Stephenson and CompanyRobert Stephenson and Company was a locomotive manufacturing company founded in 1823. It was the first company set up specifically to build railway engines.- Foundation and early success :...
for the C&WJR. Builders No. 2692. The saddle tank did not cover the smokebox.
Nameplates carried: Moresby Hall. (1890 to 1919)
Renumbered: No known renumbering of this engine.
Disposal: Withdrawn and scrapped 1919. - No.6, Brigham Hall an inside cylinder 0-6-0ST built in 1894 by Robert Stephenson and CompanyRobert Stephenson and CompanyRobert Stephenson and Company was a locomotive manufacturing company founded in 1823. It was the first company set up specifically to build railway engines.- Foundation and early success :...
for the C&WJR. Builders No. 2813. The saddle tank did not cover the smokebox.
Nameplates carried: Brigham Hall. (1894 to 1920)
Renumbered: Allowcated 11564 by the LMS in 1923 after the grouping, but not known if it was repainted into LMS colours.
Disposal: Withdrawn 11/12/1926 and scrapped by the LM&SR
- No.7, Ponsonby Hall an inside cylinder 0-6-0ST built in 1896 by Robert Stephenson and CompanyRobert Stephenson and CompanyRobert Stephenson and Company was a locomotive manufacturing company founded in 1823. It was the first company set up specifically to build railway engines.- Foundation and early success :...
for the C&WJR. Builders No. 2846. The saddle tank did not cover the smokebox.
Nameplates carried: Ponsonby Hall . (1886 to 1926)
Renumbered: Allowcated 11565 by the LMS in 1923 after the grouping, but not known if it was repainted into LMS colours.
Disposal: Withdrawn 18/12/1926 and scrapped by the LM&SR
- No.8, Hutton Hall an inside cylinder 0-6-0ST built in 1907 by Peckett and SonsPeckett and SonsPeckett and Sons was a locomotive manufacturer at the Atlas Works in St. George, Bristol, England.-Fox, Walker and Company:The company began trading in 1864 at the Atlas Engine Works, St. George, Bristol, as Fox, Walker and Company, building four and six-coupled saddle tank engines for industrial use...
for the C&WJR. Builders No. 1134.
Nameplates carried: Hutton Hall (1907 to 1927)
Renumbered: Allowcated 11566 by the LMS in 1923 after the grouping, and repainted into early LMS black goods livery.
Disposal: Withdrawn 3/12/1927 and scrapped by the LM&SR
- No.9 Millgrove an inside cylinder 0-6-0ST built in 1919 by Peckett and SonsPeckett and SonsPeckett and Sons was a locomotive manufacturer at the Atlas Works in St. George, Bristol, England.-Fox, Walker and Company:The company began trading in 1864 at the Atlas Engine Works, St. George, Bristol, as Fox, Walker and Company, building four and six-coupled saddle tank engines for industrial use...
for the C&WJR. Builders No. 1340.
Nameplates carried: Millgrove (1919 to 1928)
Renumbered: Allowcated 11567 by the LMS in 1923 after the grouping, and repainted into early LMS black goods livery.
Disposal: Withdrawn 5/12/1928 and scrapped by the LM&SR
- No.10 Skiddaw Lodge an inside cylinder 0-6-0ST built in 1920 by Hudswell ClarkeHudswell ClarkeHudswell, Clarke and Company Limited was an engineering and locomotive building company in Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.-History:...
for the C&WJR. Builders No. 1400.
Nameplates carried: Skiddaw Lodge . (1920 to 1932)
Renumbered: Allocated No. 11568 by the LMS in 1923 after the grouping, and repainted into early LMS black goods livery.
Disposal: Withdrawn 1932 by LM&SR and sold to Hartley Main Collieries NorthumberlandNorthumberlandNorthumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, via Robert Frazer & Sons Ltd., HebburnHebburnHebburn is a small town situated on the south bank of the River Tyne in North East England, sandwiched between the towns of Jarrow and Bill Quay...
, County Durham.
See also
- Notes on Furness RailwayFurness RailwayThe Furness Railway was a railway company operating in the Furness area of Lancashire in North West England.-History:The company was established on May 23, 1844 when the Furness Railway Act was passed by Parliament...
locomotives, some of which ran on the line and were based at Moor Row shed, can be found here: Steam locomotives of the Furness RailwaySteam locomotives of the Furness RailwayThe Furness Railway company owned many different types of locomotives, built by several locomotive building companies, including Sharp Stewart and Company. Others were built by the Furness' constituent companies - the Whitehaven and Furness Junction Railway, among others.-Preserved Locomotives:Two...