Cleobury Mortimer and Ditton Priors Light Railway
Encyclopedia
The Cleobury Mortimer and Ditton Priors Light Railway was a pre-grouping
railway company that served part of south Shropshire
.
Everard Calthrop
was appointed Consulting Engineer in 1900, responsible for surveying the route and preparing the construction plans, and the line opened in 1908. The line had a junction with the Wyre Forest line of the Great Western Railway
(GWR) at Cleobury Mortimer
and was absorbed into the GWR in 1922.
After 30 years of passengers services, the line closed just before the start of World War II
.
The line was then used by the Royal Navy
which had a Royal Naval Armaments Depot
(RNAD) at the end of line outside Ditton Priors
. The railway finally closed in 1960.
- Burwarton
- Ditton Priors. An extension was proposed, running east from Stottesdon to Billingsley
. Three possible extensions were proposed from Ditton Priors: east to Bridgnorth
; north east to Coalport
; north to Presthope (near Much Wenlock
). None of the extensions was actually built.
saddle tanks built by Manning Wardle
and these became GWR numbers 28 and 29
. They were rebuilt by the GWR with new boilers and pannier tanks, after which they bore a strong resemblance to the GWR 1366 Class
. Other locomotives used on the line included GWR 2021 Class
nos. 2101 and 2144 and GWR 1600 Class
no. 1661.
Following the opening of the RNAD at Ditton Priors, the steam locomotives were fitted with spark arrestors but, after the arrival of RNAD diesel locomotive
s, they did not enter the armaments depot. The steam locomotive was taken off the goods train at Cleobury North (just south of Ditton Priors) and the wagons were drawn into the depot by an RNAD diesel locomotive.
Three "flameproof" diesel locomotives of 165 bhp were supplied to RNAD Ditton Priors by Ruston and Hornsby
between 1952 and 1955. A similar machine Francis Baily of Thatcham (ex-RAF Welford
) is preserved at Southall Railway Centre
.
Before the Rustons, a Planet diesel locomotive is believed to have been used but its dates of arrival and departure are not known.
. The buildings were camouflaged and served by rail siding
s. Trains and their dangerous cargo could then be loaded and unloaded inside .
In 1960 the railway line was finally closed but the Royal Navy continued to use Ditton Priors until 1965. The following year the depot was taken over by US forces
that had left France following the French withdrawal from NATO's military structure.
The depot finally closed in 1968.
Land adjacent to the defunct railway line was sold off by the MOD
in 1971. Ten farms have been created in this area.
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...
railway company that served part of south Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
.
Everard Calthrop
Everard Calthrop
Everard Richard Calthrop was a British railway engineer and inventor. Calthrop was a notable promoter and builder of narrow gauge railways, especially of gauge, and was especially prominent in India. His most notable achievement was the Barsi Light Railway; however he is best known in his home...
was appointed Consulting Engineer in 1900, responsible for surveying the route and preparing the construction plans, and the line opened in 1908. The line had a junction with the Wyre Forest line of the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
(GWR) at Cleobury Mortimer
Cleobury Mortimer
Cleobury Mortimer is a small rural market town in Shropshire, England. The town's parish has a population of 1,962 according to the 2001 census. Although sometimes regarded as a village, it is in fact the second smallest town in Shropshire , having been granted a town charter in 1253.Several...
and was absorbed into the GWR in 1922.
After 30 years of passengers services, the line closed just before the start of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
The line was then used by the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
which had a Royal Naval Armaments Depot
Royal Naval Armaments Depot
A Royal Naval Armament Depot was a group of armament depots dedicated to supplying the needs of the Royal Navy as well as the Royal Air Force, British Army and foreign/commonwealth governments; they were sister depots of Royal Naval Cordite Factories, Royal Naval Torpedo and Royal Naval Mine Depots...
(RNAD) at the end of line outside Ditton Priors
Ditton Priors
Ditton Priors is a village and civil parish in south Shropshire, England.The nearest town is Bridgnorth. The village is situated near to Shropshire's highest hill, Brown Clee Hill....
. The railway finally closed in 1960.
Route
Cleobury Mortimer - Cleobury Town - StottesdonStottesdon
Stottesdon is a village and civil parish in south east Shropshire, England. The parish of Stottesdon covers a large rural area and extends over the village of Chorley...
- Burwarton
Burwarton
Burwarton is a small village and civil parish in Shropshire, England....
- Ditton Priors. An extension was proposed, running east from Stottesdon to Billingsley
Billingsley, Shropshire
Billingsley is a small village and civil parish in Shropshire, England, six miles south of Bridgnorth. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 181....
. Three possible extensions were proposed from Ditton Priors: east to Bridgnorth
Bridgnorth
Bridgnorth is a town in Shropshire, England, along the Severn Valley. It is split into Low Town and High Town, named on account of their elevations relative to the River Severn, which separates the upper town on the right bank from the lower on the left...
; north east to Coalport
Coalport
Coalport is a village in Shropshire, now part of the new town of Telford. It is located on the River Severn at , a mile downstream of Ironbridge...
; north to Presthope (near Much Wenlock
Much Wenlock
Much Wenlock, earlier known as Wenlock, is a small town in central Shropshire, England. It is situated on the A458 road between Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth. Nearby, to the northeast, is the Ironbridge Gorge, and the new town of Telford...
). None of the extensions was actually built.
Locomotives
The line had two locomotives, both 0-6-00-6-0
Under 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...
saddle tanks built by Manning Wardle
Manning Wardle
Manning Wardle was a steam locomotive manufacturer based in Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.- Precursor companies :The city of Leeds was one of the earliest centres of locomotive building; Matthew Murray built the first commercially successful steam locomotive, Salamanca, in Holbeck, Leeds,...
and these became GWR numbers 28 and 29
Locomotives of the Great Western Railway
The first Locomotives of the Great Western Railway were specified by Isambard Kingdom Brunel but Daniel Gooch was soon appointed as the railway's Locomotive Superintendent. He designed several different broad gauge types for the growing railway, such as the Firefly and later Iron Duke Class 2-2-2s...
. They were rebuilt by the GWR with new boilers and pannier tanks, after which they bore a strong resemblance to the GWR 1366 Class
GWR 1366 Class
The Great Western Railway 1366 Class was a class of 0-6-0 pannier tank steam locomotive built in 1934.-History and development:The 1366 class was one of only two pannier tank designs built by the GWR that utilised outside cylinders, although various existing engines inherited by the GWR had...
. Other locomotives used on the line included GWR 2021 Class
GWR 2021 Class
The GWR 2021 Class was a class of 140 0-6-0 saddle tank steam locomotives. They were built at the Wolverhampton railway works of the Great Western Railway between 1897 and 1905...
nos. 2101 and 2144 and GWR 1600 Class
GWR 1600 Class
The Great Western Railway 1600 class is a class of 0-6-0 pannier tank steam locomotive.-History:The class was based on the 2021 class designed by Dean and built from 1897 onwards...
no. 1661.
Following the opening of the RNAD at Ditton Priors, the steam locomotives were fitted with spark arrestors but, after the arrival of RNAD diesel locomotive
Diesel locomotive
A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...
s, they did not enter the armaments depot. The steam locomotive was taken off the goods train at Cleobury North (just south of Ditton Priors) and the wagons were drawn into the depot by an RNAD diesel locomotive.
Three "flameproof" diesel locomotives of 165 bhp were supplied to RNAD Ditton Priors by Ruston and Hornsby
Ruston (engine builder)
Ruston & Hornsby, later known as Ruston, was an industrial equipment manufacturer in Lincoln, England, the company's history going back to 1840. The company is best known as a manufacturer of narrow and standard gauge diesel locomotives and also of steam shovels. Other products included cars, steam...
between 1952 and 1955. A similar machine Francis Baily of Thatcham (ex-RAF Welford
RAF Welford
RAF Welford is an active Royal Air Force station in Berkshire, England. The airfield is located approximately northwest of Newbury; about west-southwest of London...
) is preserved at Southall Railway Centre
Southall Railway Centre
Southall Railway Centre is a railway heritage centre at Southall in west London, near to Southall railway station and the Grand Union Canal. It is run by the GWR Preservation Group Limited .-History:...
.
Before the Rustons, a Planet diesel locomotive is believed to have been used but its dates of arrival and departure are not known.
Royal Naval Armaments Depot
The depot, which had 25 magazines and four stores for naval mines, opened in 1941 around Brown Clee HillBrown Clee Hill
Brown Clee Hill is the highest hill in the rural English county of Shropshire, at 540 metres above sea level. It is one of the Clee Hills, and is in the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.-Geography:...
. The buildings were camouflaged and served by rail siding
Rail siding
A siding, in rail terminology, is a low-speed track section distinct from a running line or through route such as a main line or branch line or spur. It may connect to through track or to other sidings at either end...
s. Trains and their dangerous cargo could then be loaded and unloaded inside .
In 1960 the railway line was finally closed but the Royal Navy continued to use Ditton Priors until 1965. The following year the depot was taken over by US forces
Military of the United States
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
that had left France following the French withdrawal from NATO's military structure.
The depot finally closed in 1968.
The site today
Parts of the site are now occupied by an industrial estate and fireworks factory. Many of the original buildings have new uses.Land adjacent to the defunct railway line was sold off by the MOD
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
in 1971. Ten farms have been created in this area.