Severn and Wye Railway
Encyclopedia
The Severn and Wye Railway was a small railway network in west Gloucestershire
that was constructed to allow exploitation of the mineral resources of the Forest of Dean
. The Severn and Wye Railway and Canal Company began construction of the tramway and the Lydney Canal in 1810. In 1868 the tramway was converted to broad gauge
, and then to standard gauge
in 1872. Upon bankruptcy in 1893 it was purchased jointly by the Midland Railway
and Great Western Railway
. The railway officially became a joint venture on 1 July 1894 and became known as the Severn and Wye Joint Railway
(S&WJR). At its largest extent the railway consisted of 39 miles (62.8 km) of track. Lydney Canal was opened in 1813 and closed in 1977.
and Lydbrook
via Serridge Junction (near Serridge Platform), as a tramway operated by horses. In 1865 five locomotives were purchased by the line, the railway was largely converted into broad gauge in 1868-9, two more engines were added in 1872 and later that year the railway was converted to standard gauge. The Mineral Loop was opened in 1872 and a branch to Coleford
from Parkend opened in 1876. The first passenger train
ran on 23 September 1875 between Lydney and Lydbrook. When the Severn Railway Bridge
opened in 1879, the Severn Bridge Railway
was amalgamated with the Severn and Wye Railway, becoming the Severn and Wye and Severn Bridge
Railway. This then became the Severn and Wye Joint Railway when the Great Western Railway
and Midland Railway
bought the company in 1894. An extension to Cinderford
was opened in 1900.
The 'Main Line' ran from Sharpness
on the southeastern bank of the River Severn
across the river via the Severn Railway Bridge
to Lydney
on the northwestern bank and then on to Cinderford
. Here trains reversed to continue to Lydbrook
Junction on the GWR line from Ross-on-Wye
to Monmouth
(the Ross and Monmouth Railway
). There were many branches to various collieries and a 'Mineral Loop' line was built to avoid reversal at Cinderford and the steep gradient from Speech House
Road to Serridge Junction. A short branch to Coleford
, which had a small station at Milkwall
was opened and it connected with the Coleford Railway
and Wye Valley Railway
. At one point you could then catch a train on to Monmouth station. When the Coleford Railway
closed in 1917 the railway took over the short stretch to Whitecliff Quarry
. The quarry closed in 1976. Apart from the bridge over the Severn, the only major engineering features were a tunnel at Mierystock (now blocked) and Lower Lydbrook Viaduct
(now demolished).
Regular passenger services north of Lydney Town
stopped in 1929; however, the Berkeley Road
- Lydney Town
service was only halted by the collapse of the Severn Railway Bridge
in 1960. Freight services on the line lasted much longer than passenger; the Lydbrook arm closed completely in 1956, (the line had been near dormant for several years before), the branch to Coleford
and Whitecliff Quarry
closed in 1967 and the section to Parkend finally closed in 1976.
The stretch between Parkend and Lydney
is now restored and open as the Dean Forest Railway
. Many of the other parts of the route have been converted into cycleways
. The Sharpness Branch Line
is still open to serve the surviving industry in Sharpness Docks. The signal box
at Coleford Station (S&WR) has now been turned into a museum
highlighting the activities of the Great Western Railway.
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
that was constructed to allow exploitation of the mineral resources of the Forest of Dean
Forest of Dean
The Forest of Dean is a geographical, historical and cultural region in the western part of the county of Gloucestershire, England. The forest is a roughly triangular plateau bounded by the River Wye to the west and north, the River Severn to the south, and the City of Gloucester to the east.The...
. The Severn and Wye Railway and Canal Company began construction of the tramway and the Lydney Canal in 1810. In 1868 the tramway was converted to broad gauge
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
, and then to standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
in 1872. Upon bankruptcy in 1893 it was purchased jointly by the Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
and 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...
. The railway officially became a joint venture on 1 July 1894 and became known as the Severn and Wye Joint Railway
Joint railway
A joint railway is a railway operating under the control of more than one railway company: those companies very often supplying the traction over the railway.-United Kingdom:There are many examples of joint railway working in the United Kingdom...
(S&WJR). At its largest extent the railway consisted of 39 miles (62.8 km) of track. Lydney Canal was opened in 1813 and closed in 1977.
History
The Severn and Wye Railway was authorized by parliament in 1809 as the Lydney & Lydbrook Railway. It changed its title to the Severn and Wye Railway and Canal Company in the following year. The railway was opened in 1810 between LydneyLydney
Lydney is a small town and civil parish in the English county of Gloucestershire. It is located on the west bank of the River Severn, close to the Forest of Dean. The town lies on the A48 road, next to the Lydney Park gardens with its Roman temple in honour of Nodens.-Transport:The Severn Railway...
and Lydbrook
Lydbrook
Lydbrook is a civil parish in the Forest of Dean, a local government district in the English county of Gloucestershire. It comprises the districts of Lower Lydbrook, Upper Lydbrook, and Joys Green.-Introduction:...
via Serridge Junction (near Serridge Platform), as a tramway operated by horses. In 1865 five locomotives were purchased by the line, the railway was largely converted into broad gauge in 1868-9, two more engines were added in 1872 and later that year the railway was converted to standard gauge. The Mineral Loop was opened in 1872 and a branch to Coleford
Coleford
Coleford may refer to a number of settlements in England:* Coleford, Devon* Coleford, Gloucestershire* Coleford, Somerset...
from Parkend opened in 1876. The first passenger train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
ran on 23 September 1875 between Lydney and Lydbrook. When the Severn Railway Bridge
Severn Railway Bridge
The Severn Railway Bridge was a crossing across the River Severn between Sharpness and Lydney, Gloucestershire. It was badly damaged in an accident involving river barges in 1960 and demolished in 1970.-Construction:...
opened in 1879, the Severn Bridge Railway
Severn Bridge Railway
The Severn Bridge Railway was an early British railway company. It ran from Berkeley Road railway station to Sharpness railway station via the Sharpness Branch Line. It then went over the River Severn on the Severn Railway Bridge and to Lydney Junction railway station. It was opened in 1879 as a...
was amalgamated with the Severn and Wye Railway, becoming the Severn and Wye and Severn Bridge
Severn Bridge
The Severn Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the River Severn between South Gloucestershire, just north of Bristol, England, and Monmouthshire in South Wales, via Beachley, a peninsula between the River Severn and River Wye estuary. It is the original Severn road crossing between England and...
Railway. This then became the Severn and Wye Joint Railway when 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...
and Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
bought the company in 1894. An extension to Cinderford
Cinderford
Cinderford is a small town on the eastern fringe of the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, England. A population of 8,116 people is recorded in the 2001 census....
was opened in 1900.
The 'Main Line' ran from Sharpness
Sharpness
Sharpness is an English port in Gloucestershire, one of the most inland in Britain, and eighth largest in the South West. It is on the River Severn at , at a point where the tidal range, though less than at Avonmouth downstream , is still large .The village of Sharpness is pronounced with the...
on the southeastern bank of the River Severn
River Severn
The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales...
across the river via the Severn Railway Bridge
Severn Railway Bridge
The Severn Railway Bridge was a crossing across the River Severn between Sharpness and Lydney, Gloucestershire. It was badly damaged in an accident involving river barges in 1960 and demolished in 1970.-Construction:...
to Lydney
Lydney
Lydney is a small town and civil parish in the English county of Gloucestershire. It is located on the west bank of the River Severn, close to the Forest of Dean. The town lies on the A48 road, next to the Lydney Park gardens with its Roman temple in honour of Nodens.-Transport:The Severn Railway...
on the northwestern bank and then on to Cinderford
Cinderford
Cinderford is a small town on the eastern fringe of the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, England. A population of 8,116 people is recorded in the 2001 census....
. Here trains reversed to continue to Lydbrook
Lydbrook
Lydbrook is a civil parish in the Forest of Dean, a local government district in the English county of Gloucestershire. It comprises the districts of Lower Lydbrook, Upper Lydbrook, and Joys Green.-Introduction:...
Junction on the GWR line from Ross-on-Wye
Ross-on-Wye
Ross-on-Wye is a small market town with a population of 10,089 in southeastern Herefordshire, England, located on the River Wye, and on the northern edge of the Forest of Dean.-History:...
to Monmouth
Monmouth Troy railway station
Monmouth Troy was one of the two former stations at Monmouth. It was built in 1857 by the Coleford, Monmouth, Usk and Pontypool Railway and was used by several other branch lines as the local rail network expanded...
(the Ross and Monmouth Railway
Ross and Monmouth Railway
The Ross and Monmouth Railway was a standard gauge railway of which ran between Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth....
). There were many branches to various collieries and a 'Mineral Loop' line was built to avoid reversal at Cinderford and the steep gradient from Speech House
Speech House
The Speech House is the administrative building of the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, England, lying at the centre of the forest on the road from Coleford to Cinderford....
Road to Serridge Junction. A short branch to Coleford
Coleford
Coleford may refer to a number of settlements in England:* Coleford, Devon* Coleford, Gloucestershire* Coleford, Somerset...
, which had a small station at Milkwall
Milkwall
- External links :*...
was opened and it connected with the Coleford Railway
Coleford Railway
The Coleford Railway also known as the Coleford Branch, was a short-lived standard gauge railway line which ran for approximately between Monmouth and Coleford. It was constructed in the 1880s, opened on 1 September 1883 and closed on 1 January 1917...
and Wye Valley Railway
Wye Valley Railway
The Wye Valley Railway was a standard gauge railway that ran for nearly between Chepstow and Monmouth along the lower part of the scenic Wye Valley in Monmouthshire, Wales, and Gloucestershire, England. It followed the route of the River Wye for most of its length...
. At one point you could then catch a train on to Monmouth station. When the Coleford Railway
Coleford Railway
The Coleford Railway also known as the Coleford Branch, was a short-lived standard gauge railway line which ran for approximately between Monmouth and Coleford. It was constructed in the 1880s, opened on 1 September 1883 and closed on 1 January 1917...
closed in 1917 the railway took over the short stretch to Whitecliff Quarry
Whitecliff Quarry
Whitecliff Quarry was a quarry in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England. It was served by the Coleford Railway from 1883-1917 and the Severn and Wye Railway from 1917 until its closure in 1976. The quarry was near the town of Coleford....
. The quarry closed in 1976. Apart from the bridge over the Severn, the only major engineering features were a tunnel at Mierystock (now blocked) and Lower Lydbrook Viaduct
Lower Lydbrook Viaduct
The Lower Lydbrook Viaduct was a steel railway viaduct with stone piers, it was on the Severn and Wye Railway and situated in Lower Lydbrook, Gloucestershire, England....
(now demolished).
Regular passenger services north of Lydney Town
Lydney Town railway station
Lydney Town railway station is a railway station on the Dean Forest Railway in Lydney in Gloucestershire. It is located a few metres from the High Street which a level crossing runs over on the Norchard end.-History:...
stopped in 1929; however, the Berkeley Road
Berkeley Road railway station
Berkeley Road railway station served the towns of Berkeley and Dursley in Gloucestershire, England.-History:The station was one of the first six stations built on the Bristol and Gloucester Railway, originally a broad gauge line overseen by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, but later taken over by the...
- Lydney Town
Lydney Town railway station
Lydney Town railway station is a railway station on the Dean Forest Railway in Lydney in Gloucestershire. It is located a few metres from the High Street which a level crossing runs over on the Norchard end.-History:...
service was only halted by the collapse of the Severn Railway Bridge
Severn Railway Bridge
The Severn Railway Bridge was a crossing across the River Severn between Sharpness and Lydney, Gloucestershire. It was badly damaged in an accident involving river barges in 1960 and demolished in 1970.-Construction:...
in 1960. Freight services on the line lasted much longer than passenger; the Lydbrook arm closed completely in 1956, (the line had been near dormant for several years before), the branch to Coleford
Coleford
Coleford may refer to a number of settlements in England:* Coleford, Devon* Coleford, Gloucestershire* Coleford, Somerset...
and Whitecliff Quarry
Whitecliff Quarry
Whitecliff Quarry was a quarry in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England. It was served by the Coleford Railway from 1883-1917 and the Severn and Wye Railway from 1917 until its closure in 1976. The quarry was near the town of Coleford....
closed in 1967 and the section to Parkend finally closed in 1976.
The stretch between Parkend and Lydney
Lydney
Lydney is a small town and civil parish in the English county of Gloucestershire. It is located on the west bank of the River Severn, close to the Forest of Dean. The town lies on the A48 road, next to the Lydney Park gardens with its Roman temple in honour of Nodens.-Transport:The Severn Railway...
is now restored and open as the Dean Forest Railway
Dean Forest Railway
The Dean Forest Railway is a long heritage railway that runs between Lydney and Parkend in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. The route was part of the Severn and Wye Railway which ran from Lydney to Cinderford. The society that operates the line started steam locomotive operations in 1971, and...
. Many of the other parts of the route have been converted into cycleways
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
. The Sharpness Branch Line
Sharpness Branch Line
The Sharpness Branch Line was a railway in Gloucestershire, England, built by the Midland Railway to connect the port of Sharpness to the main Bristol and Gloucester Railway...
is still open to serve the surviving industry in Sharpness Docks. The signal box
Signal box
On a rail transport system, signalling control is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of railway signals and block systems to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper timetable...
at Coleford Station (S&WR) has now been turned into a museum
Coleford Great Western Railway Museum
Coleford Great Western Railway Museum is a railway museum located in Coleford, Gloucestershire, England. The museum was founded in 1988. Based in the former GWR Goods Shed along the Coleford Railway. There was also another station situated at Coleford, it was opened by the Severn and Wye Railway...
highlighting the activities of the Great Western Railway.