Shrewsbury and Wellington Joint Railway
Encyclopedia
The Shrewsbury and Wellington Joint Railway (S&WJR) was operated by the London North Western Railway and the Great Western Railway
. Its line ran from Shrewsbury
(Abbey Foregate station
, not to be confused with Abbey station, also in Shrewsbury) to Wellington
. Abbey Foregate also acted as a junction, with chords to Shrewsbury station
and to the direct line to Wales.
Construction, between 1846 and 1849, was a joint effort between the Shropshire Union Railways (SUR) and the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway
(S&BR). The line was 10 miles (16.1 km) long.
The line opened on 1 June 1849, simultaneously with the SUR line from and the first section of the S&BR, which was between Wellington and (the latter was extended to Wolverhampton on 12 November that year). The three companies met at Stafford Junction, Wellington. Upon completion of the SUR line, that company was leased to the London and North Western Railway
(LNWR), and so passed to the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
(LMS) on 1 January 1923; in the meantime, the S&BR was absorbed by the Great Western Railway
(GWR) on 1 September 1854, and so from 1 January 1923 the S&WJR was joint GWR/LMS property.
Of the five stations of the joint line (Abbey Foregate, Upton Magna, Walcot, Admaston
and Wellington) only Wellington is still open.
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...
. Its line ran from Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
(Abbey Foregate station
Abbey Foregate railway station
Abbey Foregate railway station was a station in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. It was located southeast of Shrewsbury station, to the east of Severn Bridge Junction, on what is today the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton Line...
, not to be confused with Abbey station, also in Shrewsbury) to Wellington
Wellington (Shropshire) railway station
Wellington railway station serves the town of Wellington, Shropshire, England. It is situated on the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton Line. Trains are operated by London Midland and Arriva Trains Wales.-History:...
. Abbey Foregate also acted as a junction, with chords to Shrewsbury station
Shrewsbury railway station
Shrewsbury railway station is the railway station serving Shrewsbury, county town of Shropshire, England. It is the only remaining railway station in the town; Shrewsbury Abbey, as well as other small stations around the town, having long closed. The station was built in 1848 and has been extended...
and to the direct line to Wales.
Construction, between 1846 and 1849, was a joint effort between the Shropshire Union Railways (SUR) and the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway
Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway
The Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway opened on 12 November 1849. It merged with the Great Western Railway on 1 September 1854.The company formed originally as the Shrewsbury & Wolverhampton, Dudley & Birmingham Railway in 1844, it became Shrewsbury & Birmingham Railway in 1847.When the section...
(S&BR). The line was 10 miles (16.1 km) long.
The line opened on 1 June 1849, simultaneously with the SUR line from and the first section of the S&BR, which was between Wellington and (the latter was extended to Wolverhampton on 12 November that year). The three companies met at Stafford Junction, Wellington. Upon completion of the SUR line, that company was leased to the London and North Western Railway
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
(LNWR), and so passed to 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...
(LMS) on 1 January 1923; in the meantime, the S&BR was absorbed by 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) on 1 September 1854, and so from 1 January 1923 the S&WJR was joint GWR/LMS property.
Of the five stations of the joint line (Abbey Foregate, Upton Magna, Walcot, Admaston
Admaston railway station
Admaston railway station was a railway station serving the village of Admaston in Shropshire, England. It was located on what is now known as the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton Line.-History:...
and Wellington) only Wellington is still open.