On 14 February 1861, the first section of line was opened from Cruckmeole Junction, on the Cambrian Line, to Minsterley. However, with the northerly section of the Cambrian main line into Wales opening the following year (connecting Newtown via Welshpool to Shrewsbury), it became apparent there was little need to continue beyond Minsterley. The station became the terminus of the truncated line.
Decline and closureedit
Passenger services ceased to Minsterley in 1951, although Hanwood station on the Cambrian Line remained open to passengers until 1960 and to goods until 1964. The branch line continued to carry goods (mainly for the Minsterley Creamery) until 1967 when the line was closed. The track was lifted after closure.
Preservationedit
The remains of the bridge abutments which carried the Minsterley line from Cruckmeole Junction on the Cambrian Line
Much of the old trackbed has now been redeveloped though some rail infrastructure remains, such as bridge abutments. The Minsterley station site has been used as a meat processing factory. A large dairy-related factory also exists on either side of the old trackbed (just before the terminus) and the stationmaster's house has been converted to a private residence.
Referencesedit
Jenkins, Stanley C. (2015). The Great Western Railway Volume Five Shrewsbury to Pwllheli. Amberley Publishing. ISBN9781445642994.
minsterley, branch, line, minsterley, branch, short, railway, line, that, from, cruckmeole, junction, cambrian, line, just, south, shrewsbury, minsterley, shropshire, half, mile, standard, gauge, line, only, section, built, plan, connect, shrewsbury, with, wal. The Minsterley branch was a short railway line that ran from Cruckmeole Junction on the Cambrian Line just south of Shrewsbury to Minsterley in Shropshire The six and a half mile standard gauge line was the only section built of a plan to connect Shrewsbury with mid Wales It was part of a joint venture between the Great Western Railway and London and North Western Railway companies Minsterley branch lineA rail tour at Minsterley station 11 September 1965OverviewOwnerGreat Western Railway London and North Western RailwayLocaleShropshireTerminiCruckmeole Junction52 40 40 N 2 50 28 W 52 6779 N 2 8411 W 52 6779 2 8411 Cruckmeole Junction Minsterley railway station52 38 27 N 2 55 27 W 52 6408 N 2 9243 W 52 6408 2 9243 Minsterley station Stations3HistoryOpened1861Closed1967TechnicalLine length6 5 mi 10 5 km Number of tracks1Track gauge1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in standard gauge vteMinsterleyBranch Line Legend 1861 1967 Cambrian Lineto Shrewsbury Hanwood Cruckmeole Junction Cambrian Lineto Welshpool Plealey Road Pontesbury Snailbeach Dist Rlys Minsterley unbuilt section Chirbury Proposed lineto Lydham Heath EnglandWales Cambrian Lineto Welshpool Montgomery Cambrian Lineto Newtown Contents 1 History 1 1 Plans 1 2 Opening 1 3 Decline and closure 2 Preservation 3 ReferencesHistory editPlans edit The route which was conceived in the late 1850s was planned to connect Shrewsbury via Hanwood on the Cambrian Line with Pontesbury Minsterley Montgomery and Newtown Services would also be able to continue to the Welsh coast At Pontesbury station transfer sidings connected the narrow gauge Snailbeach District Railway which ran to lead mines at Snailbeach Opening edit On 14 February 1861 the first section of line was opened from Cruckmeole Junction on the Cambrian Line to Minsterley However with the northerly section of the Cambrian main line into Wales opening the following year connecting Newtown via Welshpool to Shrewsbury it became apparent there was little need to continue beyond Minsterley The station became the terminus of the truncated line Decline and closure edit Passenger services ceased to Minsterley in 1951 although Hanwood station on the Cambrian Line remained open to passengers until 1960 and to goods until 1964 The branch line continued to carry goods mainly for the Minsterley Creamery until 1967 when the line was closed The track was lifted after closure Preservation edit nbsp The remains of the bridge abutments which carried the Minsterley line from Cruckmeole Junction on the Cambrian Line Much of the old trackbed has now been redeveloped though some rail infrastructure remains such as bridge abutments The Minsterley station site has been used as a meat processing factory A large dairy related factory also exists on either side of the old trackbed just before the terminus and the stationmaster s house has been converted to a private residence References editJenkins Stanley C 2015 The Great Western Railway Volume Five Shrewsbury to Pwllheli Amberley Publishing ISBN 9781445642994 Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap Download coordinates as KML GPX all coordinates GPX primary coordinates GPX secondary coordinates 52 39 15 N 2 52 40 W 52 6541 N 2 8779 W 52 6541 2 8779 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Minsterley branch line amp oldid 1172767621, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
