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Raildate is in West Yorkshire this week. The Blakedean railway operated 1900-13 for the construction of the Walshaw reservoirs above Hebden Bridge. The footings of a wooden tressle can still be seen. The line transported workers from "Dawson City" - a shanty near Heptonstall - and materials but was never connected to the mainline.
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Thank you to this week's contributors.
A coastal town with an extensive private railway network. Electric trains depart from here every 15 minutes or so. Although the map is from the 1950s, most of the private network is still in use. Where is it?
Please send your answers to raildate.co.uk@gmail.com
A mixture of colour lights and semaphores at this former joint station. Where is it?
Answer: Shrewsbury, towards Chester (L) and Crewe (R). Congratulations are due to the following for their correct answers: Phil Deaves, Dave Goodyear, Chris Parker, Colin Penfold, Blair Robinson, Chris Neale, Steve Beck, John Czyrko, Simon Wass, Bob Hart, David Garnett, Bryn Pitcher, Tony Fox, Richard Weller, Tony Harker, Jim Allwood, Neil Spencer.
The station was jointly operated by the GWR and LNWR. The photo is now possible since access to Platform 3 has been restored. The tracks at platforms 1 and 2 have been filled in but I recall them being used as a workshop in the 1970s to rennovate Vale of Rheidol coaches.
Just beyond the Ellesmere Road bridge (circled) is Coton Yard. It was the scene of a crash on 11th January 1965 which led to Class 47 D1734 becoming the first loco from the class to be cut up, after only eight months of service. The driver of a Chester to Pontypool Road freight failed to stop at the top of Hencott Incline, and the points were not set for the main line. Coton Hill South signalbox was destroyed and the signalman killed. D1684, stabled at Coton Yard, was lucky to escape, as shown in the diagram below. More info at locodata.org.uk.
NB. The official report refers to "Hencote", but that is incorrect.
As an aside, the Hencott Incline (circled below) exists because the River Severn changed its course. The familiar town loop of today is believed to have been created in the last 1,500 years, hence, Roman Viroconium was built 5 miles away because the defensive opportunity didn't exist at the time.
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