RAILSCOT | North Western Railway

North Western Railway

Introduction

This line is partly open. The section between Wennington and Skipton is still open. The section between Wennington and Lancaster is closed and the branch to Ingleton is closed.

The company was also known as the Little North Western to differentiate it from the London and North Western Railway.

Dates

24/11/1845	~London and North Western Railway Adlington opened
01/01/1846	London and North Western Railway London and Birmingham Railway, Grand Junction Railway and Manchester and Birmingham Railway merge to form the London and North Western Railway.
26/06/1846	North Western Railway Act passed.
31/12/1846	North Western Railway First sod cut.
/09/1848	London and North Western Railway Consideration of abandoning Leamington to Rugby line promoted by the former Rugby and Leamington Railway.
30/07/1849	North Western Railway Skipton to Ingleton opened.
14/08/1849	Mold Railway Line opened from Saltney Ferry to Mold, worked by the London and North Western Railway.
/ /1850	London and North Western Railway Work resumes on the Rugby to Leamington Spa branch.
/ /1851	London and North Western Railway Rugby to Leamington Spa opened as a single track railway.
/ /1852	Carlisle Citadel Approach [1st] (Maryport and Carlisle Railway) The Maryport and Carlisle Railway opened a curve (which crossed the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway on the level) to reach Crown Street Goods [MCR] and Carlisle Citadel, the new approach avoiding a reversal carried out between 1851 and 1852 to reach the station. The short Maryport curve from the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway to the London and North Western Railway closes.
/06/1852	North Western Railway Line worked by Midland Railway.
02/01/1854	Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway Opened from Hereford Barton to Coedygric on the Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company. Worked by the London and North Western Railway.
/ /1859	North Western Railway Line leased by Midland Railway.
/ /1859	Northampton and Market Harborough Branch (London and North Western Railway) Line opened with stations at Lamport, Brixworth, Spratton, Pitsford and Brampton.
/ /1859	Chester and Holyhead Railway North Wall Extension (Midland and Great Western Railway) London and North Western Railway steamers from Holyhead serve Dublin North Wall, where the LNWR opens a station and sidings connected to the Midland Great Western Railway line, the station located just east of Dublin North Wall Goods.
10/09/1859	Lancaster and Carlisle Railway London and North Western Railway Lancaster and Carlisle Railway leased by the London and North Western Railway.
01/06/1860	Ingleton Branch (London and North Western Railway) Ingleton to Low Gill opened.
01/08/1860	~London and North Western Railway Adderley Park opened
08/11/1861	Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway Agreement reached for lease for 1000 years by the London and North Western Railway.
/ /1862	Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway Renamed Irish North Western Railway with its lease of the Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway.
01/07/1862	Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway Leased jointly by the London and North Western Railway, West Midland Railway and Great Western Railway.
07/08/1862	Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway Lease agreement with London and North Western Railway confirmed by Act.
01/10/1862	Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway, London and North Western Railway London and North Western Railway takes possession of the Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway.
/ /1863	Dundalk and Greenore Railway London and North Western Railway backed line authorised.
/ /1863	Newry and Greenore Railway London and North Western Railway backed line authorised.
01/03/1864	London and North Western Railway, South Wales Extension from Brynmawr to Nantybwch.
25/07/1864	Rhymney Railway Act for Caerphilly to Cardiff Line (Rhymney Railway) and connection to the Caerphilly Branch (Brecon and Merthyr Railway). Traffic agreement made with the London and North Western Railway. Larger company helps finance smaller company^s plans.
/ /1865	Scottish Central Railway Caledonian Railway Scottish Central Railway absorbed by Caledonian Railway. Running powers for the North British Railway, London and North Western Railway, Midland Railway and Glasgow and South Western Railway were preserved.
/ /1865	Dumfries, Lochmaben and Lockerbie Railway Caledonian Railway Dumfries, Lochmaben and Lockerbie Railway absorbed by Caledonian Railway. The Caledonian Railway grants running powers to the London and North Western Railway between Carlisle Citadel, Lockerbie and Dumfries.
29/07/1865	London and North Western Railway Land held at Carlisle Crown Street by the Caledonian Railway sold to the LNWR.
30/07/1865	London and North Western Railway Makes traffic agreement with the Vale of Neath Railway.
05/10/1865	London and North Western Railway Uses running powers over the Taff Vale Extension Railway and an agreement with the Vale of Neath Railway to serve Swansea.
/ /1866	Scottish North Eastern Railway Caledonian Railway Scottish North Eastern Railway absorbed by Caledonian Railway. Confirmation of running powers for the Highland Railway between Perth General and Stanley Junction. Confirmation of running powers for North British Railway, London and North Western Railway, Midland Railway and Glasgow and South Western Railway. The SNER's running powers over the Montrose and Bervie Railway are transferred to the Caledonian.
/ /1866	Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway, London and North Western Railway Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway bought by the London and North Western Railway.
/ /1866	Carrickmacross Branch (Irish North Western Railway) Opened from Inishkeen to Carrickmacross.
16/07/1866	Brynmawr and Blaenavon Railway Act passed, backed by the London and North Western Railway.
/ /1867	London and North Western Railway Act for north facing junction at Abergavenny for the Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway.
31/01/1867	Caledonian Railway London and North Western Railway Caledonian Railway given running powers over the London and North Western Railway from Carlisle Citadel to Preston.
01/09/1867	Beaufort Ironworks Tramway, London and North Western Railway South Wales Link between lines opened.
/ /1868	Settle and Carlisle Line (Midland Railway) An agreement with the London and North Western Railway is reached over use of the Ingleton Branch (London and North Western Railway) and Lancaster and Carlisle Railway by the Midland Railway. The route would involve the North Western Railway. The Midland Railway tries to abandon the Settle and Carlisle Line (Midland Railway). The North British Railway and the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway block the abandonment.
/ /1869	Brynmawr and Blaenavon Railway Incorporated into the London and North Western Railway.
/ /1869	Drogheda Curve (Dublin and Drogheda Railway and London and North Western Railway) A joint line curve authorised from East Wall Junction (Dublin and Drogheda Railway) to London and North Western Railway sidings at Dublin North Wall (there was no direct connection to the Midland and Great Western Railway).
/ /1869	Dundalk and Greenore Railway Construction begins with London and North Western Railway investment.
/ /1870	Donegall Quay [Belfast] Fleetwood steamers worked jointly by the London and North Western Railway and Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway.
/ /1871	Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway Abergavenny Junction station re-built at London and North Western Railway expense.
05/09/1871	Rhymney and Nantybwch Joint Line (London and North Western Railway, South Wales and Rhymney Railway) Joint line from Rhymney to Nantybwch opened.
02/10/1871	Rhymney and Nantybwch Joint Line (London and North Western Railway, South Wales and Rhymney Railway) Joint line from Rhymney to Nantybwch opened to public traffic. The London and North Western Railway diverts all of its Cardiff bound traffic to the Rhymney Railway route.
/ /1872	North Wall Extension (Great Southern and Western Railway) Act for line from Islandbridge Junction (close to Dublin Kingsbridge) to Glasnevin Junction (North Wall Extension (Midland and Great Western Railway)) then following that line and a short link from West Road Junction to Church Road Junction (Drogheda Curve (Dublin and Drogheda Railway and London and North Western Railway)).
01/01/1873	London and North Western Railway South Wales Line extended to Dowlais Top and Ivor Junction with the Brecon and Merthyr Railway and access to Dowlais Lloyd Street and the Dowlais Iron Company.
/11/1873	London and North Western Railway South Wales Bill for line to Merthyr and the Brecon and Merthyr Railway, Vale of Neath Railway and Geothin Railway.
18/05/1874	London and North Western Railway South Wales, Brecon and Merthyr Railway London and North Western Railway agrees to withdraw Merthyr bill in exchange for joint ownership of the Brecon and Merthyr Railway branch from Dowlais to Merthyr. A link was to be opened from Penywern Junction, by Ivor Junction, and run from there to Morlais on the Brecon and Merthyr Railway.
14/06/1874	London and North Western Railway South Wales Morlais Tunnel completed.
16/07/1874	London and North Western Railway South Wales Act for extension from Penywern Junction to Morlais.
01/01/1875	Pontypool, Caerleon and Newport Railway London and North Western Railway uses line for Shrewsbury to Newport Mill Street.
/07/1875	Sirhowy Tramroad, London and North Western Railway The London and North Western Railway starts to run trains on the Sirhowy Tramroad.
21/08/1875	Sirhowy Tramroad, London and North Western Railway Date of retrospective working agreement.
01/10/1875	London and North Western Railway Opens depot at Tyndall Street Goods, Cardiff, approached by 1/2 a mile of traffic from the Rhymney Railway.
/ /1876	Irish North Western Railway Absorbed by The Northern Railway.
13/07/1876	Sirhowy Tramroad, London and North Western Railway Act merging the Sirhowy Tramroad into the London and North Western Railway.
/ /1877	Llanmorlais Branch (London and North Western Railway) Penclawdo to Llanmorlais opened.
/ /1877	Drogheda Curve (Dublin and Drogheda Railway and London and North Western Railway) Opened.
08/07/1877	London and North Western Railway The London and North Western Railway^s new diverted approach to Carlisle Citadel is opened. Railway No 1.
08/07/1877	Lancaster and Carlisle Railway London and North Western Railway The London and North Western Railway opens a new southern approach to Carlisle Citadel, London and North Western Railway No 1 Approach Line.
01/12/1877	Dublin North Wall London and North Western Railway First served by Great Northern Railway [Ireland] (ex Dublin and Drogheda Railway) and Midland Great Western Railway passenger trains.
/ /1878	Lancaster and Carlisle Railway London and North Western Railway Lancaster and Carlisle Railway vested into the London and North Western Railway.
/05/1878	Drogheda Curve (Dublin and Drogheda Railway and London and North Western Railway) Line split between the Dublin and Drogheda Railway (East Wall Junction to Church Road Junction) and London and North Western Railway (Church Road Junction to Dublin North Wall).
01/05/1878	Brynmawr and Blaenavon Railway Extension to Abersychan and Talywain opened to passengers. Track in the station was jointly owned by the London and North Western Railway and the Great Western Railway as the line met its Talwain Branch here.
/ /1879	Lancaster and Carlisle Railway London and North Western Railway Lancaster and Carlisle Railway fully amalgamated with the London and North Western Railway.
/03/1879	Pontypool Caerleon and Newport Railway London and North Western Railway stop using line for passengers. Cwmbran to Mill Street becomes freight only.
09/06/1879	Dowlais and Merthyr Joint Line London and North Western Railway passenger service starts to run to Merthyr. Access also opened to the Crawshays Private Railway.
/ /1880	Greencastle and Kilkeel Railway and Pier Co Greencastle Pier opened, railway not built (authorised 1876, rights bought by the London and North Western Railway through its Dundalk, Carlingford and Greenore Railway in 1878).
/ /1881	London and North Western Railway Rent the Nantyglo to Brynmawr railway from the Nantyglo and Blaina Iron Company.
14/02/1881	London and North Western Railway South Wales Cwmbargoed Junction to Cwmbargoed (LNWR) opened.
/ /1882	Glasgow and North Western Railway Route surveyed.
/11/1882	Glasgow and North Western Railway Glasgow and North Western Railway proposed, the Bill presented to Parliament to seek approval.. The route was to have been a 167 mile long railway from Glasgow to Inverness via Fort William. Supported by the North British Railway and opposed by the Highland Railway, Caledonian Railway (part owners of the Callander and Oban Railway), Caledonian Canal, David MacBrayne and some landowners. The Bill was rejected in 1883. It was not built (a less ambitious variation of it, the West Highland Railway with an Act in 1889, did open).
/ /1884	Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway Private coal and stores siding laid to Abergavenny Lunatic Asylum from south junction at triangle. London and North Western Railway had running powers to hospital.
/ /1884	City of Dublin Junction Railways Act passed to connect the Dublin and Kingstown Railway to other railways in Dublin (the ^Loop Line^). (Previously opposed by the London and North Western Railway for fear of loss of traffic from the Holyhead to Dublin North Wall route.)
01/07/1884	Bethesda Branch (London and North Western Railway) Line opened from Penrhyn, by Bangor, to Bethesda.
28/07/1884	Inverness and Aviemore Direct Railway (Highland Railway) Act passed. This was partly in response to the proposed incursion of the North British Railway's Glasgow and North Western Railway from Glasgow to Inverness via Loch Lomond, Crianlarich, Glencoe, Fort William and the Great Glen.
/ /1885	Portpatrick Railway Wigtownshire Railway The Caledonian Railway's lease expires - the Portpatrick Railway and Wigtownshire Railway become jointly run as the Portpatrick and Wigtownshire Joint Railway - controlled by the Caledonian Railway, London and North Western Railway, Glasgow and South Western Railway and Midland Railway. The stock was owned by all four companies and operated by the two Scottish companies. The Joint company also owned 4/5 of the Larne and Stranraer Steamship Joint Committee, the remaining 1/5 owned by the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway.
/ /1885	Dublin North Wall London and North Western Railway Hotel opened at Dublin North Wall.
04/05/1885	London and North Western Railway South Wales Dowlais High Street opened, through trains to Merthyr stop using Dowlais Lloyd Street, and Dowlais Top closed.
/ /1890	North Western Railway Wennington Junction signal box opened.
/07/1893	London and North Western Railway Caledonian Railway Corridor dining cars begin to be used on the West Coast Main Line.
/ /1895	Weedon, Daventry and Leamington Spa Branch (London and North Western Railway) Line opened.
/ /1900	Penllwyn Tramway, London and North Western Railway A new spur, west of Nine Mile Point, is opened to the Penllwyn Tramway by the owners, the London and North Western Railway to give access to Nine Mile Point Colliery. Formerly this tramway was accessible by a point west of Nine Mile Point and thus in Great Western Railway territory.
/ /1902	New Ross and Waterford Line (Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford Railway) With support of the London and North Western Railway^s loan of £100,000 work continues.
31/07/1902	Brynmawr and Western Valleys Railway Line taken over jointly by the London and North Western Railway and the Great Western Railway as the Nantyglo and Blaina Iron Company were asking too high a price to buy their private Nantyglo Iron Works to Brynmawr railway.
/ /1909	London and North Western Railway Many Holyhead services relocated from Dublin North Wall to Dun Laoghaire.
/ /1910	London and North Western Railway, South Wales Run-away coal train piles up after being diverted onto a dead-end siding by signalman on Ebbw Vale Branch.
/ /1918	London and North Western Railway Lease of the Nantyglo to Brynmawr railway expires.
/ /1920	London and North Western Railway Replaces City of Dublin Steam Packet Company services.
/ /1923	London Midland and Scottish Railway 0-8-4 tanks by H.P.M. Beams introduced on the London and North Western Railway, South Wales.
/ /1923	Dublin North Wall London and North Western Railway Hotel at Dublin North Wall closed.
/ /1928	Donegall Quay [Belfast] Former Midland Railway, London and North Western Railway and Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway steamer routes merged and operate from Heysham.
/ /1933	Dundalk, Newry and Greenore Railway Great Northern Railway [Ireland] takes over operation for the London and North Western Railway.
/ /1937	London and North Western Railway South Wales Cwmbargoed branch closed.
/ /1947	Carrickmacross Branch (Irish North Western Railway) Closed to passengers.
/ /1948	~London and North Western Railway Adlington renamed Adlington (Cheshire)
05/02/1951	Beaufort Ironworks Tramway, London and North Western Railway, South Wales Link closed to passengers.
23/09/1953	Rhymney Railway, London and North Western Railway, South Wales Joint line from Rhymney to Rhymney Bridge closed.
22/11/1954	London and North Western Railway South Wales Freight services transferred to Great Western Railway routes.
/ /1958	Weedon, Daventry and Leamington Spa Branch (London and North Western Railway) Closed to passengers.
06/01/1958	London and North Western Railway South Wales Closed to passengers.
/ /1959	London and North Western Railway Rugby to Leamington Spa closed to passengers.
02/11/1959	Beaufort Ironworks Tramway, London and North Western Railway, South Wales Link closed completely.
/ /1960	Carrickmacross Branch (Irish North Western Railway) Closed to goods and completely.
04/01/1960	Northampton and Market Harborough Branch (London and North Western Railway) Line closed to passengers.
/ /1963	Weedon, Daventry and Leamington Spa Branch (London and North Western Railway) Closed to goods except the Marton to Southam section which was accessed by the Rugby to Marton line.
07/10/1963	Bethesda Branch (London and North Western Railway) Line closed.
06/01/1969	Northampton and Market Harborough Branch (London and North Western Railway) Line re-opened for through passenger trains.
01/05/1969	Northampton and Market Harborough Branch (London and North Western Railway) Line closed to passengers.
10/07/1972	Northampton and Market Harborough Branch (London and North Western Railway) Line re-opened for through passenger trains.
16/08/1981	Northampton and Market Harborough Branch (London and North Western Railway) Line closed to passengers.
/ /2006	Ditton, Runcorn Gap and Dutton Line and Edge Hll to Speke Line (London and North Western Railway) Manchester to Cressington Junction Line (Cheshire Lines Committee) Liverpool South Parkway opened with platforms on both lines.
31/04/2006	North Western Railway Wennington Junction signal box demolished.

Portions of line and locations

This line is divided into a number of portions.

Skipton to Lancaster

Skipton North Junction

More details

See also
Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway

Gargrave

This is a two platform station. ...

North Western Railway

Introduction

Dates

Portions of line and locations

Skipton to Lancaster

Skipton North Junction

Gargrave

Bell Busk

Hellifield [1st]

Hellifield

Long Preston

Settle Junction [Station]

Settle Junction

Giggleswick

Clapham

Bentham

Low Bentham

Wennington

Wennington [1st]

Wray

Hornby

Claughton

Caton

Halton [NWR]

Ladies Walk Siding

Lancaster Green Ayre

Ingleton Branch

Clapham

Ingleton (NWR)

Ingleton

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