Cleator and Workington Junction Railway

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Cleator and Workington Junction Railway
Former Cleator & Workington Junction Railway at Harrington Junction, 1951 (geograph 5162661).jpg
Former Cleator & Workington Junction Railway at Harrington Junction, 1951
Overview
StatusClosed
OwnerCleator and Workington Junction Railway
Locale Cumbria
Termini
Stations12
Service
TypeRural Line
SystemNational Rail Network
Services3
Operator(s)Cleator and Workington Junction Railway
History
Opened1879
Closed1992
Technical
Track gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Cleator & Workington Junction Rly
Key
BSicon STRq.svg
BSicon STRq.svg
open line
BSicon STRq brown.svg
BSicon STRq brown.svg
C&WJR lines (all closed)
BSicon exSTRq.svg
BSicon exSTRq.svg
other closed lines

BSicon exCONTg.svg
Solway Junction Railway
to Annan via Solway Viaduct
BSicon exCONTgq.svg
BSicon exABZg+r.svg
BSicon exLSTR.svg
Linefoot
BSicon exHST.svg
Linefoot Junction
BSicon exSTRl.svg
BSicon STR brown.svg
BSicon exCONTfq.svg
Summit
BSicon lGIPr.svg
BSicon HST brown.svg
Great Broughton
BSicon BST brown.svg
BSicon HST brown.svg
Buckhill Colliery Halt
BSicon CONTg.svg
BSicon HST brown.svg
Camerton Colliery Halt
Siddick Junction
BSicon eHST.svg
BSicon HST brown.svg
Seaton
Siddick Junction
BSicon eKRWgl.svg
BSicon SHI2+l brown.svg
BSicon exKRW+r.svg
BSicon SHI2c4 brown.svg
Calva Junction
Gnome-searchtool.svg Workington North
BSicon eHST.svg
BSicon STR brown.svg
BSicon exCONTg.svg
BSicon eABZgl+l.svg
BSicon STR brown.svg
BSicon exKRZo+xl.svg
BSicon exLSTRq.svg
BSicon exABZgr+r.svg
Gnome-searchtool.svg Workington Main
BSicon BHF.svg
BSicon HST brown.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
Workington Central Gnome-searchtool.svg
BSicon BS2l.svg
BSicon STR2 brown.svg
BSicon BS2c3.svg
BSicon STRc3 brown.svg
BSicon exHST.svg
Bridgefoot
Derwent Ironworks
BSicon dKBSTa brown.svg
BSicon dSTR.svg
BSicon dSTRc1 brown.svg
BSicon STR+4 brown.svg
BSicon exdLSTRe.svg
 
Moss Bay (north)
BSicon ldBST brown.svg
BSicon dABZql brown.svg
BSicon dSTRq brown.svg
BSicon ldMKRZc2u.svg
BSicon dSTRc2 brown.svg
BSicon dKRZu.svg
BSicon cdSTR3+l brown.svg
BSicon cdSTRq brown.svg
BSicon ABZg+r brown.svg
Ironworks (south)
 
BSicon d-KBST1 brown.svg
BSicon dSTR3+1- brown.svg
BSicon dKRZ3+1u-.svg
BSicon STRc2 brown.svg
BSicon STRc4 brown.svg
BSicon dABZg3 brown.svg
BSicon lCONTf3.svg
BSicon v-STR3.svg
BSicon lHST brown.svg
BSicon vSTR+1- brown.svg
BSicon STRc4 brown.svg
BSicon dSTR brown.svg
Harrington
(Church Road Halt)
Rosehill
(Archer Street Halt)
BSicon KHSTe brown.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
BSicon HST brown.svg
High Harrington
BSicon exCONTf.svg
BSicon STR brown.svg
to Parton
BSicon exCONTgq.svg
BSicon STR brown.svg
BSicon exSTR+r.svg
BSicon STRc2 brown.svg
BSicon HST3 brown.svg
Distington
BSicon dSTRc2 brown.svg
BSicon STR+1 brown.svg
BSicon STR3+1 brown.svg
BSicon exdSTR2.svg
BSicon STRc4 brown.svg
BSicon POINTER3.svg
BSicon excSTRc3.svg
Oatlands
BSicon STR+1 brown.svg
BSicon STRc4 brown.svg
BSicon HST brown.svg
BSicon excSTRc1.svg
BSicon exSTR2+4.svg
BSicon exSTR+4.svg
BSicon exdSTRc3.svg
BSicon exdLSTRa.svg
Millgrove
BSicon HST brown.svg
BSicon STR brown.svg
BSicon exdKBSTe.svg
BSicon excSTRc2.svg
BSicon excSTRc1.svg
BSicon exSTR3+4.svg
BSicon exdSTR3.svg
Moresby Parks
BSicon HST brown.svg
BSicon STR brown.svg
BSicon exvLSTR+1-.svg
BSicon excdSTRc4.svg
Summit
BSicon lGIPr.svg
BSicon STR brown.svg
BSicon STR brown.svg
BSicon exLSTR.svg
BSicon exlCONTf1.svg
BSicon exvSTR+1-.svg
Moresby Junction
Halt
BSicon HST brown.svg
BSicon STR brown.svg
BSicon exlHST~F.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
BSicon exdABZg+l.svg
BSicon exdKBSTeq.svg
Summit
BSicon STR brown.svg
BSicon lGIPr.svg
BSicon STR brown.svg
BSicon exlHST~G.svg
BSicon exSHI1c2.svg
BSicon exSHI3g+l.svg
BSicon exvSHI1r-.svg
BSicon exvSHI3r-.svg
Rowrah
Arlecdon
BSicon STR brown.svg
BSicon HST brown.svg
BSicon exBS2c1.svg
BSicon exKRWgl.svg
BSicon exBS2+r.svg
BSicon exKRW+r.svg
Keekle Colliers'
Platform
BSicon HST brown.svg
BSicon 3STR2 brown.svg
BSicon -3STRq brown.svg
BSicon ex-3KRZu.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
BSicon 3STR3 brown.svg
BSicon STR brown.svg
BSicon hKRZWae.svg
BSicon lKRZu+G.svg
BSicon exLSTR.svg
BSicon exKBSTe.svg
mine
Cleator Moor West
BSicon HST2 brown.svg
BSicon STRc3 brown.svg
BSicon exSTRc2.svg
BSicon exHST3.svg
Cleator Moor East
Cleator Moor Junction
BSicon STRc1 brown.svg
BSicon exSTR+1.svg
BSicon STR+4 brown.svg
BSicon exSTRc4.svg
Moor Row Junction
BSicon exABZg+l.svg
BSicon exCONTfq.svg
Moor Row
BSicon exHST.svg
BSicon exCONT3+g.svg

The Cleator and Workington Junction Railway (C&WJR) was located in West Cumberland in Northern England, serving the towns of Cleator Moor and Workington and intermediate villages. It was mainly used for coal, limestone and iron ore traffic for the local industries.

Contents

History

Cleator and Workington Junction Railway Act 1876
Act of Parliament
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (variant 1, 1952-2022).svg
Citation 39 & 40 Vict. c. li

The C&WJR was incorporated in 1876 and a bill presented to Parliament in the same year.

Construction began shortly after and the line between Workington and Cleator Moor was opened in 1879. The line continued northwards from Workington to a junction with the London and North Western Railway (LNWR) at Siddick, approximately two miles away.

The principal station and company headquarters were in Central Square, Workington and the station soon became known as Workington Central. A second main line was built from a junction on the C&WJR main line at Calva Junction to Linefoot Junction, where it joined the Maryport and Carlisle Railway. This section was known as the Northern Extension.

Several branch lines were built including that to Rowrah, of which a short 300 yard section remained in use there as a backshunt until 1978.

To the people of West Cumberland the line became affectionately known as the "Track of the Ironmasters." The C&WJR never ran its own services on the main lines: this was done on their behalf by the Furness Railway. In later years the C&WJR purchased its own engines to work its branch lines (see below).

At the railway grouping of 1923, the line was incorporated into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway network. The Northern Extension section that served the Broughton Moor Armaments Depot closed on 4 June 1992.

Accidents and incidents

The 0-6-0ST locomotive was rescued shortly after the incident and was returned to traffic.

Route

Main line

Cleator Moor West - Moresby Parks - Distington - High Harrington - Workington Central (Route in Google Maps)

Northern extension

Workington Central - Seaton (Cumbria) - Great Broughton (Route in Google Maps)

Rowrah line

The Rowrah Line was branch line that left the mainline south of Distington, accessing the mines and quarries near Rowrah. This branch line crossed over the main line from Workington to Cleator Moor to continue to Rowrah. The Company built a single road engine shed near the junction to house a C&WJR locomotive that worked the line. The much altered building exists today (2017) as an agricultural store.

Cleator & Workington Junction Railway locomotives

All the nameplates used on this company's locomotives were named after residences of C&WJR company directors. Until recently there was uncertainty about the name of No. 2 but the personal notebook of the Company Accountant shows otherwise. The engine never ran in service with the name "Ennerdale".

An outside cylinder 0-4-0T Built in 1894 by Fletcher Jennings Ltd for C&WJR. Builders No. 187.
Nameplates carried:Brigham Hill (1882–1894) and Rothersyke (1894–1897)
Renumbered: No known renumbering of this engine.
Disposal: To West Stanley Colliery Coy. County Durham in 1897 [2]

An outside cylinder 0-4-0ST. Built circa 1875 by Barclay & Co. (not an Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. product). Built originally for Ward, Ross & Liddlelow, railway contractors to the C&WJR, No. 2 was purchased second hand in 1882. No. 2 was originally named Ennerdale but the nameplates were removed after acquisition by the C&WJR on the order of the Managing Director.
Nameplates Carried: None from 1882 to 1897. The redundant plates from engine No.1 Rothersyke were fitted when it was decided to sell the engine.
Renumbered: No known renumbering of this engine.
Disposal: To SD Coasdell of Workington in July 1898 for £150. [2] [3]

An outside cylinder 0-6-0ST of 1884, built by Robert Stephenson and Company for the C&WJR. Builders No. 2553. The saddle tank did not cover the smokebox.
Nameplates carried:South Lodge. (1884 to 1920)
Renumbered: No known renumbering of this engine.
Disposal: To J.F. Wake Ltd., Dealers, Darlington, County Durham, July 1920 [2]

An outside cylinder 0-6-0ST built in 1885 by the Lowca Engineering Co. Ltd. for the C&WJR. Builders No. 196. Similar in appearance to No. 3 and the saddle tank did not cover the smokebox.
Nameplates carried:Harecroft (1885 to 1915)
Renumbered: After disposal by new owner to 46
Disposal: Withdrawn September 1915 and sold to Workington Iron & Steel Company. [2]

An outside cylinder 0-6-0ST built in 1890 by Robert Stephenson and Company for the C&WJR. Builders No. 2692. The saddle tank did not cover the smokebox.
Nameplates carried: Moresby Hall (1890 to 1919)
Renumbered: No known renumbering of this engine.
Disposal: Withdrawn and scrapped 1919. [2]

An outside cylinder 0-6-0ST built in 1894 by Robert Stephenson and Company for the C&WJR. Builders No. 2813. The saddle tank did not cover the smokebox.
Nameplates carried: Brigham Hall (1894 to 1920)
Renumbered: Allocated 11564 by the LMS in 1923 after the grouping, but not known if it was repainted into LMS colours.
Disposal: Withdrawn 11/12/1926 and scrapped by the LM&SR [2]

An outside cylinder 0-6-0ST built in 1896 by Robert Stephenson and Company for the C&WJR. Builders No. 2846. The saddle tank did not cover the smokebox.
Nameplates carried:Ponsonby Hall (1886 to 1926)
Renumbered: Allocated 11565 by the LMS in 1923 after the grouping, but not known if it was repainted into LMS colours.
Disposal: Withdrawn 18/12/1926 and scrapped by the LM&SR [2]

An 0-6-0ST built in 1907 by Peckett and Sons for the C&WJR. Builders No. 1134.
Nameplates carried:Hutton Hall (1907 to 1927)
Renumbered: Allocated 11566 by the LMS in 1923 after the grouping, and repainted into early LMS black goods livery.
Disposal: Withdrawn 3/12/1927 and scrapped by the LM&SR [2]

An outside cylinder 0-6-0ST built in 1919 by Peckett and Sons for the C&WJR. Builders No. 1340.
Nameplates carried:Millgrove (1919 to 1928)
Renumbered: Allocated 11567 by the LMS in 1923 after the grouping, and repainted into early LMS black goods livery.
Disposal: Withdrawn 5/12/1928 and scrapped by the LM&SR [2]

An outside cylinder 0-6-0ST built in 1920 by Hudswell Clarke & Co. for the C&WJR. Builders No. 1400.
Nameplates carried:Skiddaw Lodge (1920 to 1932)
Renumbered: Allocated 11568 by the LMS in 1923 after the grouping, and repainted into early LMS black goods livery.
Disposal: Withdrawn 1932 by LM&SR and sold to Hartley main Collieries Northumberland, via Robert frazer & Sons Ltd., Hebburn, County Durham. [2]

Other railways in the Workington area

Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Workington railway station</span> Railway station in Cumbria, England

Workington railway station is a railway station serving the coastal town of Workington in Cumbria, England. It is on the Cumbrian Coast Line, which runs between Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness. It is owned by Network Rail and managed by Northern Trains.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Workington Central railway station</span> Disused railway station in Cumbria, England

Workington Central railway station was opened by the Cleator and Workington Junction Railway (C&WJR) in 1879 to serve the town of Workington in Cumberland, England. It was situated almost half a mile nearer the town centre than its rival Workington station.

The Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway was an English railway company which built and operated a standard gauge railway in Cumberland, England intended to open up the hematite orefield to the south-east of Whitehaven. It opened for goods traffic in 1855 and for passenger traffic in 1857.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rowrah</span> Human settlement in England

Rowrah is a village in Cumbria, England, and spans the civil parishes of Arlecdon and Frizington and Lamplugh. The majority of Rowrah is within Arlecdon and Frizington. The parish boundaries are formed from the Windergill Beck and Colliergate Beck: as such nine properties, Rowrah Hall Farm, Rowrah Hall, Ainsdale House, Rowrah Head, four properties on Pheasants Rise and Rowrah Station technically fall within Lamplugh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cleator Moor West railway station</span> Disused railway station in Cumbria, England

Cleator Moor West railway station was opened as "Cleator Moor" by the Cleator and Workington Junction Railway (C&WJR) in 1879. It served the growing industrial town of Cleator Moor, Cumbria, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High Harrington railway station</span> Disused railway station in Cumbria, England

High Harrington railway station was opened by the Cleator and Workington Junction Railway (C&WJR) in 1879. It was situated half a mile south of Harrington Junction on the company's main line. and served what was then the eastern extremity of Harrington in Cumbria, England. The station is not to be confused with the current Harrington station a kilometre away on the coastal line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arlecdon railway station</span> Disused railway station in Cumbria, England

Arlecdon railway station served the village of Arlecdon in the former English county of Cumberland, now part of Cumbria.

The Furness Railway 94 class, or "Improved Cleator Tanks", were built to haul mineral trains from inland to the blast furnaces on the coast around Workington.

Moresby Junction Halt railway station was opened by the Cleator and Workington Junction Railway (C&WJR) in 1910. Very few people lived near the halt, which served nearby Walkmill Colliery and coke ovens in Cumbria, England.

Keekle Colliers' Platform railway station was opened by the Cleator and Workington Junction Railway (C&WJR) in July 1910, closed the following January, reopened in June 1913 then closed for good on 1 October 1923. The halt was provided to enable residents of the isolated Keekle Terrace, less than 100 yds from the track, to get to and from work at the equally isolated Walkmill Colliery and coke ovens in Cumbria, England. The Platform is not shown by Jowett.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moresby Parks railway station</span> Disused railway station in Cumbria, England

Moresby Parks railway station was opened by the Cleator and Workington Junction Railway (C&WJR) in 1879. It was situated just north of the summit of the company's main line and served the scattered community of Moresby Parks in Cumbria, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Distington railway station</span> Disused railway station in Cumbria, England

Distington railway station was opened jointly by the Cleator and Workington Junction Railway (C&WJR) and the LNWR and Furness Joint Railway on 1 October 1879. It was situated on the northern edge of the village of Distington, Cumbria, England, where the C&WJR's north–south main line crossed the Joint Line's east–west Gilgarran Branch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siddick Junction railway station</span> Disused railway station in Cumbria, England

Siddick Junction railway station was opened by the Cleator and Workington Junction (C&WJR) and London and North Western Railways in 1880 to provide exchange platforms for passengers wishing to change trains from one company's line to the other. A passenger travelling from Maryport to Distington, for example, would change at Siddick Junction. As a purely exchange station - like Dovey Junction and Dukeries Junction elsewhere in the country - the owning companies would not need to provide road or footpath access or ticketing facilities as no passengers were invited to enter or leave the station except by train.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oatlands railway station</span> Disused railway station in Cumbria, England

Oatlands railway station served the village of Pica and Oatlands Colliery in the former English county of Cumberland, now part of Cumbria.

References

  1. Trevena, Arthur (1980). Trains in Trouble. Vol. 1. Redruth: Atlantic Books. p. 16. ISBN   0-906899-01-X.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Gradon, William McGowan. Track of the Ironmasters. Cumbrian Railways Association. ISBN   0-9540232-2-6.
  3. Industrial Locomotive Society records