Narroways Hill Junction

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In snowy conditions, a First Great Western Class 158 DMU passes Narroways Junction, headed north along the Cross Country Route. Narroways Jct 158 snow.jpg
In snowy conditions, a First Great Western Class 158 DMU passes Narroways Junction, headed north along the Cross Country Route.
The remains of the Midland Railway's connecting line from Narroways to its main Bristol-Gloucester Line. Bristol MMB <<97 Narroways Junction.jpg
The remains of the Midland Railway's connecting line from Narroways to its main Bristol-Gloucester Line.

Narroways Hill Junction is a railway junction in Bristol, England. It is where the Severn Beach Line branches off from the Cross Country Route, and also where the old Midland Railway line to Mangotsfield left the Severn Beach Line.

Contents

History

The junction was built in 1874 as part of the Clifton Extension Railway, a joint venture by the Midland Railway and Great Western Railway to connect the Bristol Port Railway and Pier to their main lines. The line from Narroways initially extended only as far as Clifton Down station, and it wasn't until 1 September 1885 that the line began carrying passengers all the way to Avonmouth as originally envisaged, some eleven years later. [1]

Narroways Hill Junction was named after nearby Narroways Road, which has been known locally as Three Bridges Lane, Goosey Gander Lane, and even Cut-Throat Lane after a woman was murdered there by her ex-fiance in 1913. [2]

Description

The junction is the meeting point of the twin-track Cross Country Route (XCR) and the single-track Severn Beach Line (SBL). The SBL line diverges from the XCR's "up" line at grade. Both lines are crossed by footbridges, and a bridge, now removed, once carried the Midland Railway's line towards their main Bristol-Gloucester Line. This was demolished in 1965, although the abutments are still in place. [3]

The XCR was originally 4-track, but the two eastern tracks were removed in 1984, [4] and the SBL's second track was taken up in 1970. [3]

The line, commonly known as Filton Bank, is due to be four-tracked and electrified as part of the 21st-century modernisation of the Great Western Main Line, [5] which will see electric trains running from London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads via Bristol Parkway. [5]

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The Severn Beach line is a local railway line in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, England. It runs from Bristol Temple Meads to Severn Beach, and used to extend to Pilning. The first sections of the line were opened in 1863 as part of the Bristol Port Railway and Pier, the section through Bristol was opened in 1875 as the Clifton Extension Railway. The line has faced several threats of closure over the years, and has been reduced to single track in many places. In recent years however it has experienced a surge in passenger numbers, with a 90% increase in the years 2007–11. All services along the line are operated by Great Western Railway, generally two trains per hour in each direction between Temple Meads and Avonmouth, calling at all stations, with one train per hour extended to Severn Beach. The line carries little freight traffic, with most of the heavy freight traffic to Avonmouth Docks being routed via the Henbury Loop Line through Filton. The line has been highlighted by Thomas Cook as one of the scenic lines of Europe.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clifton Down railway station</span> Railway station in Bristol, England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Severn Beach railway station</span> Railway station near Bristol, England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bristol and South Wales Union Railway</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Filton Bank</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portway Park and Ride railway station</span>

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References

  1. Oakley, Mike. Bristol Railway Stations: 1840–2005. Bristol: Redcliffe Press. pp. 9–10. ISBN   9781904537540.
  2. "Walking Bristol: Walk 1 – Gas Lamps and Cut Throats" (PDF). Travelwest. p. 7. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Bristol Temple Meads to Severn Beach". Cornwall Railway Society. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  4. "Narroways Hill Junction". Railway Correspondence and Travel Society. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  5. 1 2 "We're modernising the Great Western route, increasing capacity for passengers and freight". Network Rail. Retrieved 29 August 2018.

Coordinates: 51°28′19″N2°34′22″W / 51.47187°N 2.57265°W / 51.47187; -2.57265