Very soon after publishing the first article about the Coalport Branch, [7] I was contacted by David Clarke with an offer of relevant photographs from his collection.
David Clarke is the author of a relatively recent book, “The Railways of Telford” which I reviewed soon after we moved to Telford. It was an invaluable first step for me in exploring the railways and plateways (tramroads/tramways) of the area. [1]
In the remaining articles about the Branch, relevant photographs for David’s collection will be included in the main article. As those relevant to Part 1 appeared after its publication, there are two of these and they are included in this addendum to Part 1.
This is a photograph from David Clarke’s collection of Hadley Junction in 1964, looking East towards Donnington. David comments: This photo “shows a long building on the right not shown on the aerial photo you posted. You can just make out some of the fighting vehicles Sankey made for the British Army on the wagons. [3]This image shows an 0-6-0 locomotive (43652) descending towards the Coalport Branch (which just be picked out on the bottom-right of the photo) from the sidings adjacent to Snedshill Iron Works. The Lilleshall Brick and Tile Works at Priorslee can be made out at the top-right of the picture. The Greyhound Bridge carrying the A5 is off the image to the right. 43652 was a 3F locomotive designed by Johnson and built at the Vulcan Foundry. It entered service in 1900 and was scrapped in 1960. At the time of this photograph it was probably based at Burton Shed (17B). [3][4]
In addition to David’s photographs, I have found further images on line which I am permitted to share with you. The first is an aerial image from 1949 of the Castle Car Works at Hadley which incidentally includes Hadley Junction.
This aerial image looking towards the Southeast shows Castle Car Works as they appeared in 1949. The Works was rail-served at this time with an extended siding running to the West of the Works and providing access to sidings on both the South and North sides of the Works. Hadley Junction is visible in the top-right of this image, (c) Copyright Historic England, Britain from Above (EAW027684, 1949). [5]An enlarged extract from the above image focussing on Hadley Junction and its signal box. The sidings alongside the line were used by the Castle Car Works., (c) Copyright Historic England, Britain from Above (EAW027684, 1949). [5]Another extract from the Britain From Above image No. EAW027684. The Hadley Junction signal box it evident top-centre of this image. The extensive sidings alongside the mainline are visible, together with the junction providing access to Castle Works, (c) Copyright Historic England, Britain from Above (EAW027684, 1949). [5]Castle Car Works again, this time the aerial image is taken looking West in 1949. The Works siding running to the West of the Works and providing access to sidings on both the South and North sides of the Works can be seen in full. Hadley Junction is visible in the centre of this image. The bridge over Castle Street can be seen at the bottom-left of this picture. Castl Lane runs left to right across the image, passing under both the line to Coalport and that to Donnington and beyond, (c) Copyright Historic England, Britain from Above (EAW027682, 1949). [6]Castle Street Bridge in 1949, shown at the fullest magnification possible from the aerial image. A slight amount of flare has affected the image at this location, (c) Copyright Historic England, Britain from Above (EAW027682, 1949). [6]
I will add any further images relating to the first article about the Coalport Branch which come to light here.
References
David Clarke; The Railways of Telford; Crowood Press, Marlborough, Wiltshire, 2016.
4 thoughts on “The Railways of Telford – the Coalport Branch – Part 1A”
Glyn Bowen
Dear Roger,
These articles are very interesting to me as my great grandfather Aaron Bowen appears to have been involved since the start of this line. You will see from the attached page from the 1861 Census for Madeley he is shown as living in Barker Lane (later renamed Station Road) next to the railway station and employed as a Railway Labourer. I don’t know whether he was employed by the railway company or the contractor building the railway but he went on to work for almost his entire working life as a Platelayer and similar positions with the L&NWR on the Heart of Wales line and was based at Garth Station when my grandfather was born. For a time they lived at the Railway Cottages at Sugar Loaf Summit. With regard to Madeley, it looks like he lived at the right place at the right time!
I am on the committee of the Friends of Ironbridge Gorge Museum and I see you have a talk booked for later this year so will chat with you then.
I renewed the lighting fittings in the sidings at Hadley Junction,in the winter of 1963/64 ,I was then a 23 year old Electrician based at Stafford Road Works ,Wolverhampton.q
Roger Farnworth 
Dear Roger,
These articles are very interesting to me as my great grandfather Aaron Bowen appears to have been involved since the start of this line. You will see from the attached page from the 1861 Census for Madeley he is shown as living in Barker Lane (later renamed Station Road) next to the railway station and employed as a Railway Labourer. I don’t know whether he was employed by the railway company or the contractor building the railway but he went on to work for almost his entire working life as a Platelayer and similar positions with the L&NWR on the Heart of Wales line and was based at Garth Station when my grandfather was born. For a time they lived at the Railway Cottages at Sugar Loaf Summit. With regard to Madeley, it looks like he lived at the right place at the right time!
I am on the committee of the Friends of Ironbridge Gorge Museum and I see you have a talk booked for later this year so will chat with you then.
Regards
Glyn Bowen
(attachment is right at bottom of message)
Thanks for reaching out Glyn. The date of the talk has been changed to the Autumn because of a clash with a VIP visit to Blists Hill.
The date of your talk Roger and Glyn “Tramways of East Shropshire” is the 18th October.
Regards Gregory Vernon
I renewed the lighting fittings in the sidings at Hadley Junction,in the winter of 1963/64 ,I was then a 23 year old Electrician based at Stafford Road Works ,Wolverhampton.q