24-444: Birkenhead Dock Branch is a disused railway line running from the South junction of Rock Ferry , to the site of the former Bidston Dock on the Wirral Peninsula , England . The branch is approximately 4 + 1 ⁄ 2 miles (7.2 km) in length. Although called a branch, the line was accessible from both ends, from Bidston East junction and from Rock Ferry railway station . The former Mollington Street Rail Depot
48-457: A day apart. In January 2008, an EWS Class 66 diesel entered the line at Rock Ferry station. The Rea Bulk Handling Company had a small fleet of nine Drewry 0-4-0 DM and 0-6-0 DM diesel shunters , which operated on the dock lines. The names of these locomotives included; Theseus , Wabana , Kathleen Nicholls , Pegasus , WH Salthouse , Dorothy Lightfoot , Narvik , Teucer and Pepel . A further 0-4-0 DE locomotive built by
72-683: A form of technical terminology applied to railways. Although many terms are uniform across different nations and companies, they are by no means universal, with differences often originating from parallel development of rail transport systems in different parts of the world, and in the national origins of the engineers and managers who built the inaugural rail infrastructure . An example is the term railroad , used (but not exclusively) in North America , and railway , generally used in English-speaking countries outside North America and by
96-463: A high traction capacity, usually either a Class 40 locomotive, or pairs of Class 24 or Class 25 locomotives. However, pairs of Class 20 diesels were also occasionally used, although very infrequently. This work was ceased in March 1980, when the steelworks at Shotton was closed. Between 1983 and 1985, Class 503 electric multiple units were stored at Cavendish Sidings, before scrapping. Amongst
120-490: A recognised Welsh spelling or Welsh etymology. The town grew from the 18th century around coal mining and farming on reclaimed marshland . Shotton also became a railway junction. The John Summers & Sons steelworks was established in 1896 on a six-acre site. At its peak it employed over 13,000. Following nationalisation in 1967, the works became part of the British Steel Corporation . Although it
144-716: A slot that allows the casting to fit over the rail near the wheel of a derailed car. The locomotive then pushes or pulls the car so that the derailed wheel runs up the rerailer and back on to the track. Also see Extended Wagon Top Boiler . Also see Waist sheet . Also see Expansion knee . Also see Valve gear. Also see Grate Also see Train air signal apparatus. Also see Control system. Also Adhesion railway . Also Adhesion railway . Also see Hub. Also Adhesion railway . Also see Whistle stem. Also Coupler Yoke , Bell Yoke , Guide Yoke , Valve Yoke . Shotton, Flintshire Shotton
168-688: Is a town and community in Flintshire , Wales, within the Deeside conurbation along the River Dee , joined with Connah's Quay , near the border with England . It is located 5 miles (8 km) west of Chester and can be reached by road from the A548 . In the 2011 census , Shotton had a population of 6,663. The town's name is first recorded in Old English as Cyllingas . This name derives from
192-473: Is known as Shotton Steel Works, the large plant (owned by Tata Steel since 2006) is across the river from Shotton, with most being in the community of Connah's Quay . The town lies next to the Hawarden Bridge , which was completed in 1889 as a swing-opening bridge. The opening mechanism was disabled in 1960. Shotton has an area of 2.34 km , with a density of 3,001 km . The population
216-741: The International Union of Railways . In English-speaking countries outside the United Kingdom, a mixture of US and UK terms may exist. Various terms, both global and specific to individual countries, are listed here. The abbreviation "UIC" refers to terminology adopted by the International Union of Railways in its official publications and thesaurus. Also Centering spring cylinder . Also Railway air brake . Also Main Reservoir and Reservoir . Also see Reverser handle . A metal casting incorporating
240-531: The Kingsway Tunnel approach road, Bidston Dock sidings. These two sets of sidings are also accessible by rail, through a series of points between Birkenhead North TMD and Bidston station. Up until the 1980s, goods yards around the docks were much more extensive, with lines along the sides of both East and West Float. Further lines and sidings were along Duke Street, around Vittoria Dock , along Four Bridges Road and Birkenhead Road into Seacombe , and in
264-552: The Welsh language word Celyn (meaning Holly ) and has persisted in one form or another throughout the town's history. By 1822, Richard Willett recorded the name as Kyllins , which he says contains "one of the parish's most notable ancient houses". Even today, Killin's Farm and Killin's Lane may still be found in the oldest part of town. The town's modern English name is shared with three other towns in Britain. These towns (all on
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#1732781181246288-595: The Yorkshire Engine Company , named Labrador , and of similar design to a Class 02 , also worked around the Bidston Dock area. After the end of the iron ore traffic through Bidston Dock, Rea Ltd. ceased its railway activity around the docks and the remaining shunting duties were taken over by Class 03s . The former Railtrack has, in the past, indicated an interest in seeing the line reopened for goods services. The Peel Group , who are behind
312-586: The English side of the Scottish border) derive their names from Town of Scots but it is unlikely that a Flintshire town shares this etymology. The name probably derives from Scēot-tūn = "farmstead on or near a steep slope", or from Shot-tūn = "farmstead in a clearing in the wood". The town is officially named Shotton in both English and Welsh, making it one of the few towns in Wales to officially have neither
336-474: The Spillers Mill on East Float until the late 1980s with grain wagon traffic from Whitemoor Yard . Afterwards, a thrice-weekly coal train operated on the line until 1992. Some of the last locomotives to have served within the dock complex were Birkenhead North TMD's allocation of Class 03 shunters, 03073, 03162, 03170 and 03189 all of which have been preserved. Indeed, the railways around the docks saw
360-595: The area around Wallasey , Egerton and Morpeth Docks . As part of the Chester and Birkenhead Railway , the railway from Rock Ferry to Birkenhead Town is one of the oldest stretches of track in the world. The line was completed and opened on 23 September 1838, less than nine years after the Rainhill Trials , across the River Mersey , on the outskirts of Liverpool . Before Monks Ferry was opened in 1844,
384-402: The east side, but a fence has been erected on the other side despite the railway being officially out of use, rather than closed. Level crossings are also located at Duke Street and Wallasey Bridge Road. The railway lines are still partially intact. At the northern end of the branch, disused goods yards are situated parallel to Birkenhead North TMD , Wallasey Bridge Road sidings and, adjacent to
408-534: The few and final passenger workings on the line was the Birkenhead Bandit railtour, hauled by Class 40 locomotive 40122 D200 , on 16 February 1985. Others included the Mersey Meanderer railtour on 19 April 1986, Hertfordshire Rail Tours ' Wirral Withershins charter on 18 January 1986 and their Cheshire Cat charter, on 24 June 1989. Goods workings continued on the line, for traffic to
432-708: The final steam-hauled iron ore train from Bidston Dock in November 1967. During the BR era, the line was used by various classes of diesel locomotive , primarily for hauling offloaded iron ore from Bidston Dock, to the John Summers Steelworks in Shotton . The John Summers wagons came under the TOPS code of PHO. Fully loaded, a train was limited to eleven of these wagons. This work was carried out by engines with
456-417: The last mainland use of the class by British Rail, before their withdrawal in March 1989. The last traffic along the line, from Birkenhead North to Rock Ferry, was a Class 08 shunter on 10 May 1993. Subsequently, the line was mothballed by Railtrack. However, the trackwork remains in place and various other railway artefacts are still in existence. The line has been used on only two occasions since 1993, both
480-566: The line was originally to a temporary terminus known as Birkenhead Grange Lane station. Grange Lane engine shed was opened on 23 September 1840. The 1.125 mi (1.811 km) section, from Grange Lane to Bridge End near Cathcart Street, was built into a cutting known as the Sough (pronounced "Suff"), opening the same day as Birkenhead Park , on 5 April 1847. The connection with the Great Western Railway at Green Lane Junction
504-795: The multibillion-pound Wirral Waters redevelopment of the docks, announced in February 2013 that they intended on using the abandoned route to run a streetcar system, known as the Wirral Street Car . The plan involved connecting Wirral Waters to the Merseyrail network at Birkenhead North and Hamilton Square stations, utilising the stretch of dock branch trackbed along Beaufort Road and Corporation Road, with inner and outer loops around Vittoria Dock and East Float , respectively. Options to connect this new system to Conway Park and Birkenhead Park stations are also available. In 2021, it
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#1732781181246528-418: Was branched into the line. A section of the line runs through Haymarket Tunnel and a low-level cutting through the centre of Birkenhead ; visible from the road flyovers. The former Canning Street North signal box has now been demolished following fire damage, and the rails across the level crossing there have been removed due to the provision of cycle lanes on the roadway. The non-standard gates remain on
552-726: Was made in 1847. In 1856-7, the Birkenhead Railway acquired a pair of 0-4-0 T saddle tank locomotives, for use around the docks, from Sharp, Stewart . These were renumbered as 95 and 96 by the GWR , after the joint takeover of the railway, with the LNWR , in 1860. At Bidston , the line was connected to the Great Central Railway in 1896. Ownership of the railway circa. 1913-1914 was as follows: The Class 9F locomotive 92203 , later named as Black Prince , worked
576-503: Was proposed to fill in parts of the branch to create a park with a walking and cycling route. Construction of the new £13 million park began in May 2022, which will link Rock Ferry with Bidston Dock. Known as Dock Branch Park , it will provide a mile–long pedestrian and cycle corridor between the two locations, as well as providing land for 1,000 homes a new venue for Wirral Transport Museum . Railway line Rail transport terms are
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