Sidings at Penkridge

[brick60000]

Hello all,

Having just arrived into Penkridge from the Wolverhampton end, headed towards Stafford, I've just noticed two or so buffers, a wide OLE cantenary and a little bit of track. Are these remnants from when the signalbox & diverging branch were open? Does anyone have the dates for closure / any pictures?

Many thanks !

Brick60000

 

[Railsigns]

Having just arrived into Penkridge from the Wolverhampton end, headed towards Stafford, I've just noticed two or so buffers, a wide OLE cantenary and a little bit of track.

I can't visualise what is meant by 'wide OLE catenary'.

 

[Dr Hoo]

Ah, yes. Littleton Colliery Sidings. The connection also served a Rowntree's chocolate warehouse just round the corner and out of sight IIRC.

Well remember going on a brake van trip on the branch on the last day of steam traction at the colliery, around 1973 or 1974. (Diesel operation continued, so not relevant to closure date and 'sorry no photos'.)

'Twas a fairly informal event. We were just storming back up the single line to the Colliery when we met a diesel shunter, festooned with enthusiasts hanging on, coming in the opposite direction. Fortunately the 'cornfield meet' occurred at an open level crossing so both movements were proceeding slowly at that point. As chance would have it an open-top sports car was coming along the lane and the driver screeched to a halt as well, making it a 'three way'. He then squeezed his vehicle between the opposing buffers and sped off.

These days, of course, somebody would be videoing it all with a drone.

Anyway, sorry for derailing this in the direction of the Nostalgia thread.

 

[OuterDistant]

^ The location, year and type of car there all match a distant relative of mine. I'd love to think it was them!

 

[civ-eng-jim]

I can't visualise what is meant by 'wide OLE catenary'.

There are a few portals spanning the tracks and the old track bed too.

 

[Railsigns]

There are a few portals spanning the tracks and the old track bed too.

So it's the portals that are wide, not the catenary.

 

[brick60000]

So it's the portals that are wide, not the catenary.

Yep, sorry. I'm not familiar with the terms especially! Apologies for the confusion

Thanks all for the replies so far. Very interesting!!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Ah, yes. Littleton Colliery Sidings. The connection also served a Rowntree's chocolate warehouse just round the corner and out of sight IIRC.

Littleton Colliery being at one time the workplace of one Patrick McLoughlin, recent Secretary of State for Transport and now Chairman of the Tory party.

 

[Holmevalley]

I think most of us had worked it out that it was the supporting structure.

 

[Railsigns]

I think most of us had worked it out that it was the supporting structure.

Yeah? Good for you.