The Halton Light Railway

[rogerfarnworth]

This short line originated from a proposal made by the stationmaster at Wendover. [1: p97]

The featured image for this short article is a photograph of a OO-Gauge model of Wendover Railway Station built by David Dan Givens and covered in the September 2018 edition of Hornby Magazine. The image shows the Northwest approach to Wendover Station. The branch line to RAF Halton leaves the main line just off camera to the left. [17]

The Halton Light Railway

This short line originated from a proposal made by the stationmaster at Wendover. [1: p97] The featured image for this short article is a photograph of a OO-Gauge model of Wendover Railway Station …

rogerfarnworth.com

 

[thesignalman]

The photographs show many views of Wendover station that are of no significance to the subject of the branch. The line left Wendover at the Aylesbury end of the goods yard, effectively an extension to the headshunt. There was just one signal, protecting the goods yard from the branch, which was described as "Halton Camp" in the signal box. This is accurately located in the images of the model but the curvature of the line there is badly distorted by the modeller.

The level crossing gates across Aylesbury Road remained for many years after closure (but not the barrier in the photographs), and upon removal one gate was moved to act as the driveway gate of a nearby residence. I don't know if it is still there - probably not as old age would have set in this many years on.

John

 

[AlterEgo]

This short line originated from a proposal made by the stationmaster at Wendover. [1: p97]

The Halton Light Railway

This short line originated from a proposal made by the stationmaster at Wendover. [1: p97] The featured image for this short article is a photograph of a OO-Gauge model of Wendover Railway Station …

rogerfarnworth.com

Great article as usual Roger. I spent a fair bit of time at Halton during my time in the RAF Air Cadets (Halton was my squadron's parent station). The old railway station is not far from the cadet building and what is, or was, the indoor swimming pool. I recall knowing nothing at all of the branch back in 2001 ish when I was there but being convinced the railway station was just that, being inexplicably raised otherwise on a platform. Fascinating to see a small section of surviving track too!

 

[rogerfarnworth]

Thanks to you both for your responses.

Kind regards

Roger

 

[Rescars]

Many thanks for your interesting article. Further reading has named the line variably both with and without "Light" in its title. Do we know if the line was authorised subject to the conditions of the Light Railways Act 1896, or merely operated in a somewhat similar manner?

 

[timmydunn]

Interesting stuff. There is a very comprehensive museum display - including a lot of photographs, news cuttings and plans - of the Halton Camp/Light/RAF Railway in the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre museum. I forget which, but it occupies a standard gauge wagon in our main museum building.

 

[rogerfarnworth]

I tried a search for 'Halton Light Railway' in Hansard. This is the response:

Based on a search of Hansard records, the "Halton Light Railway" does not appear as a specific, designated project in the context of the 1890s Light Railways Act debates.

However, historical parliamentary records from 1898 show discussions regarding "NORTON AND HALTON ROADS BILL. [H.L.]".

It is possible that:

• The project was proposed but not approved or constructed.
• It was referred to by a different name in the formal Light Railway Commissioners' reports.

For definitive information, searching the National Archives or specialized rail history databases for "Halton" light railway proposals in the late 19th or early 20th century is recommended, as the Hansard search only reveals a "Norton and Halton" road/rail context.

Searching for references to the 'Halton Railway' brings only references to a new rail curve in the Cheshire/Welsh borders area (2018/2019). The Norton & Halton Roads Bill of 1898 similarly refers to the same area.

So, not much to go on there!

 

[Kevin51]

I don't know where I read this but I gather it preceded the RAF camp. The woods surrounding the area was given over to forestry for timber to construct trenches in the WW1. The railway was built to transport the timber. No idea whether this is this is correct of not. I did see one train on the line before it closed. Trains were pretty infrequent so a case of being in the right place at the right time.

 

[thesignalman]

I don't know where I read this but I gather it preceded the RAF camp. The woods surrounding the area was given over to forestry for timber to construct trenches in the WW1. The railway was built to transport the timber. No idea whether this is this is correct of not. I did see one train on the line before it closed. Trains were pretty infrequent so a case of being in the right place at the right time.

Maybe you read that in the article linked to by the original poster.

John

 

[rogerfarnworth]

Yes, Kevin, there was a 2ft gauge line , as I understand it. A short length remain after the standard gauge line was built. The remaining length ran from the camp into the woods beyond.