Railways and Tramways in the Forest of Dean
- luckymucklebackit
- Posts: 3712
- Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2011 7:05 am
- Location: Eaglesham (Again)
- Contact:
Re: Railways and Tramways in the Forest of Dean
There was an "N" gauge layout on here a while back based on Parkend, quite good it was too, unfortunately the thread was removed due to some dispute or other, think he still posts on RMweb.
Jim
Jim
This Signature Left Intentionally Blank, but since I have written this and I intended to do it, this Signature is intentionally not blank. Paradox or What?
My layout - Gateside and Northbridge
My layout - Gateside and Northbridge
-
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2018 9:36 pm
Re: Railways and Tramways in the Forest of Dean
Yes Jim, I have seen the layout ...... excellent!
-
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2018 9:36 pm
Re: Railways and Tramways in the Forest of Dean
A recent visit to the Forest of Dean promoted some reading and reflection on Cannop Colliery. This post is the result of those reflections:
http://rogerfarnworth.com/2018/08/31/cannop-colliery
http://rogerfarnworth.com/2018/08/31/cannop-colliery
My wife and I were in the Forest of Dean on 30th August 2018 and visited a small garden centre that we have been to many times before - the Pigmy Pymetum. Later in the day I was reading an older copy of "The New Regard" - Number 23 from 2009. The first article in that edition of the magazine was about Cannop Colliery and was written by Ian Pope. The colliery was just north of the location of the garden centre.
-
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2018 9:36 pm
Re: Railways and Tramways in the Forest of Dean
Recently, I have begun researching some of the tramways/tramroads in the valleys of South Wales. The first of these that I looked at was the Penydarren Tramroad.
While I was looking at the website of the Industrial Railway Society (https://www.irsociety.co.uk) I came across a story which related to the Forest if Dean and, in particular, the Severn & Wye Railway & Canal Company.
The link below highlights the story of what appears to have been the research necessary before purchasing the first steam locomotive the Forest of Dean. It also pints to what could have been a far earlier introduction of steam traction into the Forest.
http://rogerfarnworth.com/2019/02/08/a- ... ye-tramway
While I was looking at the website of the Industrial Railway Society (https://www.irsociety.co.uk) I came across a story which related to the Forest if Dean and, in particular, the Severn & Wye Railway & Canal Company.
The link below highlights the story of what appears to have been the research necessary before purchasing the first steam locomotive the Forest of Dean. It also pints to what could have been a far earlier introduction of steam traction into the Forest.
http://rogerfarnworth.com/2019/02/08/a- ... ye-tramway
-
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2018 9:36 pm
Re: Railways and Tramways in the Forest of Dean
The Guardian carried an article on 31st August 2019 about old rail routes being used as cycleways. It suggested the 10 best routes where old railway formations are in use as cycleways. Theirs is not the only list of routes which seeks to provide a "Top Ten."
I have pulled together a few examples in the linked post below. I'd like to add at least one which does not feature in the top ten lists, and that is the Forest of Dean.
http://rogerfarnworth.com/2019/09/13/ra ... -a-top-ten
Cycling and walking along the old railway routes in the Forest is a real pleasure.
I have pulled together a few examples in the linked post below. I'd like to add at least one which does not feature in the top ten lists, and that is the Forest of Dean.
http://rogerfarnworth.com/2019/09/13/ra ... -a-top-ten
Cycling and walking along the old railway routes in the Forest is a real pleasure.
-
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2018 9:36 pm
Re: Railways and Tramways in the Forest of Dean
The industrial history of the Forest of Dean is such that the intensity of activity was high throughout the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. Innovation was rife and nowhere was this more true than in its transport infrastructure.
In, what history will ultimately regard as, a very short period of time, tramroads were built and became the dominant form of transport. They waned and were replaced by broad gauge railways which in turn lost out to what was the dominant but probably inferior standard-gauge. For a time, all were active in the Forest at once. ....
http://rogerfarnworth.com/2019/09/15/di ... st-of-dean
In, what history will ultimately regard as, a very short period of time, tramroads were built and became the dominant form of transport. They waned and were replaced by broad gauge railways which in turn lost out to what was the dominant but probably inferior standard-gauge. For a time, all were active in the Forest at once. ....
http://rogerfarnworth.com/2019/09/15/di ... st-of-dean
-
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2018 9:36 pm
Re: Railways and Tramways in the Forest of Dean
My wife and I stay in the Forest of Dean most years. September 2019 was no exception. We stayed in a cottage close to what were Cannop and Speech House Collieries which were both rail served when they were active collieries. I have already posted about Cannop Colliery as part of this series of posts. It seems appropriate that I post something about Speech House Colliery.
http://rogerfarnworth.com/2019/09/14/sp ... nd-railway
http://rogerfarnworth.com/2019/09/14/sp ... nd-railway
-
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2018 9:36 pm
Re: Railways and Tramways in the Forest of Dean
Another Forest of Dean Colliery. .... Flour Mill Colliery. ...
http://rogerfarnworth.com/2017/09/30/th ... l-colliery
http://rogerfarnworth.com/2017/09/30/th ... l-colliery
-
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2018 9:36 pm
Re: Railways and Tramways in the Forest of Dean
Yet another Forest colliery and its railways and tramways - Trafalgar Colliery
http://rogerfarnworth.com/2019/09/24/tr ... nd-railway
http://rogerfarnworth.com/2019/09/24/tr ... nd-railway
-
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2018 9:36 pm
Re: Railways and Tramways in the Forest of Dean
I have recently encountered two small books, both of which are facsimile editions of much older books. The first is a 19th century guide to the Forest of Dean for early holiday makers. The second provides a guide to the various coal mines in the Forest. ...
http://rogerfarnworth.com/2019/10/05/tw ... st-of-dean
http://rogerfarnworth.com/2019/10/05/tw ... st-of-dean
-
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2018 9:36 pm
Re: Railways and Tramways in the Forest of Dean
The Forest of Dean continues to be one of my favourites places. In 2020 we, once again, stayed there in the first week of September.
This post returns to two earlier themes from the Forest.
http://rogerfarnworth.com/2020/09/04/th ... l-colliery
On 1st September 2020 we followed a sign-posted circular walk which started in the centre of the village of Bream on the Southwest side of the Forest. The route was planned with the support of the Big Lottery Heritage Fund and featured a series of different heritage locations around the village. ............. The walk took us first along the route of the China Bottom Branch of the Oakwood Tramway which was covered in an earlier post about the tramways in the Forest (http://rogerfarnworth.com/2017/10/02/oa ... s-tramways).
This post returns to two earlier themes from the Forest.
http://rogerfarnworth.com/2020/09/04/th ... l-colliery
On 1st September 2020 we followed a sign-posted circular walk which started in the centre of the village of Bream on the Southwest side of the Forest. The route was planned with the support of the Big Lottery Heritage Fund and featured a series of different heritage locations around the village. ............. The walk took us first along the route of the China Bottom Branch of the Oakwood Tramway which was covered in an earlier post about the tramways in the Forest (http://rogerfarnworth.com/2017/10/02/oa ... s-tramways).
-
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2018 9:36 pm
Re: Railways and Tramways in the Forest of Dean
This short addendum to my most recent post provides photographs with comments which were taken at the site of Flour Mill Colliery where The Flour Mill Ltd undertakes heavy engineering work maintaining and refurbishing steam locomotives.
http://rogerfarnworth.com/2020/09/04/th ... -ltd-again
http://rogerfarnworth.com/2020/09/04/th ... -ltd-again
-
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2018 9:36 pm
Re: Railways and Tramways in the Forest of Dean
Darkhill Ironworks, Titanic Steelworks and associated railways and tramways. .....
http://rogerfarnworth.com/2020/09/12/th ... -dark-hill
In early September 2020, while staying in Bream in the Forest of Dean we walked around the Titanic Steel Works and the Dark Hill Ironworks of father and son David and Robert Mushet. These two establishments sit adjacent to what was the Coleford branch of the Severn and Wye Joint Railway. They were also served, in its time, by the Milkwall branch of Severn and Wye Tramway.
http://rogerfarnworth.com/2020/09/12/th ... -dark-hill
In early September 2020, while staying in Bream in the Forest of Dean we walked around the Titanic Steel Works and the Dark Hill Ironworks of father and son David and Robert Mushet. These two establishments sit adjacent to what was the Coleford branch of the Severn and Wye Joint Railway. They were also served, in its time, by the Milkwall branch of Severn and Wye Tramway.
-
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2018 9:36 pm
Re: Railways and Tramways in the Forest of Dean
Humphrey Household included a short chapter about the Forest in his 1984 book about the railways of Gloucestershire in the 1920s
http://rogerfarnworth.com/2021/09/17/th ... n-addendum
"While on holiday in the Forest of Dean in September 2021, I picked up a secondhand copy of "Gloucestershire Railways in the Twenties" by Humphrey Household. [1] It consists of a review of the development of the railways in Gloucestershire supported by a series of photographs which were predominantly taken in the 1920s by Humphrey Household. The photos are a significant resource. The text of the book is well-written. Its final two chapters were of real interest to me."
http://rogerfarnworth.com/2021/09/17/th ... n-addendum
"While on holiday in the Forest of Dean in September 2021, I picked up a secondhand copy of "Gloucestershire Railways in the Twenties" by Humphrey Household. [1] It consists of a review of the development of the railways in Gloucestershire supported by a series of photographs which were predominantly taken in the 1920s by Humphrey Household. The photos are a significant resource. The text of the book is well-written. Its final two chapters were of real interest to me."
-
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2018 9:36 pm
Re: Railways and Tramways in the Forest of Dean
I continue to find tramways and railways in the Forest of Dean of great interest. For this next post we return to Mr Brain's Tramway which primarily served Trafalgar Colliery in the Forest.
http://rogerfarnworth.com/2022/06/26/br ... st-of-dean
Further research has resulted in a bit more information about the locomotives that worked on the Tramway. ....
http://rogerfarnworth.com/2022/06/26/br ... st-of-dean
Further research has resulted in a bit more information about the locomotives that worked on the Tramway. ....