The Brampton Branch Line Chesterfield Lost Goods Railway
In part 3 of this series we look at a freight branch that was originally part of the Midland Railway. Exiting the main Midland Railway through Chesterfield, just to the south of todays railway station. This is where we begin todays explore where evidence of old track still in the trees well visible from the footpath where the former tracked has been turned into a cycle path.
The Brampton Branch then curves away towards the west, crossing a series of three bridges in quick succession. A new bridge installed in the 1980s over the new Chesterfield relief road. Then a smaller bridge over a now minor road - Lordsmill Street. And finally another new bridge from the 80s crossing the A617 into the town.
We can continue to follow the route of the old line past the site of the old Hipper Corn Mill and underneath where the Lancashire, Derbyshire & East Coast Railway swept across on the Boythorpe Viaduct. Here there was another (now well and truly) lost branch line to Boythorpe Colliery up the Boythorpe Incline. Also this saw lines and siding off to one of many sites of industry.
The line from was closed in the 1960s as the pass over Park Road and skirt the northside of Queens Park. Still able to follow the exact route of the lond abandoned Brampton Branch. The line then splits with a short spur off to the former Chesterfield Corporation Gas Works and the old Bramton Brewery. Again, nothing left, but there is the old entrance where the line crossed the road and an archway feature has been made on the entrance to the Holme Brook Trail showing the history of the works and the method in which traffic was stopped with the chains fed through the holes in the wall.
Back on the main Brampton Branch, we follow the course as close as possible. The trackbed is now long lost, with the industry of out of bound desolation preventing us walking the actual route for long stretches. Past the old Robinson factory and Griffin Works, Old potties, collieries, chemical works and the site of the old Bramptom Wharf come thick and fast. We can walk down Dock Walk and see remains of the railway bridge that spanned the River Hipper. The location of an old photograph with a DMU that made it's way down the branch line on a railtour in 1961. Along Goytside Road, we can make out the location where the line crossed the road on the level before entering what is shown on old National Library of Scotland maps as Brampton Colliery and London Pottery.
The end of the line is now where the Morrisons supermarket is located off Chatsworth Road/Walton Road. Maps has this listed as the site of the Oldfield Pottery and branch off the the Brampton Colliery again.
A fast fading branch line that leads to a scene of desolation, that is bound to be redeveloped at some stage in the future. At that time, what ever traces of the history is remaining will surely be erased forever.
**Previous videos in this series
Part 1 - The Great Central Railway - • Chesterfield and the L...
Part 2 - The Dukeries Line (LD&ECR) - • Chesterfield Lost Rail...
Buy me a coffee - ko-fi.com/wobb...
Facebook - / wobbly.runner
Instagram - / wobbly.runner
#hornsbridge #chestefield
Негізгі бет The Brampton Branch Line, Chesterfield Lost Goods Railway
No video
Пікірлер: 44