Telford Steam Railway to extend its track in £400k move funded by Polar Express
Operators of Telford Steam Railway are laying plans to extend the track at a cost of up to £400,000.
The development is the first phase of a £1.5 million project to lengthen the line by crossing the A4169 and is being funded by its successful Polar Express franchise.
The heritage railway runs from Lawley Village to Horsehay & Dawley stations on the old Wellington and Severn Junction line that once ran between Wellington and Craven Arms via the Ironbridge Gorge.
However, the trust’s long term aim is to lay a new track to Ironbridge to improve public transport to the World Heritage Site and attract more tourists.
To achieve this the track needs to cross the A4169 that links the A442 to Jiggers Bank. A bridge has already been acquired for it.
Options
Phil Neal, a director at the heritage trust, said: "We are still looking at options for the extension, probably in the £250,000 to £400,000 range all funded by the Polar Express.
"We are stakeholders in the plans for the power station and the rail link and are having positive meetings with Network Rail, local authorities and a developer in progressing our project.
"We are currently planning our extension to Doseley which we hope to make significant progress on in the coming year."
As part of the major project the Lightmoor Junction will be extended and two level crossings will be installed.
Chairman of Marches Strategic Rail Group, Eric Carter said: "I am aware that a few weeks ago there was a meeting between the parties involved. I have always seen it as an opportunity to have something like the Severn Valley Railway, but in Telford, in the borough.
"The Polar Express has been revolutionary for them in generating the money to help pay for the extension. They already have the bridge waiting and I'm very hopeful that that they will be able to move full steam ahead.
"They have got the signal box at Doseley and if they can cross the A4169 they will have an extra three or four miles of track to run on instead of half a mile. That would make such a big difference to their operation and generate more tourists. It is also an opportunity to take the line all the way to the old Coalbrookdale station which is still there although the platform is gone. It's a wonderful opportunity."
Fundraising
The steam railway is looked after by volunteers who set about a major fundraising drive by acquiring rights to operate the Polar Express service during December since 2017 based on the Hollywood animation starring Tom Hanks to cover the cost of the laying the track and installing the bridge.
In 2015 Ironbridge Power Station was closed by owners, energy giant E.ON in 2015 after 46 years in operation. Now there are hopes the heritage railway will eventually take over a disused track between the site in Buildwas and Lightmoor Junction, linking up with its existing stations at Lawley and Horsehay.
Back in the 1960s, the old Severn Valley Railways closed the line through Ironbridge, leaving only the small section bringing coal through Coalbrookdale into the power station.
Telford Steam Railway operates each Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays.
