Steaming to Ironbridge

Steaming to Ironbridge Appeal
Heath Hill Tunnel to Lawley Common | Horsehay & Dawley to Lightmoor

Stage 3 : Lightmoor to Buildwas

Phase 1 Operating Rights Lightmoor to Buildwas

At present the section of line from Lightmoor to the Ironbridge power station (at Buildwas) is still double track. Both lines are in constant use with bulk coal and oil trains from Madeley Junction to the power station. Extension of Telford Steam Railway to Buildwas will therefore depend on the plans of the track owners and the future of the power station. There are plans to change the method of operation of power station line in the near future, when it is re-signalled. The TSR Board, supported by Telford and Wrekin Council, is in discussion with Network Rail about the possibility of TSR using the decommisioned UP line to gain access to the Ironbridge Gorge

Phase 2 New Bridge and Embankment

The provision of a new bridge over the A4169 together with the rebuilding of the embankment taken away for use as in-fill elsewhere during the road building programme will be the biggest obstacle to overcome in our development plan. The funding for this will have to be from an appropriate grant. This grant might be justified by the creation of a tourist train service from Lawley Common (close to the M54) to Ironbridge to serve the World Heritage Site Museums. There would also be many advantages to Ironbridge and Telford by TSR becoming a popular tourist attraction in its own right. The use of professional organisations to design and build the bridge and embankment will quickly restore the severed link complete with new track once a grant is secured. It is apparent though that the completion of the missing link can only proceed when we have obtained an agreement to operate trains to Buildwas. A realistic solution to the provision of a bridge would be to develop it with povision for access by cyleway, footpath and the steam railway, thus enabling costs to be shared.

Fancy lending hand?

If you would like to help us with this project - either in person or via a donation - please visit the Steaming to Ironbridge Appeal page for further details.