Holywell branch line

The Holywell branch line was a railway branch line in North Wales that connected Holywell with the nearby main line railway. Holywell had plentiful mineral resources, and the branch line was built as a mineral railway. When the local industry declined, the line fell into disuse, but it was reopened as a tourist passenger line in 1912. Road competition made heavy inroads into that business, and the line closed in 1954.

Origin

The Chester and Holyhead Railway built a line along the North Wales Coast; the objective was to connect the port of Holyhead with London, by connecting with other railway companies. This would enable the Irish mail, chiefly at the time government dispatches, to be conveyed.

The C&HR opened its line as far west as Bangor in 1848, and it opened the entire line throughout after completion of the Britannia Tubular Bridge, in 1850. A station named Holywell was opened on the eastern part of the line on 1 May 1848. However the town it served was ​1 1⁄2 miles away, at an elevation of 550 feet.[1]

The significance of Holywell was that there were extensive deposits of metal ores, coal and limestone, which together enabled the production of metals. Textiles were also produced locally. By 1850 the local industry had become of prime importance. Holywell had used a small harbour as its main export route, with a tramway to reach it from the town.

A railway promoted
The Holywell branch line

On 29 July 1864 the Holywell Railway was authorised by Parliament; it was to be two miles in length, running from the town to a new harbour, and crossing the Chester to Holyhead line (now transferred to the ownership of the London and North Western Railway) by a bridge, instead of the former level crossing.[1][2]

The line was substantially completed by June 1867, and the former level crossing was removed. The new line conveyed minerals only, and operated for a decade before falling into disuse in the 1870s, when cheaper ores became available in South Wales and elsewhere, making the local insutry uneconomic.[2]

Acquisition by the LNWR, and reopening

After three decades of dereliction, the Holywell Railway was purchased by the London and North Western Railway company. Whatever the motivation was for the purchase, nothing was done with the acquired railway for some time, although conversion to an electric tramway in the twentieth century was considered. The LNWR had itself operated road omnibuses between Holywell main line station and the town from 11 October 1905, and the commercial success of that service encouraged the LNWR to redevelop the railway.

Authorising Acts of 1906 and 1907 permitted the regeneration, and a connecting spur to the Chester – Holyhead main line. Although the new line was only ​1 1⁄2 miles in extent, it was not until 1 July 1912 that the reopening took place, to passengers and freight.

The ruling gradient was 1 in 27; there was a single intermediate station called St Winifride's, and Holywell station on the main line was redesignated Holywell Junction. The Holywell terminus was named Holywell Town.[1]

Train service

The passenger rolling stock consisted of two former picnic saloons, converted to form an auto-train.[note 1] At first there were sixteen passenger train journeys each way on weekdays, and this was increased to 29 each way before 1939.[1] The summer 1938 Bradshaw shows 26 Monday to Friday departures up the branch, from 06:25 to 23:30. A similar number ran on Saturdays.[3]

Closure

After 1945 the competition from road transport led to the rapid decline of the usage of the branch, and it was closed on 6 September 1954, except for a stub to Crescent Textile Mills, which continued in use until 11 August 1957. Holywell Junction station on the main line remained in use under that name until closure in February 1966.[1]

Location list
Holywell Branch Line
North Wales Coast Line
 Holywell Junction
 St Winefride's Halt
 Holywell Town

Notes
  1. An auto train consisted of a small steam locomotive, and a passenger coach with controls capable of operating the locomotive's own controls. When the driving trailer was leading, the driver operated the locomotive from a driving position in the coach.

References
  1. Peter E Baughan, A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain: volume 11: North and Mid Wales, David St John Thomas, 1991, Nairn, ISBN 0946537 59 3, pages 80 and 81
  2. Donald J Grant, Directory of the Railway Companies of Great Britain, Matador, Kibworth Beauchamp, 2017, ISBN 978 1785893 537, page 267
  3. Bradshaws July 1938 Railway Guide, David & Charles Reprints, Newton abbot, 1969, ISBN 0 7153 4686 5
  4. Michael Quick, Railway Passenger Stations in England, Scotland and Wales: A Chronology, the Railway and Canal Historical Society, Richmond, Surrey, 2002

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