Brunswick Wharf

Former railway goods yard in Cheshire, England

Brunswick Wharf was a railway goods yard in Buglawton, Congleton.[1][2]

Brunswick Wharf was used to transport sand from Congleton to the Potteries and coal from the Potteries to Brunswick Wharf along the Biddulph Valley Line.[1][3]

## History

[edit]

Brunswick Wharf was the terminus of the Biddulph Valley Line.[4] Brunswick Wharf was opened by the North Staffordshire Railway on 29 August 1860.[4]

While using the Biddulph Valley Line for most of the journey, goods trains heading to Brunswick Wharf would leave the Biddulph Valley Line at Congleton Lower Junction.[5] Goods trains would then follow a line underneath the North Staffordshire mainline which was used to reach Brunswick Wharf and a goods and mineral yard at Congleton railway station.[5]

Ever Saturday morning there was a sand train service from Brunswick Wharf to Warrington and St Helens.[6] The sand that was taken from Brunswick Wharf was used in the Lancashire glass industry.[6]

During the heyday of the Biddulph Valley Line the Robbert-heath owned Collieries operated private mineral trains between their various sites to and from Brunswick Wharf.[7]

When trams were being built for Manchester and other local cities, metal was brought to Brunswick Wharf to be molded down into brake blocks for trams,[8] once built the brake blocks would leave Brunswick Wharf to be used for tram building.[8]

The decision to close Brunswick Wharf "baffled" the staff due to how busy and well used Brunswick Wharf was.[9]

The last train left Brunswick Wharf on 1 April 1968 after which Brunswick Wharf closed.[1][3]

With the closure of Brunswick Wharf sand had to be brought to Congleton via Congleton railway station and coal had to be brought to Congleton via Kidsgrove railway station.[9]

Plans were drawn up by North Staffordshire Railway Society in the 1970s to reopen Brunswick Wharf as part of a planned heritage railway going from Brunswick Wharf to Bidulph Railway station via the Biddulph Valley Line.[10] This plan was created in order preserve some of the Biddulph Valley Line.[10] Due to lack of interest from Cheshire County Council and the general public this plan was abandoned.[10]

## Operation

[edit]

Brunswick Wharf comprised 3 sidings called "Wharfs" operated by 3 different companies. These companies were:[11]

* Robbert Heath and Low Moor.[11]
* The Congleton and Industrial & Equitable Co-operative society.[11]
* H. Hargreaves & Co. Ltd, coal, coke and lime merchants.[11]

## Staff

[edit]

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Below is a list of staff who worked at Brunswick Wharf and their job titles and/or employer if known:

* Harry Walton.[11]
* Mr Minshull. (Yard Forman)[11]
* John Butler.[11]
* Charles Yates.[11]
* Jack Holland.[11]
* Charlie Butler.[8]
* Frank Emery. (British Rail checker)[9]
* Fred Jackson. (British Rail loader)[9]
* Stan Woodward. (Co-op Yard Forman)[9]
* Joel Boon. (Gillow heath)[9]
* Jack Greenford.[9]
* Billy Smith.[9]
* Ralf Goodwin.[9]
* Bill Willett.[9]
* Will Shaw.[9]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Activities and Information About the Biddulph Valley Way". www.cheshireeast.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
2. ^ Alcock, Joan P. (30 June 2003). History & Guide Congleton. Stroud: Tempus Publishing Ltd. p. 67\. ISBN 0752429469.
3. ^ a b Biddulph Valley Way Explorer including Dane-in-Shaw Pasture & Timbersbrook Picnic Area (PDF). Cheshire East Council. p. 7\. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
4. ^ a b Jeuda, Basil (1 May 1996). THE KNOTTY An Illustrated Survey Of The North Staffordshire Railway. Lightmoor Press. p. 43\. ISBN 1899889019.
5. ^ a b Allan. C Baker. An Illustrated History of Stoke and North Staffordshire's Railways. Irwell Press. p. 53\. ISBN 1-903266-11-4.
6. ^ a b Allan. C Baker. An Illustrated History of Stoke and North Staffordshire's Railways. Irwell Press. p. 57\. ISBN 1-903266-11-4.
7. ^ Allan. C Baker. An Illustrated History of Stoke and North Staffordshire's Railways. Irwell Press. p. 54\. ISBN 1-903266-11-4.
8. ^ a b c "THE LAST PAGE OF A CHAPTER And the man who has watched history made". Congleton Chronicle. 15 March 1968. p. Front page.
9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Wharf Closes". Congleton Chronicle. 15 March 1968. p. 10.
10. ^ a b c "Our History". www.nsrailway.co.uk. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
11. ^ a b c d e f g h i Jeuda, Basil (20 April 2014). The North Staffordshire Railway In LMS Days Volume 3. Lydney: Lightmoor Press. p. 65\. ISBN 978-1899889839.