Blythe Bridge railway station
Encyclopedia
Blythe Bridge railway station is a railway station in the United Kingdom
at Blythe Bridge
, Staffordshire Moorlands
. The station is served by trains on the Crewe to Derby Line
which is also a Community rail line
known as the North Staffordshire line. The station is owned by Network Rail
and managed by East Midlands Trains
(EMT) Train Operating Company
(TOC). The full range of tickets for travel are purchased from the guard
on the train at no extra cost.
The station was opened on 7 August 1848 by the North Staffordshire Railway
(NSR). The station buildings were demolished in the early 1990s and today it is unstaffed.
East Midlands Trains intends to re-paint the station in late 2010 this follows on from the station winning EMT's 'Best Small Station' award
es, Blythe Bridge and Stallington, both of which controlled level crossing
s, which was a common feature across the former NSR.
Blythe Bridge signal box was opened by the NSR in 1884 on their Derby to Stoke line
. The box was built to a standard McKenzie & Holland design and under the S.R.S. designation system is referred to as a MKH Type1.
The signal box was equipped with a standard McKenzie & Holland lever frame
and a gate wheel for operating the level crossing gates which controlled traffic on the busy former A50
. These gates were later replaced by a barrier crossing when traffic got too heavy for the signalman
.
Blythe Bridge signal box finally closed in 1980 and the level crossing was converted to CCTV
control with the barriers supervised by Caverswall signal box.
, whom hopes to one day extend its services within Blythe Bridge railway station as finances allow ... and would also one day become one of a few heritage railways across the uk to own and operate a fully opened/preserved branch line, once finances allow.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
at Blythe Bridge
Blythe Bridge
Blythe Bridge is a village situated in the Staffordshire Moorlands District, although it is effectively a south-eastern suburb of the city of Stoke-on-Trent.-Etymology:...
, Staffordshire Moorlands
Staffordshire Moorlands
Staffordshire Moorlands is a local government district in Staffordshire, England. Its council, Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, is based in Leek and is located between the city of Stoke-on-Trent and the Peak District National Park. The 2001 census recorded the population as...
. The station is served by trains on the Crewe to Derby Line
Crewe to Derby Line
The Crewe to Derby Line is a railway line in central England, running from Crewe south east to Derby. Services on the line are provided by East Midlands Trains....
which is also a Community rail line
Community rail
In the United Kingdom, a community rail line is a local railway which is specially supported by local organisations. This support is usually through a Community Rail Partnerships – comprising both the railway operator, local councils and other community organisations – or sometimes by...
known as the North Staffordshire line. The station is owned by Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
and managed by East Midlands Trains
East Midlands Trains
East Midlands Trains is a British passenger train operating company. Based in Derby, it provides train services in the East Midlands, chiefly in the counties of Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Northamptonshire, and between the East Midlands and London...
(EMT) Train Operating Company
Train operating company
The term train operating company is used in the United Kingdom to describe the various businesses operating passenger trains on the railway system of Great Britain under the collective National Rail brand...
(TOC). The full range of tickets for travel are purchased from the guard
Conductor (transportation)
A conductor is a member of a railway train's crew that is responsible for operational and safety duties that do not involve the actual operation of the train. The title of conductor is most associated with railway operations in North America, but the role of conductor is common to railways...
on the train at no extra cost.
The station was opened on 7 August 1848 by the North Staffordshire Railway
North Staffordshire Railway
The North Staffordshire Railway was a British railway company formed in 1845 to promote a number of lines in the Staffordshire Potteries and surrounding areas in Staffordshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire and Shropshire....
(NSR). The station buildings were demolished in the early 1990s and today it is unstaffed.
East Midlands Trains intends to re-paint the station in late 2010 this follows on from the station winning EMT's 'Best Small Station' award
Signalling
Blythe Bridge had at one time two signal boxSignal box
On a rail transport system, signalling control is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of railway signals and block systems to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper timetable...
es, Blythe Bridge and Stallington, both of which controlled level crossing
Level crossing
A level crossing occurs where a railway line is intersected by a road or path onone level, without recourse to a bridge or tunnel. It is a type of at-grade intersection. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion...
s, which was a common feature across the former NSR.
Blythe Bridge signal box was opened by the NSR in 1884 on their Derby to Stoke line
Crewe to Derby Line
The Crewe to Derby Line is a railway line in central England, running from Crewe south east to Derby. Services on the line are provided by East Midlands Trains....
. The box was built to a standard McKenzie & Holland design and under the S.R.S. designation system is referred to as a MKH Type1.
The signal box was equipped with a standard McKenzie & Holland lever frame
Lever frame
Mechanical railway signalling installations rely on lever frames for their operation to interlock the signals and points to allow the safe operation of trains in the area the signals control...
and a gate wheel for operating the level crossing gates which controlled traffic on the busy former A50
A50 road
The A50 is a major trunk road in England. It runs from Warrington to Leicester; however, it was once a much longer route.-Current route:...
. These gates were later replaced by a barrier crossing when traffic got too heavy for the signalman
Signalman (rail)
A signalman or signaller is an employee of a railway transport network who operates the points and signals from a signal box in order to control the movement of trains.- History :...
.
Blythe Bridge signal box finally closed in 1980 and the level crossing was converted to CCTV
Closed-circuit television
Closed-circuit television is the use of video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place, on a limited set of monitors....
control with the barriers supervised by Caverswall signal box.
Foxfield Light Railway
The station is situated 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) south of Caverswall Road railway station, the current southern terminus of the Foxfield Light RailwayFoxfield Light Railway
The Foxfield Light Railway is a preserved standard gauge line located south east of Stoke-on-Trent. The line was built in 1893 to serve the colliery at Dilhorne on the Cheadle Coalfield. It joined the North Staffordshire Railway line near Blythe Bridge....
, whom hopes to one day extend its services within Blythe Bridge railway station as finances allow ... and would also one day become one of a few heritage railways across the uk to own and operate a fully opened/preserved branch line, once finances allow.