Moat Lane Junction
Encyclopedia
Moat Lane Junction was a railway junction in Montgomeryshire
near to the village of Caersws
in mid-Wales. It was the junction where the Newtown and Machynlleth railway opened in 1863 diverged from the Llanidloes and Newtown Railway
which opened four years earlier. Although having only 3 through platforms, by rural standards it was a busy interchange station and in its heyday possessed a Refreshment Room.
Moat Lane Junction is often quoted as a defining feature of the Great Western Railway in Wales, namely its inheritance of junctions in unlikely and inconvenient locations. Other examples are Afon Wen
, Talyllyn Junction
, Dovey Junction and Barmouth Junction (renamed Morfa Mawddach
in 1960).
The first station at Moat Lane, opened in 1859, was located a short distance to the south-west of the later junction station, and was intended to serve Caersws
. On the opening of the Machynlleth line, a new station was built in the ‘V’ of the junction. This had a single straight platform face serving Llanidloes trains and superseding the original station; and a curved platform serving the new line. Since the latter was now the major route, an island platform was also provided on the curve, providing three platforms trains to/from the Machynlleth direction.
Both originating railways became part of the Cambrian Railways
. Beyond Llanidloes, the Mid-Wales Railway
to Brecon was opened in 1864, but was operated separately until 1888, passengers needing to change at Llanidloes. From that date, trains ran through from Moat Lane Junction.
Reflecting the lower status of the earlier Llanidloes line, through running of passenger trains from Newtown to the Mid-Wales line eventually ceased, and the original single platform sufficed throughout its life.
Montgomeryshire
Montgomeryshire, also known as Maldwyn is one of thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. Montgomeryshire is still used as a vice-county for wildlife recording...
near to the village of Caersws
Caersws
Caersws is a village and community sitting on the River Severn, at miles west of Newtown, Powys, and halfway between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury.- History & Amenities :...
in mid-Wales. It was the junction where the Newtown and Machynlleth railway opened in 1863 diverged from the Llanidloes and Newtown Railway
Llanidloes and Newtown Railway
The Llanidloes and Newtown Railway was an early Welsh railway. It was absorbed by the Cambrian Railway. A section of the line - from Newtown to where the later Cambrian Line diverges to Machynlleth, at the former Moat Lane Junction, remains in use...
which opened four years earlier. Although having only 3 through platforms, by rural standards it was a busy interchange station and in its heyday possessed a Refreshment Room.
Moat Lane Junction is often quoted as a defining feature of the Great Western Railway in Wales, namely its inheritance of junctions in unlikely and inconvenient locations. Other examples are Afon Wen
Afon Wen railway station
Afon Wen was a railway station located in Afon Wen, Gwynedd.The station formed a junction between the Aberystwyth and Welsh Coast Railway and the Carnarvonshire Railway.- History :...
, Talyllyn Junction
Talyllyn Junction
Talyllyn Junction was a railway junction located 4 miles east of Brecon, Powys, opened in 1863. The junction was triangular, with north, east and west chords, station platforms being sited at the western junction and also, until 1878, at the eastern junction...
, Dovey Junction and Barmouth Junction (renamed Morfa Mawddach
Morfa Mawddach railway station
Morfa Mawddach railway station, formerly Barmouth Junction, is in Gwynedd, Wales, on the Cambrian Coast Railway between and at its junction with the Dolgelley branch of the Aberystwyth and Welsh Coast Railway part of the Ruabon to Barmouth Line which closed in 1965.- Background :North of Morfa...
in 1960).
The first station at Moat Lane, opened in 1859, was located a short distance to the south-west of the later junction station, and was intended to serve Caersws
Caersws
Caersws is a village and community sitting on the River Severn, at miles west of Newtown, Powys, and halfway between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury.- History & Amenities :...
. On the opening of the Machynlleth line, a new station was built in the ‘V’ of the junction. This had a single straight platform face serving Llanidloes trains and superseding the original station; and a curved platform serving the new line. Since the latter was now the major route, an island platform was also provided on the curve, providing three platforms trains to/from the Machynlleth direction.
Both originating railways became part of the Cambrian Railways
Cambrian Railways
Cambrian Railways owned of track over a large area of mid-Wales. The system was an amalgamation of a number of railways that were incorporated in 1864, 1865 and 1904...
. Beyond Llanidloes, the Mid-Wales Railway
Mid-Wales Railway
-Company Formation and Parliamentary authorisation:The company was formed in 1859 and parliamentary approval was received on 1 August for the northern section of the line from Llanidloes, Montgomeryshire to Llandovery, Carmarthenshire...
to Brecon was opened in 1864, but was operated separately until 1888, passengers needing to change at Llanidloes. From that date, trains ran through from Moat Lane Junction.
Reflecting the lower status of the earlier Llanidloes line, through running of passenger trains from Newtown to the Mid-Wales line eventually ceased, and the original single platform sufficed throughout its life.