Monmouth Railway
Encyclopedia
The Monmouth Railway, also known as the Monmouth Tramroad, was a horse-drawn railway line which ran for approximately 5 miles (8 km) between Monmouth
and Coleford
, in Gloucestershire. It was opened in 1812 and closed in the 1870s.
to a terminus at May Hill, near Monmouth.
The Act specifically allowed for the conveyance of passengers, and is thought to be the first to have done so, although there is no evidence that passengers were carried on a regular basis. It was built as a plateway
, horse-drawn wagons with plain wheels running on L-section flanged cast-iron rails.
The principal freight carried to Monmouth was coal, clay and lime. The line was opened in 1812.
In 1861, the Coleford, Monmouth, Usk and Pontypool Railway
, which was the first standard-gauge railway to reach Monmouth in 1857, was extended across the River Wye to meet the Monmouth Railway at Wyesham Wharf, where a transshipment point was set up.
The arrival of this railway in Monmouth however, along with the Ross and Monmouth Railway
in 1873 and the Wye Valley Railway
at Redbrook in 1876, meant that the tramroad soon became redundant.
The Coleford Railway
, a standard gauge
railway line was largely built over the route of the tramroad. It was opened on 1 September 1883 but closed on 1 January 1917.
and through a tunnel above Newland
.
At Redbrook
a steep incline led down to the village, providing access to the tinplate factories there, while the main line made a sharp turn to the north, gradually descending the hillside parallel to the River Wye
. The terminus was at May Hill, just across the river from Monmouth.
Branches from Broadwell led north to the New Found Out coal mine, and south to the Darkhill Ironworks
, where it linked with a Severn and Wye Railway
branch from Parkend
.
Near Coleford, the stone abutments of a former wooden bridge exist either side of a minor road at SO563101. A section of the original tramroad tunnel remains on private land near Newland.
Monmouth
Monmouth is a town in southeast Wales and traditional county town of the historic county of Monmouthshire. It is situated close to the border with England, where the River Monnow meets the River Wye with bridges over both....
and Coleford
Coleford, Gloucestershire
Coleford is a small market town in Gloucestershire, England in the west of the Forest of Dean with a population of 8,351 . It is situated some four miles east of the Welsh border, and is close to the Wye Valley, a popular walking and canoeing area...
, in Gloucestershire. It was opened in 1812 and closed in the 1870s.
History
The Monmouth Railway Company obtained an Act of Parliament on 24th May 1810 for making a railway or tramroad from Howler Slade, in the Forest of DeanForest of Dean
The Forest of Dean is a geographical, historical and cultural region in the western part of the county of Gloucestershire, England. The forest is a roughly triangular plateau bounded by the River Wye to the west and north, the River Severn to the south, and the City of Gloucester to the east.The...
to a terminus at May Hill, near Monmouth.
The Act specifically allowed for the conveyance of passengers, and is thought to be the first to have done so, although there is no evidence that passengers were carried on a regular basis. It was built as a plateway
Plateway
A plateway is an early kind of railway or tramway or wagonway, with a cast iron rail. They were mainly used for about 50 years up to 1830, though some continued later....
, horse-drawn wagons with plain wheels running on L-section flanged cast-iron rails.
The principal freight carried to Monmouth was coal, clay and lime. The line was opened in 1812.
In 1861, the Coleford, Monmouth, Usk and Pontypool Railway
Coleford, Monmouth, Usk and Pontypool Railway
The Coleford, Monmouth, Usk & Pontypool Railway was a standard gauge railway of which ran between Monmouth to Pontypool. It was opened in 1857, passenger services were withdrawn in 1955...
, which was the first standard-gauge railway to reach Monmouth in 1857, was extended across the River Wye to meet the Monmouth Railway at Wyesham Wharf, where a transshipment point was set up.
The arrival of this railway in Monmouth however, along with the Ross and Monmouth Railway
Ross and Monmouth Railway
The Ross and Monmouth Railway was a standard gauge railway of which ran between Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth....
in 1873 and the Wye Valley Railway
Wye Valley Railway
The Wye Valley Railway was a standard gauge railway that ran for nearly between Chepstow and Monmouth along the lower part of the scenic Wye Valley in Monmouthshire, Wales, and Gloucestershire, England. It followed the route of the River Wye for most of its length...
at Redbrook in 1876, meant that the tramroad soon became redundant.
The Coleford Railway
Coleford Railway
The Coleford Railway also known as the Coleford Branch, was a short-lived standard gauge railway line which ran for approximately between Monmouth and Coleford. It was constructed in the 1880s, opened on 1 September 1883 and closed on 1 January 1917...
, a standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
railway line was largely built over the route of the tramroad. It was opened on 1 September 1883 but closed on 1 January 1917.
Route
The original route was from Howler Slade, east of Coleford, through Broadwell, then down the Poolway incline into the town of Coleford. The railway then led west down the valley past Whitecliff IronworksWhitecliff Ironworks
Whitecliff Ironworks, sometimes referred to as Whitecliff Furnace, at Coleford, in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England, are industrial remains associated with the production of iron, using coke, in the Forest of Dean.-Background:...
and through a tunnel above Newland
Newland, Gloucestershire
Newland is a village in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, England.It is notable for its parish church of All Saints, known as the 'Cathedral of the Forest'.- References :***-External links:...
.
At Redbrook
Redbrook
Redbrook is a village in Gloucestershire, England, adjoining the border with Monmouthshire, Wales. It is located on the River Wye and is within the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.- History :...
a steep incline led down to the village, providing access to the tinplate factories there, while the main line made a sharp turn to the north, gradually descending the hillside parallel to the River Wye
River Wye
The River Wye is the fifth-longest river in the UK and for parts of its length forms part of the border between England and Wales. It is important for nature conservation and recreation.-Description:...
. The terminus was at May Hill, just across the river from Monmouth.
Branches from Broadwell led north to the New Found Out coal mine, and south to the Darkhill Ironworks
Darkhill Ironworks
Darkhill Ironworks, and the neighbouring Titanic Steelworks, are internationally important industrial remains associated with the development of the iron and steel industries. Both are scheduled monuments. They are located on the edge of a small hamlet called Gorsty Knoll, just to the west of...
, where it linked with a Severn and Wye Railway
Severn and Wye Railway
The Severn and Wye Railway was a small railway network in west Gloucestershire that was constructed to allow exploitation of the mineral resources of the Forest of Dean. The Severn and Wye Railway and Canal Company began construction of the tramway and the Lydney Canal in 1810. In 1868 the tramway...
branch from Parkend
Parkend, Gloucestershire
Parkend is a village, located at the foot of the Cannop Valley, in the Royal Forest of Dean, West Gloucestershire, England, and has a history dating back to the early 17th century...
Remnants
Much of the tramroad was obliterated when the later railway was built, but a number of remnants can be found. The Incline Bridge over the B4231 road at Redbrook (SO537102) is now protected as a Scheduled Ancient MonumentScheduled Ancient Monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a 'nationally important' archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorized change. The various pieces of legislation used for legally protecting heritage assets from damage and destruction are grouped under the term...
.
Near Coleford, the stone abutments of a former wooden bridge exist either side of a minor road at SO563101. A section of the original tramroad tunnel remains on private land near Newland.