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TheCoalport branch line was astandard gaugeLondon and North Western Railway branch line inShropshire, England, which ran between Hadley Junction nearOakengates on theStafford to Shrewsbury line and a terminus atCoalport East railway station on the north bank of theRiver Severn atCoalport.
The 8-mile (13 km) branch line opened on 17 June 1861. Passenger services were little used, with the line's existence being mainly supported by freight traffic.[1] There were sidings at locations including Blists Hill Ironworks and theCoalport China factory of John Rose and Co.[2]
The line was closed to passengers in 1952 and to regular freight on 5 December 1960,[3] the line to Stirchley finally closed to even sporadic traffic on 6 July 1964.
On 9 April 1980 the2 ft (610 mm) gaugeTelford Town Tramway was opened by theReverend W. Awdry on the trackbed of the Coalport branch alongside Randlay Pool inTelford Town Park.[4][5] The tramway only lasted a few years before it closed in the mid-1980s. The tram has since been preserved by theTelford Steam Railway running on its own circular track by Horsehay Pool.
The interchange siding at Blists Hill now forms part of theIronbridge Gorge Museum Trust’sBlists Hill Victorian Town site.
Four miles of the former trackbed now form part of theSilkin Way,[6] a cycling and walking route managed byTelford and Wrekin Council.[7] It runs south of the former Malins Lee railway station to just north of the former Coalport East railway station.
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