I read some of the LNWR Coalport branch was built on the line of the Shropshire Canal Geoff. This would tie in with your walking down some of the Silkin Way to reach the site of the aqueduct. I take it the aqueduct wasn’t actually rebuilt to have trains run on it, ie. the railway alignment was slightly off the old canal line here ?
Much of the northern part of the 1861 Coalport branch railway was built on the canal, I believe, from Oakengates to about the point where the canal’s eastern and western branches diverged (a short distance north of the aqueduct). The railway then followed its own alignment down to Coalport, allowing part of the eastern branch to remain – it was used into the early 20th century, and remains in situ through the Blists Hill museum complex. The western branch had already been replaced, in effect, by the Madeley Junction to Lightmoor railway in 1854 (which didn’t use the canal’s route). There’s a useful map here http://captainahabswaterytales.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/shropshire-canal-horsehay-branch-north.html. So no, the aqueduct didn’t carry a railway line.
Thank you for your detailed reply Geoff : I can comprehend what went where a bit more now ! Also that is a very useful link : route of the old canal arms marked on a modern OS base very illuminating.
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I read some of the LNWR Coalport branch was built on the line of the Shropshire Canal Geoff. This would tie in with your walking down some of the Silkin Way to reach the site of the aqueduct. I take it the aqueduct wasn’t actually rebuilt to have trains run on it, ie. the railway alignment was slightly off the old canal line here ?
Much of the northern part of the 1861 Coalport branch railway was built on the canal, I believe, from Oakengates to about the point where the canal’s eastern and western branches diverged (a short distance north of the aqueduct). The railway then followed its own alignment down to Coalport, allowing part of the eastern branch to remain – it was used into the early 20th century, and remains in situ through the Blists Hill museum complex. The western branch had already been replaced, in effect, by the Madeley Junction to Lightmoor railway in 1854 (which didn’t use the canal’s route). There’s a useful map here http://captainahabswaterytales.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/shropshire-canal-horsehay-branch-north.html. So no, the aqueduct didn’t carry a railway line.
Thank you for your detailed reply Geoff : I can comprehend what went where a bit more now ! Also that is a very useful link : route of the old canal arms marked on a modern OS base very illuminating.