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LUDLOW COLLIERY
RAILWAY (Radstock)
(1784 to 1973)
(From two visits on the 9th and 17th of September 2020)
The Ludlow Colliery site and associated lines. Bottom left is the
connection with the North Somerset Railway. Top left is the junctions that
the branch to
Tyning Colliery that crossed over the S&D the branch and eastwards
towards Mount Pleasant Coal Depot.(NLS MAPS).
From the Frome Road entrance the Ludlow Colliery and tracks are
still very recognizable. The Pit Head stood at the top of
the ramp on the far left. The colliery buildings are in use as a heavy
vehicle repair works. The track seen here came through
from the junction off the North Somerset branch from Frome by the NSR
Goods Yard. It then continued northwards, climbing
steeply over the S&D main line to Tyning Colliery high above Radstock.
Also, on the left track ran below Frome Road and
met a junction on the north side of the road and turned sharply
eastwards where it went below Mill Road and following the
north side of Frome Road and terminating at a Coal Depot at Mont Pleasant.
Ludlow Colliery from Frome Road, Radstock 1910. (Archive Images).
Around the same spot on the 26th August 2020. The ramp gives the
indication.
Not sure what these were for. Interesting that they end at a manhole that
suggests cables of some sort went underground. meeting!
The works was closed on my first visit and this is as far as I got. However it was open on my second visit and I was able to ask permission to have a look around.
Track running into the repair works. The branch continued around the right
hand side to the sidings on the North Somerset Railway.
At the rear of the coal mine site.
As far as I could get beyond the colliery site where the branch is cut off
from the junction with the North Somerset Railway.
The rear of the colliery site. There are still a few tracks showing up
from the over growth.
A quick peek inside the work shop. You can sense the years that have gone
by since it was built.
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From the front of the site looking northwards where the branch continued
over Frome Road and onto Tyning Colliery. The Mount
Pleasant line came down the ramp from the mine where the car on the right
is below Frome Road then turned eastwards, below
Mill Lane and onto the coal depot.
Remains of the Colliery track where it crossed the Frome Road..
Left: Where the Mount Pleasant coal depot branch went below Mill Road.
Right: From Mill Road where the Mount Pleasant branch went below.Mill Lane
road
junction has been redesigned the actual road junction was much narrower
and closer to the houses. This spot was back filled to form the new
junction and was
the sunken area where the sidings and the spur off to Mount pleasant coal
depot was.
Looking eastwards on Mill Road. It's almost impossible to see where the
branch followed the Frome Road from here to the
coal depot but expect it went under Mill Lane just by the white van. Mill
Lane has been considerably redesigned and began
closer to the van. With my thanks to the work's staff who allowed me to
look around the site.
While Tyning Colliery closed in 1909 Ludlow
Colliery continued to use the Tyning branch for tipping waste from 1933
until it closed in 1954
Latest News: The old mine buildings have been cleared out awaiting
demolition. The yard and sidings are also cleared of old machinery
and objects. The site is earmarked for redevelopment but don't know what
is to take it's place. I expect the track will also be removed. Another
loss of a historical site.
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To Ludlow Colliery to Mount Pleasant Coal Depot
The Dundee & Newtyle Rlwy Walks Opened in 1831 the route had three incline planes. The
first was from the terminal station on Ward Street, up the
Dundee Law, where
there was also a tunnel. The second was the Balbeuchley incline
at Rosemill and the third at Hatton that ran down to Newtyle
station. It was also the very first passenger train
service in Scotland. Worked by Horse over the levels until the first
steam engine was purchased in 1833. Came under the Caladonian
Railway with it's terminal moved to
Dundee West station. Passengers service ended in 1952 and the
line totally closed in the mid 60's. The inclines were by-passed in
the 1860's.
The Cromford & High Peak Incline
railway in Derbyshire has been luckier in having much of it's
buildings, including an Engine House preserved. This is what could have
happened with the D&N, indeed, should have happened with at
least one of the D&N inclines. However, the C&H gives an
excellent comparison of what the D&N would have looked
like, albeit the inclines were only single track.
Boddam To Ellon Branch (Walks) By Bill Reid. Ex GNSR branch line.
Dyce To Fraserburgh and Peterhead Walks. Ex GNSR
Bath To Wellow Rlwy Walks Ex Somerset & Dorset Rlwy.
The Test Valley Railway Walk. (New Mills To Hayfield).
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