Oswestry station

Image: © Richard Hoare Taken: 29 Aug 2017

A Grade II listed building. The station opened in 1849 with a single line from Gobowen under GWR but subsequently merged with the Cambrian Railway and formed a new station, hence what we find today. At one time it boasted six platforms and adjacent buildings on the opposite side of the tracks, the Cambrian Railway later built its own railway works. Its construction of 22 locomotive roads and an 11 carriage and wagon works sidings, hastened Oswestry's boom as a railway town. In 1963, the station was reallocated to become part of the London Midland Region. In the review under the Beeching Axe the Cambrian Railways line from Whitchurch to Welshpool was decreed surplus to demands, and listed for closure. On 18 January 1965, passenger services to Welshpool and Whitchurch finished, and the locomotive shed closed. A shuttle service to Gobowen operated by Diesel Multiple Units continued until 7 November 1966 when both the station closed to passengers and the works closed. The single railway track still runs through the station, and is the subject of a plan by Cambrian Heritage Railways (CHR) to reopen the line between Oswestry and Llanyblodwel, and eventually to Gobowen to reconnect with the mainline. CHR has agreed leases with Shropshire County Council for an 8.5-mile (13.7 km) section of the Oswestry and Newtown Railway between Gobowen and Blodwel. The lease runs for 50 years from 2014. Work continues. Freight services continued to run until 1971, but following this much of the station was demolished, to leave only the main building. A single line from Gobowen through the station to Llanyblodwel quarry was used by freight trains until 1988 but since closure the track has remained in place. I am obliged to Cambrian Heritage Railways http://www.cambrianrailways.com/ on this a non-operating day and their volunteers, for their time in allowing me to explore and provide some fascinating detail. http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/o/oswestry/

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