Coley Branch Line
| Coley Branch Line | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Type | Heavy rail |
| System | Great Western Railway |
| Status | Dismantled |
| Locale | South East England |
| Termini |
Coley Branch Junction[1] Reading Central Goods |
| Stations | 1 |
| Operation | |
| Opened | 1908 |
| Closed | 1983 |
| Operator(s) |
Great Western Railway (1908–1949) British Railways (1949–1983) |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 1 mile 61 chains (2.84 km) |
| Number of tracks | 1 |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
| Operating speed | 30 mph |
The Coley Branch Line (COY), also known as the Coley Goods Branch,[2] was a single-track branch of the Reading to Basingstoke Line, running 1 mile 61 chains (2.84 km)[3] from the Reading to Basingstoke line at Coley Branch Junction (adjacent to Southcote Junction)[1] to Reading Central Goods.[4]
History
The railway was authorised for construction by the Great Western Railway (Additional Powers) Act 1905[1] as a means to reduce goods traffic on the main line.[5] The line opened in 1908 allowing freight trains to reach Reading Central Goods depot.[6] After a reduction in demand, the line was closed in July 1983.[7] Since its closure, the route of the line has become a short walking route.[8][2]
Route
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After diverting south-eastwards from near Southcote Junction, the track was crossed by a brick and iron footbridge[9] adjacent to a signal post. The line then entered a cutting. Emerging from the cutting, the line traversed an embankment which raised it from the surrounding Kennet flood plains. A skew arch bridge took the line over the Holy Brook, after which a semaphore signal 618 yards (565 m) from the junction was situated.[9] A number of ditches and channels were culverted under the embankment, which reduced in gradient as the line entered Reading.[10] After passing under Berkeley Avenue, the line reached the depot and broke into numerous branches.[10] One branch continued north-east to Simonds Brewery alongside the Kennet.[10]
References
- 1 2 3 Maggs, Colin (2013). The Branch Lines of Berkshire. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 1445625571. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
- 1 2 Sid Beuchant (15 February 2010). "Lunchtime walks - 7" (PDF). NHS Berkshire West. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- ↑ "RailRef Line Codes GW". Signalling Record Society. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
- ↑ Matthews, Rupert (2006). Lost Railways of Berkshire. Newbury: Countryside Books. ISBN 1-85306-990-6.
- ↑ John Copsey, Chris Turner (Spring 2010). "Reading Central Goods Depot (Coley Branch)". Great Western Railway Journal 10 (74): 84–117. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- ↑ "Coley Park & Beyond - Rambling along the Coley branch line". Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- ↑ "70K Coley Park". 12 June 2000. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- ↑ Adrian Lawson (25 November 2011). "Rural Reading: Tiptoe through the mushrooms". Reading Post. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- 1 2 Rosier, Kevin. "Railway Rambles". coleypark.com. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
- 1 2 3 "OS County Series, Berkshire (1912), 1:2500". Old Maps. Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 23 March 2015.