Monument record 15289/4 - Railway Cutting at Wheelock - North Staffordshire Railway, Sandbach Branch

<1> Christiansen, R & Miller, R W, 1971, The North Staffordshire Railway, p.229, 306 (Book). SCH9046.

The construction of the North Staffordshire Railway’s Sandbach branch was facilitated by the North Staffordshire Railway (Harecastle and Sandbach) Act 1846. Construction was authorised to begin on the 26th June 1846, with goods services beginning on the 21st January 1852. However, passenger services didn’t begin until the 3rd July 1893. Freight traffic continued over the line until 1964 and the line was finally closed and lifted in 1971.

<2> Jeuda B, 2012, The North Staffordshire Railway in LMS Days: Volume 2, p.34 (Book). SCH9047.

The short 6.5 mile line from Lawton Junction to Ettiley Heath was opened as a goods traffic only line in 1852 and extended to join the London and North Western Railway at Sandbach in 1866. The passenger service was withdrawn by the railway’s then operator, the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, from the 28th July 1930.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ7459, 1875-1876 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

This map depicts a railway cutting running for five hundred metres. Two bridges carry Hindheath Lane and Crewe Road across the cutting. A number of signal posts are depicted. Wheelock and Sandbach Station is located in and adjacent to the railway cutting (see CHER 15289/5).