Holywell branch line
The Holywell branch line was a railway branch line in Flintshire, North Wales, that connected Holywell with the North Wales Coast Line at Holywell Junction. Holywell had large reserves of mineral resources and the branch line was built originally as a mineral railway. When the local industry declined, the line fell into disuse, but it was reopened as a tourist passenger line in 1912. Road competition made the railway non-viable, which caused the line to be closed in 1954.
Origin
The Chester and [Holyhead Railway] built a line along the North Wales Coast; the objective was to connect the port of Holyhead with London, by connecting with other railway companies. This would enable the Irish mail, chiefly at the time government dispatches, to be conveyed.The C&HR opened its line as far west as Bangor in 1848 and it opened the entire line throughout, after completion of the Britannia Tubular Bridge in 1850. A station named Holywell was opened on the eastern part of the line on 1 May 1848; however, the town it served was miles away, at an elevation of 550 feet.
Holywell was significant as there were extensive deposits of metal ores, coal and limestone, which together enabled the production of metals. Textiles were also produced locally. By 1850, the local industry had become of prime importance. Holywell had used a small harbour as its main export route, with a tramway to reach it from the town.
Construction
On 29 July 1864, the Holywell Railway was authorised by Parliament; it was to be two miles in length, running from the town to a new harbour and crossing the Chester to Holyhead line by a bridge, instead of the former level crossing.The first turf was cut with much ceremony in May 1867, and by August 1869 the line was completed and work was being carried out to complete the goods station and the passenger station, however in June 1870 it was reported that while the line was completed it remained 'inactive'. There were aspirations that it would be continued to Mold, but in the end the branch never opened for traffic and the company failed. In 1875 it was reported that the whole of the sewage of the greater part of the town of Holywell is becoming lodged in the cutting for the unused Holywell Railway.
Acquisition by the LNWR and eventual opening for traffic
In December 1892 the London and [North Western Railway] company sumbitted plans to purchase the old line built by the Holywell Railway Company "which, though constructed thiry years ago, has never been used". Whatever the motivation was for the purchase, nothing was done with the acquired railway for some time, although conversion to an electric tramway in the 20th century was considered. The LNWR had itself operated road omnibuses between Holywell main line station and the town from 11 October 1905; the commercial success of that service encouraged the LNWR to redevelop the railway.The London and [North Western Railway Act 1906] and the London and North Western Railway Act 1907 permitted the regeneration and a connecting spur to the Chester–Holyhead main line. Although the new line was only miles in extent, it was not until 1 July 1912 that the reopening to passengers and freight took place.
The ruling gradient was 1 in 27; there was a single intermediate station called St Winifride's. Holywell, on the main line, was redesignated Holywell Junction. The Holywell terminus was named Holywell Town.
Stations
- . Station on the main line was named Holywell; opened 1 May 1848; renamed Holywell Junction in 1912; closed 14 February 1966
- . Opened 1 July 1912; closed 6 September 1954
- . Opened 1 July 1912; closed 6 September 1954.
Service
The passenger rolling stock consisted of two former picnic saloons, converted to form an auto-train.At first, there were sixteen passenger train journeys each way on weekdays; this was increased to 29 each way before 1939. The summer 1938 Bradshaw shows 26 Monday to Friday departures up the branch, from 06:25 to 23:30. A similar number ran on Saturdays.