Today I took some pictures on Shrewsbury station. On platform 3, which isn't much used, they've done some preservation work. One of the things is this commemorative plaque for those killed in the 1914-18 war. As you can see, there were quite a few from Wirral stations. The thing which puzzles me is the reference to "Birkenhead extension" Any ideas what that refers to? My only thought is that it might be the dock branch.
The other thing I saw, which used to be common on the railways, was the old stair treads; 1" square end grain teak.
You're both right about the steps; had them on all of the Mersey Railway I think and many other stations; extremely hard wearing & naturally rot proof owing to the natural oil content. You're right about the high proportion of Wirral names there. I don't know what area it covered, but at least as far South as Hereford and as far East as Wellington which isn't far from Shrewsbury. The line then ran through Gobowen, Chirk & Wrexham before reaching Chester. The only station name I don't recognise is Easton Court. (Found it; between Leominster & Tenbury Wells).
The floor of the sheds the Titanic was built in at Harland and Wolfe in Belfast had their floors made the same way. end on teak. When the sheds were demolished a few years ago, they were all dug out and taken to a local power station to be burnt!! I tried to get some thru my contacts in the demo company who had the contract but was too late!!
Interesting, Bert. Don't know the answer to that; doesn't say on the plaque. If you have the time & the inclination it might be interesting to look up some of the others.
I recall Shrewsbury station well,including the memorial, using it 6 times a year at the beginning and end of term. The Birkenhead extention I think refers to the line from Chester General to Birkenhead. The original line went to Holyhead and the extention was built later. Can't be 100% of this, no doubt the railway buffs will have the answer
On the Birkenhead Extension question, i lean towards Chris's thoughts and think its the docks line, all other Birkenhead stations had names and i don't recall ever reading or hearing anything called (extension). On the memorial they have made it clear where and not just Birkenhead, am i right in thinking that all other places named must have had only one station at that period of time.
God help us, Come yourself, Don't send Jesus, This is no place for children.
Just a thought but this is from Disused Railways bit on the old West Kirby station.
"West Kirby’s joint station was opened on the 19th April 1886 as the northern terminus station on the Great Western Railway (GWR) and London North Western Railway’s (LNWR) extension to their 1866 branch line from Hooton to Parkgate as part of their Birkenhead Joint Railway. The extension ran from Parkgate through Heswall, Thurstaston and Caldy terminating at West Kirby."
According to G Holt's 'A regional history of the railways of Great Britain', the Birkenhead Extension Railway was the line from Birkenhead Town station to Woodside.
@uptoncx. Interesting about the naming of the line into Woodside; the problem with that being the reference is that the plaque also specifically names Woodside & that surely by 1919, over 70 years after the opening of the tunnel to Woodside, the name "extension" would no longer be in use.
On searching for "Birkenhead extension" I came up with this.
There's a reference on page 2, but without any details.
@masterbun. In fact the Chester to Birkenhead line (1840) pre-dates the Chester to Holyhead line (1850) & is pretty much contemporary with the Chester to Crewe line.
