Hi, Bob; there seems to be a lot of evidence that the "extension" refers to the dock branch. Would you agree? I used to spend time at Mollington St. around 1950. Just cleaning; never got to drive.
The object of the line to Birkenhead was probably to get access to the docks. If one company had sole access it would have been extremely lucrative,but in the end a joint running agreement was made. Around this time there was a lot of wheeler dealing where one railway agreed not to encroach on the other in return for running powers somewhere else. At the railwayana auction in Derby on saturday last were 2 smokebox numberplates from locos based at mollington St. at the end of steam. I was going to bid £450 for 42613 - It went for £720. The smokebox plate from 9F 92106 went for £920 The one I really want is 42616 - I'll pay a good sum for that if it ever comes up for sale. I've got rid of most of my small railway stuff, all I have now is a small collection of photos & leaflets,a Beyer Peacock worksplate from 1885 off a Mersey Railway tank loco, An invitation pack from the opening ceremony of the Mersey Railway in 1886 (minus the actual invitation which was obviously handed in)but which has a menu card & embossed cards in colour showing the gifts presented to the royal couple.I also have a book of specifications for rolling stock ,locomotives (hand written), fans, Hamilton Square station architect's specification etc. There is also a carbon copy of the letter from the Board of Trade giving permission for the railway to open subject to certain works being completed. The only other piece of railwayana I have is a 25 ton Southern Railway 'Queen Mary' brake van, which i'm restoring at Llangollen.
I suddenly realised that I had a map of 'Docks and Warehouses proposed to be made at Birkenhead' and dated 1844. Looking at it shows the line as 'Extension of Railway' and drawn from Grange Lane Station to the docks - I suppose that backs up the theory. I've attached some photos fo the map here.
Also, whilst on the Shrewbury - Birkenhead connection, I found another map I've got showing a proposed station of the 'Shrewsbury and Chester' railway dated 1850. Anyone know why the scheme foundered and how they proposed to get to Birkenhead (running powers over the Birkenhead - Chester?). I've put a photo of that map here too.
Sitting on a cornflake, waiting for the van to come.
Excellent stuff, Billy !! It looks as if the proposed site was near the Steam Packet Warf. I think that the Shrewsbury & Chester was 'absorbed' by the GWR running powers then would not be a problem. Of course they ended up at Woodside. They could have proposed this site as it was already solid ground by the looks of it. I like the bit on the title page "FRS, ETC", must have had a string of letters after his name !!
JM RENDEL James Meadows Rendel was quite an eminent civil engineer of his time. This link gives an idea what was going on in Birekenhead at the time Birkenhead history
The Birkenhead Extension - was the freight only line to the docks - which in itself possessed most of the engineering challenges faced on the Chester to Birkenhead section which had been open between Monks Ferry Station and Chester since 1840.
Engineering challenges included on this section - large tunnel under Waterloo Place - substantial road overbridges required at Marion Street, Bridge Street and Brook Street and a deep cutting from Argyle Street near Dacre Street all the way to Brook Street - all on a downward gradient of 1 in 100 from Green Lane - which doesn't sound much these days - but presented a stern challenge to early locos especially in the damp slippy tunnel section.
The line had been delayed by the failure of the initial Rendel 'Low Water Basin' scheme....
I've always understood the Birkenhead Extension lines to be the LNWR/GWR Joint goods lines operated from Blackpool Street Signal box (by the gas works) to the junctions with the MDHB lines (but not the Goods stations eg, Cathcart St, Edgerton Dock, Morpeth Dock. Page 21 of the "Section Appendix to the Working Timetables for the Chester and Birkenhead and Shrewsbury & Hereford Sections" Jan 1st 1933 (reprinted by Avon AngliA about 20 years ago) starts:- BIRKENHEAD EXTENSION Brake Power. Trips between Extension and Float and High Level, Grange Lane,- Except during bad weather the Joint shunting trucks supplied by the L.M.S Co. may be used as brake vans between the Extension, Float and High Level with a maximum load of 50 empty wagons or 35 loaded. Incidentally, the Chester and Birkenhead and the Shrewsbury and Hereford Joint lines of the LMSR and GWR were administered from Shrewsbury station which is most probably why the memorial is there.
