Rowrah and Kelton Fell Railway

The Rowrah and Kelton Fell Railway was a standard gauge mineral railway in Cumberland, England, which was operated by William Baird and Company of Glasgow, Scotland. It opened in 1877 and closed in 1926.[1]

All four routes in to and out of Rowrah are clearly shown on this map dated 1904 and 1914

Route

The line ran south from Rowrah to Sheriff Gate where it branched into three. One line ran south-west to Salter Hall Quarry; a second ran south to Stockhow; a third ran east to Kirkland, for Bankstead mine. The Kirkland branch continued east to Kelton Fell and Knockmurton mines. There were junctions with both the Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway and the Cleator and Workington Junction Railway near Rowrah.[2][3]

Locomotives
Name Wheels Builder Notes
? 0-6-0ST ? ex-Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway
Salter 0-4-0ST Manning Wardle
Wyndham 0-6-0ST Manning Wardle
Dinah 0-6-0ST Manning Wardle
Derwent 0-6-0ST Manning Wardle Purchased 1925 from Moor Row Iron Mines

Closure

Knockmurton mine closed about 1920; Bankstead mine closed 1921; Salter Hall quarry and the railway closed 1926. The track was lifted in 1934.

See also

References
  1. Kidner, R.W. (1961). Mineral Railways. The Oakwood Press. p. 20.
  2. http://www.cumbria-railways.co.uk/rowrah_kelton_railway.html
  3. McGowan Gradon 2004, pp. 21-5.

Sources
  • McGowan Gradon, W. (2004) [1952]. The Track of the Ironmasters: A History of the Cleator and Workington Junction Railway. Grange-over-Sands: Cumbrian Railways Association. ISBN 0-9540232-2-6.

Further reading
  • McEwan, J.F.; Bowtell, Harold D. (August 1983). Peascod, Michael (ed.). "Baird's Lines in Cumberland". Cumbrian Railways Association Journal. Pinner: Cumbrian Railways Association. 2 (15).
  • McGowan Gradon, W. (March 1952). "The Rowrah & Kelton Fell Mineral Railway". The Railway Magazine. London: Tothill Press Limited. 98 (611).


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