The Railways
The railways in which Stephens became involved, and which became operational, were:
| Name | Year Opened | Year Closed | Passenger services start | Passenger services end | Gauge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashover Light Railway | 1924 | 1950 | 1924 | 1926 | 1 ft 11 1⁄2 in (597 mm) | Built primarily to carry stone |
| Burry Port and Gwendraeth Valley Railway | 1859 | 1996 | 1913 | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Originally coal-carrying, adapted for passenger traffic by Stephens; absorbed by Great Western Railway 1923 |
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| Cranbrook and Paddock Wood Railway | 1892 | 1961 | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Worked, and finally absorbed by the South Eastern Railway in 1900. Stephen's first assignment following his training. Also known as the Hawkhurst Branch Line |
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| Edge Hill Light Railway | 1919 | 1925 | none | none | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Ironstone-carrying; included a 1 in 6 cable-worked incline; never formally opened |
| East Kent Light Railway | 1911 | 1980s | 1916 | 1948 | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | built to serve the Kent Coalfield; branch to Richborough; part now a heritage railway |
| Ffestiniog Railway | 1832 | Open | 1 ft 11 1⁄2 in (597 mm) | Managed by Stephens c1923-1931, now a heritage railway | ||
| Isle of Wight Central Railway | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Stephens was Engineer and Locomotive Superintendent for a brief period in 1911. | ||||
| Kent and East Sussex Railway and Rother Valley Railway |
1900 | 1961 | 1900 | 1954 | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Now a heritage railway |
| North Devon and Cornwall Junction Light Railway | 1925 | 1982 | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Originally a 3 ft (914 mm) china-clay carrier; Stephens engineered its reconstruction and extension; operated by Southern Railway at outset, although remaining an independent company until nationalisation | ||
| Plymouth, Devonport and South Western Junction Railway | 1890 | 1966 (part) | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Built by an independent company but operated by the London and South Western Railway as part of its main line The branch from Bere Alston to Callington was engineered by Stephens and opened in 1908 operating as an independent company from the main line which was fully worked by the London & South Western Railway section to Gunnislake is still operating |
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| Rye and Camber Tramway | 1895 | 1939 | 3 ft (914 mm) | Used intermittently by military during World War II and never reopened | ||
| Sheppey Light Railway | 1896 | 1950 | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Engineered by Stephens but operated from the outset by the South Eastern and Chatham Railway ownership and control taken over by South Eastern and Chatham Railway in 1905 |
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| Shropshire and Montgomeryshire Railway (S&MR) | 1866 | 1960 | 1933 | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Reconstructed from the long-closed Potteries, Shrewsbury and North Wales Railway in 1911. Regular passenger services ceased 1933. Taken over for military use during WWII and remained under military control until closure. |
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| Snailbeach District Railways | 1877 | 1962 | 2 ft 3 3⁄4 in (705 mm) | Lead- and later stone-carrying railway | ||
| Welsh Highland Railway | 1923 | 1936 | 1 ft 11 1⁄2 in (597 mm) | Incorporating the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railway (opened 1877). Rebuilt 1997 - 2011 as a heritage line. |
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| West Sussex Railway | 1897 | 1935 | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | The "Hundred of Manhood and Selsey Tramway" | ||
| Weston, Clevedon and Portishead Railway | 1897 | 1940 | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Extension opened 1907 |
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Famous quotes containing the word railways:
“There is nothing in machinery, there is nothing in embankments and railways and iron bridges and engineering devices to oblige them to be ugly. Ugliness is the measure of imperfection.”
—H.G. (Herbert George)