History
The station was opened by the South Staffordshire Railway (SSR) on 1 February 1858 and was originally named Wyrley and Church Bridge; it was situated on SSR line between Walsall and Rugeley Town. The SSR was absorbed by the London and North Western Railway (LNWR) in 1967. The station was renamed Wyrley and Cheslyn Hay on 1 December 1912, and closed on 18 January 1965. The station was immortalised in 1964 in the song "Slow Train" by Flanders and Swann.
Besides Great Wyrley and Cheslyn Hay, the station served the Bridgetown area. Bridgetown is situated on the A5 next to Churchbridge. Churchbridge is so named because the bridge over the stream which defines Great Wyrley parish boundary (Wyrley Brook) on the Watling street (now the A5) at that point, used to be maintained by the Lichfield diocese. A path existed alongside the embankment between Bridgegtown and the station for passengers. The path is overgrown and impassable at its northern end but its existence caused the building of the footbridge over the M6toll alongside the railway bridge at Churchbridge. The remains of both platforms can still be seen. There used to be a goods line to the Gilpin's Foundry which left the main line just north of the station with a crossing next to Station Road railway bridge. The foundry used to be situated at the junction of the A5 and A34 at Churchbridge. There is now a housing estate on that site.
The station was replaced by Landywood railway station.
| Preceding station | Historical railways | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cannock |
London and North Western Railway |
Bloxwich |
||
Read more about this topic: Wyrley And Cheslyn Hay Railway Station
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