GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Knowle & Dorridge: gwrkd1594

Three arch brick over bridge at Chessett’s Wood in the process of being modified by the replacement of one of the side arches

This Birmingham and Oxford Junction Railway three arch brick over bridge at Chessett’s Wood between Knowle & Dorridge and Lapworth stations is in the process of being modified by the replacement of one of the side arches with a new one capable of accommodating the two additional tracks. The wooden former on which the brick arch was supported during its construction is still in situ and the contractor’s 60cm gauge light railway is also visible. The contractor Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Co Ltd, employed thirteen 4 wheel 20hp petrol powered locomotives all built by Motor Rail Ltd (Simplex Works, Bedford). Two were nearly new having been built in 1930, but most of the locomotives appear to be secondhand and reconditioned by Motor Rail Ltd, having worked for other contractor companies previously.

Robert Ferris

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