Coley Branch Line

Coley Branch Line

Bridge carrying the line over the Holy Brook

Bridge carrying the line over the Holy Brook
Overview
Type Heavy rail
System Great Western Railway
Status Dismantled
Locale South East England
Termini Coley Branch Junction[1]
Reading Central Goods
Stations 1
Operation
Opened 1908
Closed 1983
Operator(s) Great Western Railway (1908–1949)
British Railways (1949–1983)
Technical
Line length 1 mile 61 chains (2.84 km)
Number of tracks 1
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Operating speed 30 mph

The Coley Branch Line (COY), also known as the Coley Goods Branch,[2] was a single-track branch of the Reading to Basingstoke Line, running 1 mile 61 chains (2.84 km)[3] from the Reading to Basingstoke line at Coley Branch Junction (adjacent to Southcote Junction)[1] to Reading Central Goods.[4]

History

The railway was authorised for construction by the Great Western Railway (Additional Powers) Act 1905[1] as a means to reduce goods traffic on the main line.[5] The line opened in 1908 allowing freight trains to reach Reading Central Goods depot.[6] After a reduction in demand, the line was closed in July 1983.[7] Since its closure, the route of the line has become a short walking route.[8][2]

Route

After diverting south-eastwards from near Southcote Junction, the track was crossed by a brick and iron footbridge[9] adjacent to a signal post. The line then entered a cutting. Emerging from the cutting, the line traversed an embankment which raised it from the surrounding Kennet flood plains. A skew arch bridge took the line over the Holy Brook, after which a semaphore signal 618 yards (565 m) from the junction was situated.[9] A number of ditches and channels were culverted under the embankment, which reduced in gradient as the line entered Reading.[10] After passing under Berkeley Avenue, the line reached the depot and broke into numerous branches.[10] One branch continued north-east to Simonds Brewery alongside the Kennet.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Maggs, Colin (2013). The Branch Lines of Berkshire. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 1445625571. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  2. 1 2 Sid Beuchant (15 February 2010). "Lunchtime walks - 7" (PDF). NHS Berkshire West. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  3. ↑ "RailRef Line Codes GW". Signalling Record Society. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  4. ↑ Matthews, Rupert (2006). Lost Railways of Berkshire. Newbury: Countryside Books. ISBN 1-85306-990-6.
  5. ↑ John Copsey, Chris Turner (Spring 2010). "Reading Central Goods Depot (Coley Branch)". Great Western Railway Journal. 10 (74): 84–117. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  6. ↑ "Coley Park & Beyond - Rambling along the Coley branch line". Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  7. ↑ "70K Coley Park". 12 June 2000. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  8. ↑ Adrian Lawson (25 November 2011). "Rural Reading: Tiptoe through the mushrooms". Reading Post. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  9. 1 2 Rosier, Kevin. "Railway Rambles". coleypark.com. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  10. 1 2 3 "OS County Series, Berkshire (1912), 1:2500". Old Maps. Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
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