South Staffordshire Railway Walk
{{Short description|Rail trail in England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
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| name = South Staffordshire Railway Walk
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| length = {{convert|5.5|mi|km}}
| location = Staffordshire, England
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| maintainer = Ranger Service of the South Staffordshire District Council
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The South Staffordshire Railway Walk is located in Staffordshire, England. It runs for five and a half miles (about 8.85 km) from Castlecroft to Wall Heath.[http://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/your_services/community_services/walking/south_staffordshire_railway.aspx South Staffordshire District Council - South Staffordshire Railway Walk] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100430152743/http://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/your_services/community_services/walking/south_staffordshire_railway.aspx |date=30 April 2010 }} It is a local nature reserve.{{cite web|url=http://www.lnr.naturalengland.org.uk/Special/lnr/lnr_details.asp?C=0&N=staffordshire&ID=1609 |title=South Staffordshire Railway Walk |series=Local Nature Reserves|publisher=Natural England}}{{cite web|url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=lnrIndex&query=REF_CODE%3D%271460419%27 |title=Map of South Staffordshire Railway Walk|series=Local Nature Reserves|publisher=Natural England}}
History
As the name suggests South Staffordshire Railway Walk was originally part of the Wombourne Branch Line built between 1912 and 1925 by the Great Western Railway Company. However it was not very successful and passenger services were withdrawn in 1932. In the aftermath of the D-Day landings in Normandy during The Second World War it was used to transport wounded allied soldiers to various hospitals in the area. It became part of the Western Region of British Railways in 1948 after the nationalisation of the railways.
The line was finally closed in 1965 under the Beeching Report after decline in traffic throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, with the last train running on 24 June 1965.[http://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=14874 South Staffordshire District Council - South Staffordshire Railway Walk History]
Walk
The South Staffordshire Railway Walk starts at Castlecroft and runs for five and a half miles [about 8.85 km] to Wall Heath passing through other villages such as Wombourne where the Railway Café is located en route. It has an all weather surface making it accessible to wheelchairs users, pushchairs and cyclists with free car parking located at Wombourne Station and Himley Station.[https://www.dogwalksnearme.co.uk/ South Staffordshire dog walks - Dog Walks Near Me][http://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/your_services/community_services/walking/south_staffordshire_railway.aspx South Staffordshire District Council - South Staffordshire Railway Walk] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100430152743/http://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/your_services/community_services/walking/south_staffordshire_railway.aspx |date=30 April 2010 }} The walk also forms part of the Smestow Valley Leisure Ride (which begins at Aldersley Leisure Village then via the former Tettenhall railway station) to Castlecroft until Wombourne Station.[http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/transport_streets/rights_way/cycling/routes/smestow_valley.htm Wolverhampton City Council - Smestow Valley Leisure Ride] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926235605/http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/transport_streets/rights_way/cycling/routes/smestow_valley.htm |date=26 September 2007 }}
References
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{{coord|52.6036|N|2.1515|W |format=dms |scale:5000_type:landmark_region:GB |display=title}}
Category:Footpaths in Staffordshire
Category:Rail trails in England
Category:Local nature reserves in Staffordshire
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