The novelist Arnold Bennett made use of the Potteries loop line that during the late 19th century provided a much needed form of transport between the towns. The loop line emanated at Stoke Station.

"In a second-class compartment of the Loop Line train with Sophia and Fossette opposite to her, Constance had leisure to 'take in' Sophia. "Well I never!" cried Sophia, suddenly. She had glanced out of the window and had seen two camels and an elephant in a field close to the line, amid manufactories and warehouses and advertisements of soap. "Oh!" said Constance. "That's Barnum's, you know. Hey have what they call a central depot here, because it's the middle of England." Constance spoke proudly.

Sophia hit on the excellent idea of noting all the buildings that were new to her and all the landmarks that she remembered. It was surprising how little the district had altered. "Same smoke!" said Sophia. "Same smoke!" Constance agreed. "It's even worse" said Sophia. As the train puffed under Trafalgar Road, Constance pointed to a new station that was being built there, to be called 'Trafalgar Road' station. " Won't it be strange?" she said, accustomed to the eternal sequence of Loop Line stations - Turnhill, Bursley, Bleakridge, Hanbridge, Cauldon, Knype Trent Vale and Longshaw. A 'Trafalgar Road' inserting itself between Bleakridge and Handbridge seemed to her excessively curious. She indicated the glories of Bursley Park, as the train slackened for Bursley, with modesty. "

The Old Wives' Tale - A. Bennett

line of the North Staffordshire Railway
the Potteries Loop Line is shown in blue

Hanley station on the Potteries Loop Line

Burslem station on the Potteries Loop Line

photos: Trevor Ford - taken in the early 1960's not long after the line closed 

previous: inauguration of the loop line