Kidsgrove

Heathcote Street - Google Maps 2008
the route of the loop line can be seen crossing Heathcote Street

the route of the loop line from Heathcoate Street towards the West Coast Main line 

in the opposite direction - from Heathcoate Street towards Market Street Halt

Birchenwood Way and Country Park - running alongside the coal and iron works

Birchenwood Tunnel
photo: © Renown - 1976
 

One of the most unusual features of the North Staffordshire Railway's Potteries Loop Line was Birchenwood Tunnel. Although only short, It was built to accommodate triple track.

The line as built from Kidsgrove Liverpool Road was originally a three line affair, double track for the NSR, and a 'third line' as it was known running parallel which was an industrial railway owned by the factory and mining companies. Early in the 20th Century, with a tail off in traffic and hastened by a landslide the formation was converted to two lines, though only a single line was now in the ownership of the main line company.

This shot looking downhill towards Kidsgrove shows the single remaining line in 1976 slewed to the centre of the formation and the spur below the tunnel which once provided an entry point to the Birchenwood Complex, removed.

Birchenwood Tunnel - 2008

In 2008, it is possible to walk through this tunnel as it is now part of a public footpath... as indeed is most of 'The Loop Line' 

Birchenwood Way

This photo shows the successful reclamation and greening of what was a heavily mined and industrialised area.