The Cleator & Workington Junction Railway was incorporated in 1876 and a Bill presented to Parliament in the same year. Construction began shortly after and the line between Workington and Cleator Moor was opened in 1879. The line continued northwards from Workington to a junction with the London & North Western Railway at Siddick, approximately two miles away. The principal station and company headquarters were in Central Square, Workington and the station soon became known as Workington Central. A second main line was built from a junction on the C&WJR main line at Calva Junction to Linefoot Junction, where it joined the Maryport and Carlisle Railway. This section was known as the Northern Extension. Several branch lines were built including that to Rowrah of which a short 300 yard section remained in use at Rowrah as a backshunt until 1978. To the people of West Cumberland the line became affectionately known as the "Track of the Ironmasters." The C&WJR never ran its own services on the main lines: this was done on their behalf by the Furness Railway. In later years the C&WJR purchased its own engines to work its branch lines. At the railway grouping of 1923, the line was incorporated into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway network. The Northern Extension section that served the Broughton Moor Armaments Depot closed on 4 June 1992.
Accidents and incidents
On 16 February 1900, an embankment was washed away at Moss Bay, Workington. A freight train on the Moss bay Branch was derailed with the locomotive coming to rest on its side.
The 0-6-0ST locomotive was rescued shortly after the incident and was returned to traffic.
Route
Main line
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Northern extension
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Rowrah line
The Rowrah Line was branch line that left the mainline south of, accessing the mines and quarries near Rowrah. This branch line crossed over the main line from Workington to Cleator Moor to continue to Rowrah. The Company built a single road engine shed near the junction to house a C&WJR locomotive that worked the line. The much altered building exists today as an agricultural store.
Cleator & Workington Junction Railway locomotives
All the nameplates used on this company's locomotives were named after residences of C&WJR company directors. Until recently there was uncertainty about the name of No. 2 but the personal notebook of the Company Accountant shows otherwise. The engine never ran in service with the name "Ennerdale"
Notes on the Locomotives The first two locomotives were outside cylinder0-4-0 tank engines. They proved not to be powerful enough for the severe inclines so engines 3 to 10 were 0-6-0 inside cylinder saddle tanks from a wide range of builders. Some poorly researched historical sources often get this fact wrong and describe the larger saddle tank engines as outside cylinder engines.
An outside cylinder 0-4-0T. Built in 1894 by Fletcher Jennings Ltd for C&WJR. Builders No. 187. Nameplates carried:Brigham Hill and Rothersyke Renumbered: No known renumbering of this engine. Disposal: To West Stanley Colliery Coy. County Durham in 1897
No.2, Unnamed for fifteen years, then Rothersyke an outside cylinder 0-4-0ST. Built circa 1875 by Barclay & Co. Built originally for Ward, Ross & Liddlelow, railway contractors to the C&WJR. No.2 was purchased second hand in 1882. No.2 was originally named Ennerdale but the nameplates were removed after acquisition by the C&WJR on the order of the Managing Director. One unverified source says that the name "Ennerdale" was only painted upon the engine and when it was purchased by the C&WJR the name "Ennerdale" was painted over on authority of the Board of Directors.
Nameplates Carried: None from 1882 to 1897. The redundant plates from engine No.1 Rothersyke were fitted when it was decided to sell the engine. Renumbered: No known renumbering of this engine. Disposal: To SD Coasdell of Workington in July 1898 for £150.
No.3, South Lodge an inside cylinder 0-6-0ST of 1884, built by Robert Stephenson and Company for the C&WJR. Builders No. 2553. The saddle tank did not cover the smokebox.
Nameplates carried:South Lodge. Renumbered: No known renumbering of this engine. Disposal: To J.F. Wake Ltd., Dealers, Darlington, County Durham, July 1920
No.4, Harecroft an inside cylinder 0-6-0ST built in 1885 by the Lowca Engineering Co. Ltd. for the C&WJR. Builders No. 196. Similar in appearance to No.3 and the saddle tank did not cover the smokebox.
Nameplates carried: Harecroft. Renumbered: After disposal by new owner to 46 Disposal: Withdrawn September 1915 and sold to Workington Iron & Steel Company.
No.5, Moresby Hall an inside cylinder 0-6-0ST built in 1890 by Robert Stephenson and Company for the C&WJR. Builders No. 2692. The saddle tank did not cover the smokebox.
Nameplates carried:Moresby Hall. Renumbered: No known renumbering of this engine. Disposal: Withdrawn and scrapped 1919.
No.6, Brigham Hall an inside cylinder 0-6-0ST built in 1894 by Robert Stephenson and Company for the C&WJR. Builders No. 2813. The saddle tank did not cover the smokebox.
Nameplates carried:Brigham Hall. Renumbered: Allocated 11564 by the LMS in 1923 after the grouping, but not known if it was repainted into LMS colours. Disposal: Withdrawn 11/12/1926 and scrapped by the LM&SR
No.7, Ponsonby Hall an inside cylinder 0-6-0ST built in 1896 by Robert Stephenson and Company for the C&WJR. Builders No. 2846. The saddle tank did not cover the smokebox.
Nameplates carried: Ponsonby Hall. Renumbered: Allocated 11565 by the LMS in 1923 after the grouping, but not known if it was repainted into LMS colours. Disposal: Withdrawn 18/12/1926 and scrapped by the LM&SR
No.8, Hutton Hall an inside cylinder 0-6-0ST built in 1907 by Peckett and Sons for the C&WJR. Builders No. 1134.
Nameplates carried: Hutton Hall Renumbered: Allocated 11566 by the LMS in 1923 after the grouping, and repainted into early LMS black goods livery. Disposal: Withdrawn 3/12/1927 and scrapped by the LM&SR
No.9 Millgrove an inside cylinder 0-6-0ST built in 1919 by Peckett and Sons for the C&WJR. Builders No. 1340.
Nameplates carried: Millgrove Renumbered: Allocated 11567 by the LMS in 1923 after the grouping, and repainted into early LMS black goods livery. Disposal: Withdrawn 5/12/1928 and scrapped by the LM&SR
No.10 Skiddaw Lodge an inside cylinder 0-6-0ST built in 1920 by Hudswell Clarke for the C&WJR. Builders No. 1400.
Nameplates carried: Skiddaw Lodge. Renumbered: Allocated No. 11568 by the LMS in 1923 after the grouping, and repainted into early LMS black goods livery. Disposal: Withdrawn 1932 by LM&SR and sold to Hartley Main CollieriesNorthumberland, via Robert Frazer & Sons Ltd., Hebburn, County Durham.
