Notes: In 1817 a branch of the Grand Junction Canal was cut from
the main line at Great Linford to Newport Pagnell. The total length
was one and a quarter miles rising through seven locks.
The first suggestion of building a railway line to Newport Pagnell
came in 1845 but the venture failed to attract sufficient capital.
The Newport Pagnell Railway Act was passed in 1863 and the following
year the Newport Railway Company bought the short branch canal
with the intention of using the route for their new railway line
into Newport Pagnell. The line did exactly follow the canal route
which hugged the contours of the surrounding land. The intention
was to continue the line on to the Market town of Olney and powers
were granted for this extension in 1865 with a further extension
to join the Northampton-Peterborough line at Wellingborough. The
extensions beyond Newport Pagnell were never built with powers
lapsing in 1871 although some work had been undertaken.
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The line was complete by 30th September 1865 when the first
locomotive traversed the line. The next year the railway
opened for goods, cattle and parcel traffic and on 2nd September
1867, there was the ceremonial opening of the line for passengers.
There were two intermediate stations at Bradwell and Great
Linford. The lines main regular passengers were employees
of the Railway Works at Wolverton.
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The line was complete by 30th September 1865 when the first locomotive
traversed the line. The next year the railway opened for goods,
cattle and parcel traffic and on 2nd September 1867, there was
the ceremonial opening of the line for passengers. There were
two intermediate stations at Bradwell and Great Linford. The lines
main regular passengers were employees of the Railway Works at
Wolverton.
In 1875 the line was taken over by the London & North Western
Railway who had provided the service from the opening.
As with many rural lines the development of road transport gradually
began to erode passenger numbers. The first motor bus service
was in the country was introduced between Newport Pagnell and
Olney in 1898 and the popularity of the motor car through the
20th century eventually spelled the end for the line.
The last passenger train ran on 7th September 1964. Goods traffic
continued for three years until final closure on 22nd May 1967.
The track was lifted later the same year.
The route is now part of the Milton Keynes 'Redway' cycle way
network. The platforms at Great Linford and Bradwell survive but
the only evidence in Newport Pagnell is the post of the starting
signal, now at the beginning of the Redway between allotments.
With the expansion of Milton Keynes changing what was a rural
area into well populated sprawl there have been suggestions in
recent years that the line should be reinstated.
See also The
Branch Line - Nobby Newport web site
To see the other
stations on the Newport Pagnell branch line click on the station
name: Great Linford
& Newport Pagnell
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