Geograph - photograph every grid square

The first part of the line to be built required the private Silverdale & Newcastle Railway, built in 1850 by ironmaster Ralph Sneyd, to become public. This was enabled by an Act of 1859 and passenger services from Stoke to Newcastle began in 1862. Silverdale was reached in May 1863.

Meanwhile, the Great Western Railway was planning to reach Manchester and in an effort to block this, the Market Drayton extension was completed in February 1870.
The last traffic on the line was coal from Apedale and Silverdale collieries, which ceased in December 1998 when the latter was closed.

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