STONEHOUSE TO NAILSWORTH AND STROUD (Midland Railway)
11th March 2006

Opened by the Nailsworth Railway in 1867 this Gloucestershire branch line has become part of the Midland Railway network within a year. Intermediate stations were provided at Ryeford, Dudbridge and Woodchester. The short branch from Dudbridge to Stroud (Wallbridge) was opened in 1885. Passenger traffic ceased in 1947 but the line remained open for freight until 1966. Motive power in the latter years consisted mainly of BR Standard Class 2 2-6-0s and Swindon D95xx diesel hydraulics. Much of the line was converted into a cycle path in the 1980s.
Engineer's Line Reference: NAI

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Stonehouse Bristol Road. The station site looking south. The goods yard was in the foreground and the former station house is visible in the background. The Nailsworth branch diverged to the left in the foreground. 27th May 1990. OS: SO799056
Stonehouse Bristol Road. The station site looking south. The goods yard was in the foreground and the former station house is visible in the background. The Nailsworth branch diverged to the left in the foreground. 27th May 1990. OS: SO799056
 Stonehouse Bristol Road. The station house which now serves as offices. 26th April 2006. OS: SO798054
Stonehouse Bristol Road. The station house which now serves as offices. 26th April 2006. OS: SO798054
 Stonehouse Bristol Road. The trackbed looking towards the junction from the site of the branch platform. 26th April 2006. OS: SO799054
Stonehouse Bristol Road. The trackbed looking towards the junction from the site of the branch platform. 26th April 2006. OS: SO799054
 Stonehouse Bristol Road. The stone base of the former timber building on the branch platform. 18th April 1991. OS: SO799054
Stonehouse Bristol Road. The stone base of the former timber building on the branch platform. 18th April 1991. OS: SO799054
Stonehouse Bristol Road. Looking towards Nailsworth from the branch platform. Beyond the fence in the background a new housing development has been constructed on the trackbed. 26th April 2006. OS: SO799054
Stonehouse Bristol Road. Looking towards Nailsworth from the branch platform. Beyond the fence in the background a new housing development has been constructed on the trackbed. 26th April 2006. OS: SO799054
 Looking back towards the branch platform from the housing development. 26th April 2006. OS: SO799054
Looking back towards the branch platform from the housing development. 26th April 2006. OS: SO799054
 Looking in the opposite direction from the same spot. Beyond the fence in the background the trackbed is extant. 26th April 2006. OS: SO799054
Looking in the opposite direction from the same spot. Beyond the fence in the background the trackbed is extant. 26th April 2006. OS: SO799054
 The cutting beyond Bristol Road station looking towards Nailsworth. 26th April 2006. OS: SO800053
The cutting beyond Bristol Road station looking towards Nailsworth. 26th April 2006. OS: SO800053
Looking back towards Bristol Road station from footbridge 2. 26th April 2006. OS: SO801052
Looking back towards Bristol Road station from footbridge 2. 26th April 2006. OS: SO801052
 Although the abutments of footbridge 2 remain the cast iron span has been replaced by an embankment. 26th April 2006. OS: SO801052
Although the abutments of footbridge 2 remain the cast iron span has been replaced by an embankment. 26th April 2006. OS: SO801052
 Looking in the opposite direction from footbridge 2. Note the flooded trackbed. 26th April 2006. OS: SO801052
Looking in the opposite direction from footbridge 2. Note the flooded trackbed. 26th April 2006. OS: SO801052
 Looking towards Nailsworth from bridge 3, a cast iron structure that carried the A419 Bristol Road over the line. The road has been diverted to run over the infilled cutting to the west. 26th April 2006. OS: SO801051
Looking towards Nailsworth from bridge 3, a cast iron structure that carried the A419 Bristol Road over the line. The road has been diverted to run over the infilled cutting to the west. 26th April 2006. OS: SO801051
Looking back towards bridge 3 from the diverted road. 26th April 2006. OS: SO801051
Looking back towards bridge 3 from the diverted road. 26th April 2006. OS: SO801051
 The line crossed a minor road in Stonehouse by the Ship Inn. On 1st July 1991 the crossing gateposts were extant. Both the level crossing site and the pub have since disappeared. OS: SO804048
The line crossed a minor road in Stonehouse by the Ship Inn. On 1st July 1991 the crossing gateposts were extant. Both the level crossing site and the pub have since disappeared. OS: SO804048
 Looking back towards the Brushworks and Ship Inn crossings from the west. This section of trackbed is now a foot and cycle path. 26th April 2006. OS: SO808048
Looking back towards the Brushworks and Ship Inn crossings from the west. This section of trackbed is now a foot and cycle path. 26th April 2006. OS: SO808048
 Looking east from near the canal bridge. 26th April 2006. OS: SO808047
Looking east from near the canal bridge. 26th April 2006. OS: SO808047
The skew bridge (4) over the Stroudwater Canal. This concrete approach span on the western side was constructed in the final year the branch was open after the original timber span was damaged by fire. 26th April 2006. OS: SO809047
The skew bridge (4) over the Stroudwater Canal. This concrete approach span on the western side was constructed in the final year the branch was open after the original timber span was damaged by fire. 26th April 2006. OS: SO809047
 Bridge 4 from canal level. It was designed by James Ferrabee. 26th April 2006. OS: SO809047
Bridge 4 from canal level. It was designed by James Ferrabee. 26th April 2006. OS: SO809047
 Beneath the bridge showing the unusual arrangement of the piers made necessary by the oblique angle of the span. 26th April 2006. OS: SO809047
Beneath the bridge showing the unusual arrangement of the piers made necessary by the oblique angle of the span. 26th April 2006. OS: SO809047
 The bridge seen from the adjacent road bridge. The western abutment on the left was built to double track width. 26th April 2006. OS: SO809047
The bridge seen from the adjacent road bridge. The western abutment on the left was built to double track width. 26th April 2006. OS: SO809047
Looking in the Nailsworth direction from above the bridge. In the distance the cycle track comes to an end and the A419 uses the formation once again. 26th April 2006. OS: SO809047
Looking in the Nailsworth direction from above the bridge. In the distance the cycle track comes to an end and the A419 uses the formation once again. 26th April 2006. OS: SO809047
 Looking back towards the canal bridge from the end of the cycle path. 26th April 2006. OS: SO809047
Looking back towards the canal bridge from the end of the cycle path. 26th April 2006. OS: SO809047
 The top of the northern parapet of an occupation bridge survives on the section used by the A419. 26th April 2006. OS: SO809046
The top of the northern parapet of an occupation bridge survives on the section used by the A419. 26th April 2006. OS: SO809046
 Ryeford. The partially constructed A419 Ebley Bypass looking towards Ryeford station with the road overbridge being demolished. 1994. OS: SO813045
Ryeford. The partially constructed A419 Ebley Bypass looking towards Ryeford station with the road overbridge being demolished. 1994. OS: SO813045
Ryeford. The station site looking towards Nailsworth. The timber goods shed survived until the early 1980s and the platform edge was visible up until the A419 was constructed in the 1990s. 26th April 2006. OS: SO813045
Ryeford. The station site looking towards Nailsworth. The timber goods shed survived until the early 1980s and the platform edge was visible up until the A419 was constructed in the 1990s. 26th April 2006. OS: SO813045
 Surviving bridge west of Dudbridge. 6th April 2007. OS: SO831045 (Picture courtesy of Pete Dainty).
Surviving bridge west of Dudbridge. 6th April 2007. OS: SO831045 (Picture courtesy of Pete Dainty).
 Dudbridge. The station site looking towards Nailsworth. On the right is the remains of the Stonehouse-bound platform. The road bridge in the background has been lowered and replaced with a pipe tunnel. July 1991. OS: SO833044
Dudbridge. The station site looking towards Nailsworth. On the right is the remains of the Stonehouse-bound platform. The road bridge in the background has been lowered and replaced with a pipe tunnel. July 1991. OS: SO833044
 Dudbridge. Looking towards Nailsworth with the site of the station building on the left and the remains of the other platform on the right. July 1991. OS: SO833044
Dudbridge. Looking towards Nailsworth with the site of the station building on the left and the remains of the other platform on the right. July 1991. OS: SO833044
Dudbridge. The recess in the blue brick retaining wall on the Stonehouse-bound platform which once housed a waiting room. July 1991. OS: SO833044
Dudbridge. The recess in the blue brick retaining wall on the Stonehouse-bound platform which once housed a waiting room. July 1991. OS: SO833044
 Dudbridge. The Stonehouse-bound platform looking towards Stonehouse. July 1991. OS: SO833044
Dudbridge. The Stonehouse-bound platform looking towards Stonehouse. July 1991. OS: SO833044
 47308 at Dudbridge on 7th July 1963. (Picture courtesy of Pete Dainty).
47308 at Dudbridge on 7th July 1963. (Picture courtesy of Pete Dainty).
 Dudbridge. The Stonehouse end of the station. July 1991. OS: SO833044
Dudbridge. The Stonehouse end of the station. July 1991. OS: SO833044
Dudbridge. The former goods yard platforms shortly before they were swept away. July 1991. OS: SO833044
Dudbridge. The former goods yard platforms shortly before they were swept away. July 1991. OS: SO833044
 Dudbridge. Looking towards the platforms from within the Armco tunnel that replaced the road overbridge, July 1991. OS: SO833044
Dudbridge. Looking towards the platforms from within the Armco tunnel that replaced the road overbridge, July 1991. OS: SO833044
 The site of Dudbridge junction, just beyond the station. The Stroud branch diverged to the right. July 1991. OS: SO835045
The site of Dudbridge junction, just beyond the station. The Stroud branch diverged to the right. July 1991. OS: SO835045
 Looking back towards the station from Dudbridge Junction. July 1991. OS: SO835045
Looking back towards the station from Dudbridge Junction. July 1991. OS: SO835045
Dudbridge Junction with the Armco tunnel in the background. 26th February 2005. (Photo: Patrick Marks)
Dudbridge Junction with the Armco tunnel in the background. 26th February 2005. (Photo: Patrick Marks)
 Stroud Branch. Bridge 7 carrying the A46, looking towards Wallbridge with bridge 8 visible beyond. 26th February 2006. OS: SP837044. (Photo: Patrick Marks)
Stroud Branch. Bridge 7 carrying the A46, looking towards Wallbridge with bridge 8 visible beyond. 26th February 2006. OS: SP837044. (Photo: Patrick Marks)
 Stroud Branch. The central section of the viaduct on the approach to Stroud Wallbridge survives as business units. 26th April 2006. OS: SO847050
Stroud Branch. The central section of the viaduct on the approach to Stroud Wallbridge survives as business units. 26th April 2006. OS: SO847050
 47308 on the viaduct on 7th July 1963. (Picture courtesy of Pete Dainty).
47308 on the viaduct on 7th July 1963. (Picture courtesy of Pete Dainty).
47308 at Nailsworth on 7th July 1963. (Picture courtesy of Pete Dainty).
47308 at Nailsworth on 7th July 1963. (Picture courtesy of Pete Dainty).
 Plan of the branch.
Plan of the branch.
 Extract from the 1953 OS 1 inch map (sheet 156) showing the course of the line. The stations are shown as closed.
Extract from the 1953 OS 1 inch map (sheet 156) showing the course of the line. The stations are shown as closed.
Mapping images used on this site produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Images reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.
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