GLOUCESTER TO LEDBURY (GWR)
29th March 2006

Known as the Daffodil Line, this attractive route was opened by the GWR in 1885. Most of the line was built on the former Hereford & Gloucester Canal route which was closed in order to build the railway. The canal is under restoration and some of the former railway alignment may one day become a canal again. The line closed in 1964. So far I have concentrated on the Gloucester to Newent section of the line but I will cover the rest of the route as time progresses.
Engineer's Line Reference: LEY

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An early 1970s view of the trackbed near Over Junction, now infilled and obliterated by the A40. (Picture courtesy of Pete Dainty). OS: SO815196
An early 1970s view of the trackbed near Over Junction, now infilled and obliterated by the A40. (Picture courtesy of Pete Dainty). OS: SO815196
 The trackbed near Lassington looking in the Ledbury direction. From this point the railway followed a long left hand curve around the base of the hill on the left. 25th October 2007. OS: SO806200
The trackbed near Lassington looking in the Ledbury direction. From this point the railway followed a long left hand curve around the base of the hill on the left. 25th October 2007. OS: SO806200
 A gate across the trackbed east of Ruford. 20th July 2008. OS: SO787210
A gate across the trackbed east of Ruford. 20th July 2008. OS: SO787210
 The remains of an occupation crossing at Rudford. 20th July 2008. OS: SO785209
The remains of an occupation crossing at Rudford. 20th July 2008. OS: SO785209
View along the trackbed looking west from the occupation crossing. 20th July 2008. OS: SO785209
View along the trackbed looking west from the occupation crossing. 20th July 2008. OS: SO785209
 Trackbed between the occupation crossings at Rudford. 20th July 2008. OS: SO784210
Trackbed between the occupation crossings at Rudford. 20th July 2008. OS: SO784210
 Approaching the second occupation crossing at Rudford. This is one of the sections of the route that deviates from the original canal alignment. 20th July 2008. OS: SO784210
Approaching the second occupation crossing at Rudford. This is one of the sections of the route that deviates from the original canal alignment. 20th July 2008. OS: SO784210
 The trackbed looking towards Gloucester from the second occupation crossing at Rudford. 5th October 2007. OS: SO783210
The trackbed looking towards Gloucester from the second occupation crossing at Rudford. 5th October 2007. OS: SO783210
Looking across the second occupation crossing at Rudford. 5th October 2007. OS: SO783210
Looking across the second occupation crossing at Rudford. 5th October 2007. OS: SO783210
 View towards Ledbury from the second occupation crossing at Rudford. The northern boundary fence has been removed. 5th October 2007. OS: SO783210
View towards Ledbury from the second occupation crossing at Rudford. The northern boundary fence has been removed. 5th October 2007. OS: SO783210
 The trackbed west of the crossings at Rudford, looking in the Ledbury direction. 20th July 2008. OS: SO782211
The trackbed west of the crossings at Rudford, looking in the Ledbury direction. 20th July 2008. OS: SO782211
 Looking east at Rudford. The canal alignment diverged into the bushes on the right here. 20th July 2008. OS: SO782211
Looking east at Rudford. The canal alignment diverged into the bushes on the right here. 20th July 2008. OS: SO782211
View west at Rudford. Rudford lock was situated near this spot. 20th July 2008. OS: SO781213
View west at Rudford. Rudford lock was situated near this spot. 20th July 2008. OS: SO781213
 View west with Rudford church in the distance. 20th July 2008. OS: SO781213
View west with Rudford church in the distance. 20th July 2008. OS: SO781213
 Bridge over the line at Rudford church. 25th March 2006. OS: SO779216
Bridge over the line at Rudford church. 25th March 2006. OS: SO779216
 The bridge at Rudford church seen from the road. 25th March 2006. OS: SO779216
The bridge at Rudford church seen from the road. 25th March 2006. OS: SO779216
Looking towards Newent from the bridge at Rudford church. 25th March 2006. OS: SO779216
Looking towards Newent from the bridge at Rudford church. 25th March 2006. OS: SO779216
 The trackbed looking towards Gloucester from the road bridge at Barbers Bridge. 25th October 2007. OS: SO772220
The trackbed looking towards Gloucester from the road bridge at Barbers Bridge. 25th October 2007. OS: SO772220
 The B4215 crossing the formation at Barbers Bridge with the bridge that formerly carried the road in the background. 25th October 2007. OS: SO772220
The B4215 crossing the formation at Barbers Bridge with the bridge that formerly carried the road in the background. 25th October 2007. OS: SO772220
 The road bridge at Barbers Bridge. 25th October 2007. OS: SO772220
The road bridge at Barbers Bridge. 25th October 2007. OS: SO772220
Barbers Bridge. The station site seen from the old road bridge. The station house is on the right and the station building susrvives as a private residence behind the trees. 25th October 2007. OS: SO772220
Barbers Bridge. The station site seen from the old road bridge. The station house is on the right and the station building susrvives as a private residence behind the trees. 25th October 2007. OS: SO772220
 Barbers Bridge. The road bridge and a gateway made from old GWR bridge rail. 25th March 2006. OS: SO772221
Barbers Bridge. The road bridge and a gateway made from old GWR bridge rail. 25th March 2006. OS: SO772221
 Barbers Bridge. The entrance to the station. 25th March 2006. OS: SO772221
Barbers Bridge. The entrance to the station. 25th March 2006. OS: SO772221
 Barbers Bridge. The station building, now a private house. 25th March 2006. OS: SO772221
Barbers Bridge. The station building, now a private house. 25th March 2006. OS: SO772221
Looking towards Gloucester from the bridge at Moat Farm. The boundary fences have gone but the trackbed can still be seen curving towards the right. 25th October 2007. OS: SO760240
Looking towards Gloucester from the bridge at Moat Farm. The boundary fences have gone but the trackbed can still be seen curving towards the right. 25th October 2007. OS: SO760240
 Civil Engineer's structure reference on the Moat Farm bridge. 25th October 2007. OS: SO760240
Civil Engineer's structure reference on the Moat Farm bridge. 25th October 2007. OS: SO760240
 Looking towards Newent from the bridge on the Moat Farm access road. The railway deviated slightly from the canal bed here and a short stretch of canal survives in the thicket at the far left of this picture. 25th March 2006. OS: SO760240
Looking towards Newent from the bridge on the Moat Farm access road. The railway deviated slightly from the canal bed here and a short stretch of canal survives in the thicket at the far left of this picture. 25th March 2006. OS: SO760240
 The bridge that carried the B4215 over the line between Malswick and Highleadon. The road now crosses the formation on the level a short distance behind the camera position. 25th March 2006. OS: SO750247
The bridge that carried the B4215 over the line between Malswick and Highleadon. The road now crosses the formation on the level a short distance behind the camera position. 25th March 2006. OS: SO750247
The trackbed looking towards Gloucester where the line ran parallel to the B4215 just east of Malswick. One boundary fence has been removed in order to incorporate the former railway land into the adjoining field. There was an occupation crossing at this point. 25th October 2007. OS: SO744250
The trackbed looking towards Gloucester where the line ran parallel to the B4215 just east of Malswick. One boundary fence has been removed in order to incorporate the former railway land into the adjoining field. There was an occupation crossing at this point. 25th October 2007. OS: SO744250
 GWR bridge rail fence post at the former occupation crossing east of Malswick. 25th October 2007. OS: SO744250
GWR bridge rail fence post at the former occupation crossing east of Malswick. 25th October 2007. OS: SO744250
 Looking in the Ledbury direction from the same spot. 25th October 2007. OS: SO744250
Looking in the Ledbury direction from the same spot. 25th October 2007. OS: SO744250
 The abutments of the bridge over Hook's Lane, just east of Newent. 25th March 2006. OS: SO739256
The abutments of the bridge over Hook's Lane, just east of Newent. 25th March 2006. OS: SO739256
Looking towards Gloucester from about half a mile east of Newent station. The formation here started as a canal, was converted into a railway and is now a road. Note the surviving railway fence posts on the left. 5th October 2007. OS: SO727262
Looking towards Gloucester from about half a mile east of Newent station. The formation here started as a canal, was converted into a railway and is now a road. Note the surviving railway fence posts on the left. 5th October 2007. OS: SO727262
 Newent. The abutments of the bridge over the B4215 at the entrance to the station. The formation here was raised by several feet when it was converted from canal to railway - the canal passed under the road rather than over it. 25th March 2006. OS: SO720263
Newent. The abutments of the bridge over the B4215 at the entrance to the station. The formation here was raised by several feet when it was converted from canal to railway - the canal passed under the road rather than over it. 25th March 2006. OS: SO720263
 Newent. The station looking towards Ledbury. After being hidden by trees and undergrowth many years the site has now been cleared ready for the restoration of the Hereford & Gloucester Canal. 25th March 2006. OS: SO720263
Newent. The station looking towards Ledbury. After being hidden by trees and undergrowth many years the site has now been cleared ready for the restoration of the Hereford & Gloucester Canal. 25th March 2006. OS: SO720263
 Newent. The old footbridge from Llanthony Road, Gloucester. It has been donated to the Hereford & Gloucester Canal Trust and is stored on the site of Newent station. 25th March 2006. OS: SO720263
Newent. The old footbridge from Llanthony Road, Gloucester. It has been donated to the Hereford & Gloucester Canal Trust and is stored on the site of Newent station. 25th March 2006. OS: SO720263
Newent. A Gloucestershire Railway Society special at the station on 23rd June 1962. (Picture courtesy of Pete Dainty).
Newent. A Gloucestershire Railway Society special at the station on 23rd June 1962. (Picture courtesy of Pete Dainty).
 Abutments of the bridge over Ell Brook, Newent, looking in the Ledbury direction. From here to a point north of Dymock the railway deviated from the route of the canal in order to avoid the tunnel at Oxenhall. 25th March 2006. OS: SO714264
Abutments of the bridge over Ell Brook, Newent, looking in the Ledbury direction. From here to a point north of Dymock the railway deviated from the route of the canal in order to avoid the tunnel at Oxenhall. 25th March 2006. OS: SO714264
 Looking towards Gloucester from the road overbridge at Oxenhall. 6th October 2007. (Photo: R.J. Marks) OS: SO707266
Looking towards Gloucester from the road overbridge at Oxenhall. 6th October 2007. (Photo: R.J. Marks) OS: SO707266
 Looking towards Ledbury from the road overbridge at Oxenhall. 6th October 2007. (Photo: R.J. Marks) OS: SO707266
Looking towards Ledbury from the road overbridge at Oxenhall. 6th October 2007. (Photo: R.J. Marks) OS: SO707266
Dymock in GWR days. (Picture courtesy of John Law).
Dymock in GWR days. (Picture courtesy of John Law).
 Plan of the route.
Plan of the route.
 Extract from the OS 1 inch 1947 sheet showing the line between Over Junction and Newent. Barbers Bridge station and Malswick Halt can both be seen.
Extract from the OS 1 inch 1947 sheet showing the line between Over Junction and Newent. Barbers Bridge station and Malswick Halt can both be seen.
 Extract from the OS 1 inch 1947 sheet showing the line between Newent and Dymock. Newent station and Four Oaks Halt can both be seen. Also visible is the section of the Hereford & Gloucester Canal through Oxenhall Tunnel which was bypassed by the railway.
Extract from the OS 1 inch 1947 sheet showing the line between Newent and Dymock. Newent station and Four Oaks Halt can both be seen. Also visible is the section of the Hereford & Gloucester Canal through Oxenhall Tunnel which was bypassed by the railway.
Extract from the OS 1 inch 1947 sheet showing the line between Dymock and Ledbury. Dymock station and the halts at Greenway and Ledbury Town can be seen.
Extract from the OS 1 inch 1947 sheet showing the line between Dymock and Ledbury. Dymock station and the halts at Greenway and Ledbury Town can be seen.
 An article from the Gloucester Citizen marking the closure of the line in 1964. (Part 1).
An article from the Gloucester Citizen marking the closure of the line in 1964. (Part 1).
 An article from the Gloucester Citizen marking the closure of the line in 1964. (Part 2).
An article from the Gloucester Citizen marking the closure of the line in 1964. (Part 2).
 1963 article from the Gloucester Citizen concerning Dymock station.
1963 article from the Gloucester Citizen concerning Dymock station.
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.
© 1998-2009 Roger Marks - All copyrights rest with the Author
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