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Vale Royal Borough Council Vale Royal Borough Council the baggin man Takes the Train the baggin man Contents Takes the Train Pages 2 Introduction 3 Enjoy Vale Royal 5 Visit Chester and Cheshire 7 Train at Plumley Station 9 Forty Years On 11 The Whitegate Way 13 A Close Shave 15 And the Band played on 17 A Special Excursion 19 A Village Society 21 Underneath the Arches 23 History in the making 25 A Great Institute 27 A Partnership in action 29 The Best Kept Story 31 The Baggin Man 32 Acknowledgements the baggin man Takes the Train Watercolours courtesy of Bernice Barrett-Brown 1 the baggin man Introduction Takes the Train From John Hulme Welcome to The Salt Museum, Northwich and Underneath the Arches – an exhibition celebrating Mid Cheshire Railways. It is now five years since I wrote the first Baggin column, for the local Chronicle Series, telling the stories of Mid Cheshire as Bilbo Baggins cruised the local waterways. Over 100 columns and two books later, there are now more than 40,000 copies in circulation all over the world. It is amazing this railway exhibition came about because we moored the Bilbo Baggins on the River Weaver in Northwich and decided to walk up to the Salt Museum. On that fine sunny morning, I had a chance meeting with Andrea Peattie, Vale Royal’s Tourism Manager and Matt Wheeler, the Museum’s Curator, to discuss the Cheshire Best Kept Station Competition. As we discussed the history of the local railways and a few yards away a train thundered over the Northwich Viaduct, Matt said “Let’s have an Exhibition of Mid Cheshire Railways”. This is the story I related to Andrea and Matt that morning. Enjoy the Exhibition. Enjoy the story of the Cheshire Best Kept Station Competition. 2 Enjoy the exhibition then step out into Vale Royal and enjoy its other attractions. 3 4 the baggin man Mid Cheshire Railways Exhibition Takes the Train A trip down the Anderton Boat Lift on Bilbo Baggins. We also feature the West Coast Mainline, which A cruise along the River Weaver, alongside I.C.I., and rushes through Mid Cheshire, and the railway town on to Northwich. Then a visit to the local Salt of Crewe, which brought much prosperity to our Museum. It certainly brings home the rich heritage area. And, to take you back to your childhood - we have in Mid Cheshire. clockwork, Hornby Dublo and the latest models. Add to that the history of our local railways and the But what about today? Northern Trains, who are story becomes more complete. the main sponsors of this exhibition, operate our Underneath the Arches – an exhibition of Mid local community railway – the Mid Cheshire Line. Cheshire Railways - tells that story. It is not just a It is important that we understand their vision so we story of yesterday but an account of today - as it is can contribute to its success. important we document our present times for future Then there are the volunteer groups. The Mid generations. Cheshire Rail Users Association (MCRUA) looks after Look around the exhibition and you will discover the the interest of today’s passengers, whilst the 8E Cheshire Lines Committee and the history of the Mid Association and the Stanier 8F Locomotive Society Cheshire Line, whose 48 stone arches look over this are the guardians of the past. Museum. Finally, there is the story of the Cheshire Best Kept The exhibition explores the story of freight traffic and Station Competition, which this book narrates. how I.C.I. and salt were fundamental to the railway’s Enjoy the exhibition. Better still, next time you pass success. We also investigate the history of British your local railway station. Take the train. It can be a Transport Police. journey that is more fascinating than the ride itself! Mr Baggins says >> Whilst at the Museum make sure you see the other galleries. Then visit other attractions in the area. 5 6 the baggin man Train at Plumley Station Takes the Train The station was clad with bunting. There were We sponsored the local football team; we steam train rides for the kids. A fairground organ supported the village fete; we ran the Proud of entertained the crowds and the brass band played Plumley campaign on our 20th Anniversary; our on. band, JPD Mereside Brass, always leads the village It was 4th July 1998 and the re-opening of Plumley carol singing down at the village hall. Station House as the corporate headquarters of JPD But five years later, we were to take a great leap, Training Ltd. Yes, at long last we could shout, go county-wide and make Plumley, the Home of Train at Plumley Station! the JPD Cheshire Best Kept Station Competition. So, with some nostalgia, we re-opened the Station A few phone calls got the Borough Councils but it was also the start of a very special involved. Our local rail user groups were already relationship. A relationship with our neighbours. aboard. The rail operating companies thought we were on the right track. Cheshire villages are great places to visit. The village shop, the country pub, the local church and And who better to help judge the competition than chapel, the village hall, local walks. But most of all, Ian P Moss, who as President of the Railway and what is best is the community spirit. Canal Historical Society opened our station in 1998. And this is what my company has tried to achieve. But the story goes back a little further. More than To be good neighbours and be a part of Plumley forty years to my early school days in Winsford. village life. For a business it is an investment to be recommended. It’s great fun too. Mr Baggins says >> If you are a visitor, pick up a local paper. There’s much more going on than you think. 7 8 the baggin man Forty Years On Takes the Train Have you ever wished you had taken the advice That salt had been produced in Cheshire for over of your old headmaster? 2000 years and now Winsford is the only place in Donald J I West was my revered headmaster. the country where rock salt is still produced on a In the sixties - respect, discipline and hard work large scale. were the order of the day at the Verdin, Winsford. I would have learnt that during the war, paintings Not that declining Latin nouns was top of my and other national treasures and archives were kept agenda. Nor was joining the choir and singing the down the mine. Even perhaps the crown jewels? school song - a harrowing Forty Years On. And how men worked in the salt-producing sweatshops, stripped to the waist, in steaming hot No, my time was concentrated on the Verdin conditions. Their children being allowed to leave Transport Society under the watchful eye of my school early at lunchtime to take baggin to their favourite physics master and transport historian, fathers. Ian Moss. And then there was the competition. How immensely proud I was, when many years The competition between the Weaver Navigation later, I invited Ian to re-open Plumley Station and the railways for the salt trade-finally being House. won by the motor lorry. But forty years on, I regret not listening to my Take a look at what Winsford looked like 100 years history and geography teachers. ago. Can you see the railway wagons outside the I would have learnt that the Salt Union was the Verdin Salt Works? Looks like our story has gone hub of the UK salt industry. full circle! Mr Baggin says >> To learn more about the history of salt and our heritage visit the Lion Salt Works at Marston and the Salt Museum in Northwich 9 10 the baggin man The Whitegate Way Takes the Train If you take the train to Cuddington, you will not be “I often walk the Whitegate Way. No trains these far from a further piece of local history. But this days but watch out for the fleeting joggers and time it is a brisk country walk that will give you a cyclists. It really makes a perfect day out that can flavour of the past. capture your imagination. Way back, the station name boards at Cuddington And if you fancy a picnic, enjoy it at Whitegate. used to say ‘Cuddington. Change here for There you will see the station building, the original Whitegate and Winsford’. station sign and an old loading gauge whose In 1868, the Cheshire Lines Committee built the purpose is to ensure wagons were not over laden. railway to Winsford to attract the lucrative salt As you take the path of the long-gone salt trains, trade. This was never to happen, and its passenger keep your eyes open for the beautiful flora and service was even less successful. It’s only claim to fauna. I often saw badgers, buzzards and foxes, fame was that it was one of the few railway lines especially when I walked to work in a morning. that was closed to passenger traffic three times! It’s all a reminder of how lucky we are to live in such a lovely area. Stretching from Cuddington to the Salt Union mines at Winsford, the track bed is now a There are stories that nature lovers, from all over delightful 6 mile rail trail. the North, used to descend on the area in search of dragonflies. Very rare dragonflies. No one can explain the way better than my old pal, Rock Salt Jim, who is a former face worker at the And at the end of the day, our visitors could be Winsford Salt Mine.
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