Marston Salt Branch Lines.

[red robbo]

Hello all, i'm a newbie and i'm looking for information on the Marston Salt Branch Lines (Northwich, Cheshire), that branched off the Manchester / Chester line, via Northwich. I was born in Wincham and the line ran over my road to the local salt works. As a toddler i used to watch the locos hauling salt etc from local works. Could anyone supply me with any info about Line 1, 2 and 3 ? I realise that in the scheme of things it's not up there with the some of the great railway feats of engineering, but i'd love to know why they were built, who financed the building, when the line was closed etc, etc. After all the T&M Canal cut through the heart of the Wincham / Marston salt mine works - why the railway ? On a personal note, my Dad worked at Minsal (later know as Cooper Nutrition), on the banks of the T&M and he mentioned there was a line over the canal to the Minsel Works (a branch off the Salt Line). Can anyone point me in the right direction for what i'm looking for, assuming there is info dedicated to the Marston Salt Branch Lines, 1,2 and 3. Thanks.

[AndyRush]

The Salt branches at Norwthich are depicted in daigrammatic form in 'An Illustrated History of the Cheshire Lines Committee' by Paul Bolger, Heyday 1984. Further references and pictures can be found in Foxlines 'Scenes From the Past 41 (Part 1) Railways Across Mid Cheshire' by Alan Wilkinson. There are passing references in the D&C Regional History and no doubt George Dow's Great Central history will have something to say.

I ahave assembled details of the structures of the branches for my database from RAIL 110/126 at the National Archives and numerous other sources and if you email me direct I could let you have a summary.

Regards

Andy
rush_andy@hotmail.com