CORNGREAVES Halt
The goods only Corngreaves Branch ran 4¾ miles from Cradley Railway Station to Witley Coal & Fireclay Mine (1875-1920). The 2½ miles to Corngreaves Road Crossing was owned by the Great Western Railway {GWR}. The rest of the branch was owned by the mine. When the colliery closed so was the branch south of Corngreaves Road Crossing. The GWR section lasted till 1965.
During the late
Victorian era traffic on the branch was very heavy as it served the Corngreaves
Iron & Steel Works, (below) four coal and fire clay mines (Codsall, Timbertree,
Witley & Stour), ten works (galvanising trunk, tube, gas, colonial, carriage
(wagon?), and four brick & tile), and three forges. The Iron & Steel Works
closed in 1912 but other industries continued with the last forge closing a few
years ago and two modernised brickworks are still in production.
During the Edwardian
era the GWR became enthusiastic about starting a basic passenger services on
goods only lines using a combination of railcars, halts, and platforms.
Platforms were halt staffed usually a senior porter who sold tickets and handled
parcels, etc. At the same time there was spare capacity on the Corngreaves
Branch as goods traffic declined - industries past their peak, the Iron & Steel
Works running down, and Codsall Colliery closing.