Steam Comes to Colton Parish
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The Act of Parliament for the construction of the ‘Trent Valley Railway’ was passed in July 1845. Sir Robert Peel M.P. was the chief promoter and cut the first sod at Tamworth in November 1845. The engineer was Robert Stephenson (son of George) and his assistant was George Bidden. The contractor was Thomas Brassey. The line partially opened early in 1847and by December 1847 was fully open from Rugby to Stafford. At this time all the railway companies in the country adopted Greenwich Mean Time.
The land owners in Colton gave their full support for the construction of the line. The station built in Colton Parish was for many years known in timetables as Rugeley Junction. The line to Walsall opened in November 1859. Eventually to prevent confusion with Rugeley’s station on the Walsall line, the station at Colton became Rugeley Trent Valley in April 1917. |
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During World War I the station was frequently used by troops who would march to or from camps on Cannock Chase. R.A.F. personnel also used it in World War II to get to their camp at Brindley Heath. Many Colton residents used it to get to and from work and also some youngsters to get to school. Some Colton residents found work both at the station in the large goods department and on the trains.
The station building was taken down in 1972 when the station became unstaffed. It is still on the main London line and although the service to Walsall and Stafford was for some years axed, it was restored in the 1990’s due to public pressure. |
With acknowledgement to the Bradbury family for supplying research information and pictures.