Travel in 1885 & 1915 - the railway near Stoke & Stone

Travel in 1885 & 1915 - the railway near Stoke & Stone

In the early 1950's, as a change from the usual scenic views used on their poster campaigns, the London Midland Region of British Rail implemented two series of 'Historical' prints.

One of these was the 'Travel-In' series of 24 (by Cuthbert Hamilton-Ellis), featured views of the transport associated with some of the pre-grouping companies which formed the London, Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS).

Two of the illustrations were around the Stoke-on-Trent area - one of bottle kilns alongside the railway in Stoke and another of Stone Railway Station.

Cuthbert Hamilton-Ellis ( 1909-1987)

Hamilton Ellis was a keen photographer and journalist, beginning his career with The Railway Magazine, and Railway Gazette, before moving on to write for Modern Transport.

He wrote many books on railway subjects including 'British Railway History (1830-1947) and other classics and produced artwork for LMS 'Travel-In' series.

the bottle kilns alongside the railway - originally many potworks were built alongside the canals for ease of transport

the bottle kilns alongside the railway -
many potworks were built alongside transport routes such as the canals and railway

The first two railway lines ever built by the North Staffordshire Railway Company are shown in these two paintings.

The first line from Stoke to Norton Bridge was laid in 1848 and the second from Stone to Colwich in 1849.

The routes had been initially surveyed in 1835 by that most famous railway engineer George Stephenson, who met many obstacles in his work, especially the risk of attack from those then employed on the prosperous canals.

The official opening was on April 17th, 1848

'Travel in 1915 - North Staffordshire Railway train entering Stone Junction'

Postcard (1916) of Stone Railway Station

"Stone Railway Station was built in 1848 and designed in typical North Staffordshire Railway Company Tudor style by H.A. Hunt. The station stands at the junction between the line to Norton Bridge (in the foreground of this postcard view) and the line to Colwich (behind the station).

The station building was renovated in 2003-4 for use as a community centre. Bents Brewery can be seen in the background."

Staffordshire Past Tracks

Related links...

	Stoke Railway Station "perhaps the finest example of Neo-Jacobean architecture and Victorian urban planning in Staffordshire" The North Staffordshire Railway, later known as "The Knotty," was founded in 1845. Stoke Station was opened in 1848.
	Stone Railway Station "Few towns possess such a really fine example of early station architecture as Stone. This beautiful station, built in 1848, is situated at the junction of the first two railway lines ever built by the North Staffordshire Railway Company."