Leekbrook Junction
Brief History
Leekbrook was once an extensive North Staffordshire Railway junction with four lines branching off, triangle, engine shed, sidings and much signaling infrastructure. North of the junction was the 1849 NSR Macclesfield-Uttoxeter double track line to Leek which ran right through the site and also went south to Cheddleton, Froghall, Oakamoor and Alton. Heading off east (which formed the triangle) was the branch line to Cauldon opened in 1905 and there was another line west which lead to Stoke-on-Trent, built 1867. Decline started early however with the engine sheds disappearing in 1932 and the passenger service of the Cauldon branch in the 1930s. The Beeching cuts of 1963 caused the remaining three lines to lose their passenger service and the line north to Leek was closed completely and lifted in the early 1970s. The double track line south was singled as well. Only the stone traffic from Cauldon and the sand traffic from Oakamoor with the connection to the mainline via the Stoke line kept the junction open. Sand trains finished in the late 80's and stone trains soon after. The line south to Oakamoor was sold to the CVR in 1996 along with the remaining signal box. The lines east and west as well as the junction and remaining sidings themselves are currently Network Rail owned and are "mothballed".
Reopening
After falling silent in the 80's the line from Cheddleton to Leekbrook did not have long to wait before trains returned. Push-pull services between the two "stations" were launched in 1996, the CVR services being on the southern leg of the junction, heading south through the tunnel down the Churnet Valley line. Unfortunately relatively little development work has happened here. A run round loop was installed when push-pull trains ended in 1998. The signal box is currently derelict but in reasonable condition however recent plans have emerged which may see the box receive a little TLC in the near future. The overgrown platform which once connected with the county mental hospital has never been reopened, so passengers cannot board or detrain here while their engine runs round.
The Future
After persuing extensions to the south of the railway's headquarters (Cheddleton) in the last 10 years, attention has now turned to the long term aim of the northward extension to Leek, the biggest centre of population on the line. This would of course involve Leekbrook Junction. Network Rail still own the east-west corridor linking Stoke (and the mainline network) to Cauldon Low stone quarry, and the extension of CVR services from south to north over the junction to Leek would sever that corridor. Negotiations are currently taking place with the aim of returning services to Leek in the next few years. Back on our side of the fence, the company plans to develop limited facilities here in the future and the signal box may be tidied up soon.
