This year is the 175th anniversary of the Trent Valley Line and to mark the occasion posters have been put up at Stafford Station detailing the history of the line and Queen Victoria’s journey along the Trent Valley Railway on 21st September 1847.
As part of the celebrations Dave Barrett and Robin Mathams, railway enthusiasts who have been researching and writing the history of the Trent Valley Railway, delivered two illustrated history talks at Stafford Station on the 15th November about the establishing of the Trent Valley Railway Company and the building of the railway line.
First Rugeley (Trent Valley Railway) Station photo credit: The Trent Valley Railway History Project collection
Update 2023
Last year NSCRP was approached by Dave Barratt and Robin Mathams from the Trent Valley Railway (TVR) Study Group about a joint project to celebrate this milestone in the route’s history. Together we produced four posters documenting the TVR, comparing then and now and Queen Victoria’s visit on 21st September 1847. Late trains are nothing new – the Queen’s train was delayed by 24 hours! At Stafford the train paused for 8 minutes and restarted “amidst the acclamations of those assembled and the discharge of artillery”. The posters, funded by Avanti West Coast Partnership, can be seen at Stafford Station and in Atherstone Heritage Centre.
Dave and Robin also gave two fully illustrated talks about the establishing of the Trent Valley Railway Company and the building of the railway including Shugborough Tunnel. The talks were fully booked and enjoyed by all.
