Lake Lock Rail Road
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railway transport |
| Founded | 1796 |
| Defunct | 1836 |
| Headquarters | Wakefield, West Yorkshire , England |
Area served | Near Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England |
| Products | Transport of coal, roadstone, timber, burnt lime |
The Lake Lock Rail Road was an early horse-drawn narrow gauge railway located near Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England, spanning about 3 miles in length. It is widely acknowledged as the first public railway in the world, although some other contemporary projects also assert similar claims.
The company
Established in 1796, the Lake Lock Rail Road Company raised funds by issuing 128 shares bought by a varied group of investors, including a lawyer, banker, physician, clergyman, merchant, and a widow. The railway's initial section commenced operations in 1798, preceding the Surrey Iron Railway by five years. Its designation as a public railway was granted under the provisions of the Wakefield Inclosure Act 1793 (33 Geo. 3. c. 11), enabling multiple independent operators to move wagons upon payment of tolls—distinguishing it from nearby private lines such as the Middleton Railway.
The line originated at Lake Lock near Stanley, Wakefield, adjacent to the Aire & Calder Navigation, and extended roughly three miles westward to Outwood. In 1804, to circumvent a steep incline, the route was modified, shifting its terminus from Lake Lock to Bottom Boat. Several branches connected to local collieries and a stone quarry, with further extensions reaching East Ardsley and Kirkhamgate. On 1 February 1811, a parliamentary bill proposing an extension of the railway was introduced and subsequently sent to committee for consideration.
Operation
The railway mainly facilitated the transport of coal from nearby mines to the Aire & Calder Navigation for onward shipment. Additionally, it carried materials such as roadstone, timber, and burnt lime. Typically, one horse pulled three wagons downhill along an average gradient of 1 in 70 (1.43%) toward the navigation. The track featured edge rails with a gauge of 3 feet 6 inches. Toll charges for goods started at 6d per ton and later increased. By 1807, annual freight volume reached approximately 110,000 tons but gradually declined to around 81,000 tons by 1819 and further down to 76,000 tons in 1823. The railway experienced a steady downturn and ultimately ceased operations in 1836 after J & J Charlesworth, a prominent colliery proprietor, constructed an alternative rail line.
References
- Goodchild, J. (2006), Early Railways 3, Six Martlets Publishing
- Articles with short description
- Early British railway companies
- Railway companies established in 1796
- Railway lines opened in 1798
- Railway lines closed in 1836
- Horse-drawn railways
- 1796 establishments in England
- 1836 disestablishments in England
- British companies established in 1796
- British companies disestablished in 1836
- Railway companies disestablished in 1836