Ross-on-Wye

Along Homs Road the A40 dual carriageway (built in around 1960) crosses at high level using a double arch bridge. The first arch was for Homs Road and the second was built to allow the railway to pass underneath. It was only used briefly because the railway closed very soon after the bridge was completed. There are now houses built on the line of the track bed in this area.

Here we see 6330, a Mogul '43xx' class 2-6-0, pulling the Grange Court to Rotherwas Junction train. It is leaving Ross towards Hereford and has just passed under the "newly" built A40.

Here we see the remains of the bridge crossing the River Wye at Backney. The piers have the distinctive brick built top section and are carefully shaped to aid the water flowing past them.

Next the the embankment is the remains of a domed, corrugated workers hut.

Just beyond the bridge, towards Hereford, was Backney Halt. In the Kidderminster Railway Museum is the name board from Backney Halt.

Ballingham Station has been rebuilt as a private house (dated as 1973) but it can be seen that the platform still exists.

Holme Lacy and Fawley were the originally the only stations between Ross and Hereford; Ballingham and Backney Halt were later additions.

The causeway and track bed are clearly visible when looking south from the road bridge that is just below the station.

Ballingham Tunnel is 1208 yards long and is the region's longest (32nd longest disused tunnel in the UK). The tunnel is straight except for a slight turn to the east close to the southern end.

The north end of the tunnel is not too difficult to access and the cutting has been cleared making it even easier to get to. The tunnel mouth is completely open.

The view looking north up the cutting is an impressive view.

Looking south it is clear to see that there is a brick liner to the tunnel at this point.

The brick liner does not extend that far into the tunnel and is in a good condition. The rest of the tunnel is lined with what looks like local sandstone.

At a number of points at the north end some brick reinforcements have been added to the tunnel walls. These are substantial structures and are also in good condition.

The walls of the tunnel have a number of brick patches in them that were made either during the building or when in service.

The roof of the tunnel has the usual brick strip used to reinforce the centre.

The tunnel is not fully stone lined as the builders have clearly has to work with particularly large intrusions of harder bedrock and have built these into the walls.

All of the refuges are of a similar design with a red brick caps. Some are brick lined, some are stone lined and others are cut straight into the bedrock. This one has used both brick and bedrock as part of its surround.

The south tunnel mouth is in good condition and shows no sign of deterioration or previous repairs. It also appears to be more ornate than the northern tunnel mouth. The southern end is stone lined from the mouth inwards and no brick liner or reinforcements have been used.