(Photos 1-5 © John Simmonds, photos 6-7 © Simon Swain collection)

Nicknamed the Clog & Knocker, the Stafford & Uttoxeter Railway was created by an Act of Parliament in 1862, opening five years later.

The major engineering work was a 321-yard tunnel near the village of Bramshall which, possible due to a simple spelling mistake, became known as Bromshall Tunnel.

Stoppers came to a complete halt on 4th December 1939, with through services ending in March 1951. The Stephenson Locomotive Society ran the line's very last train in 1957 after which track lifting soon began, taking five years to complete.

Today the tunnel is infilled at its northern end, resulting in floodwaters of up to three feet in depth. The structure is brick lined throughout with its remaining portal edged in stone.