​The Railway That Sank: Mining Subsidence and the WC&ER Deviation

During the 19th century, the Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway (WC&ER) was built to connect the port of Whitehaven with mining and industrial areas including Moor Row, Cleator Moor, Frizington and beyond.

It opened for goods in 1855 and for passengers in 1857. The railway served iron ore, limestone, coal and other minerals from West Cumbria’s rich industrial belt.

Moor Row itself grew up around this junction where lines radiated out to serve nearby mines and communities, and it became a major junction and goods yard in the region.

Mining Around Moor Row

The area was heavily mined for haematite iron ore, especially the Montreal Mines near Moor Row, which at their peak produced substantial tonnes of ore per year. These mines had both shaft and open-pit workings, with around six active shafts in the village area during their heyday.

The Impact of Haematite Mining

​The haematite iron ore in West Cumbria was found in large, irregular "pockets" or "sops" within the Carboniferous Limestone. In areas like Moor Row and Cleator Moor, these pockets were so extensive that their extraction left massive underground voids.

​When these mines were abandoned or the pumps stopped, the structural integrity of the overlying rock often failed. This led to "crown holes" or gradual subsidence, which posed a catastrophic risk to the heavy steam locomotives of the WC&ER.

The Need for a Railway Deviation

The original WC&ER railway from Moor Row to Cleator Moor ran directly between the two towns. It opened in 1857 with its Cleator Moor station near the centre of town. This alignment passed through land that was later undermined by mining activity, causing ground subsidence that was severe enough to undermine the railway trackbed and create a risk to safe operations.

Similar problems occurred at other points on the network, such as near Eskett (Yeathouse), where a deviation was also constructed due to subsidence.

The Deviation

Old Route

Originally, trains left Moor Row and ran eastwards directly into the first Cleator Moor station with a relatively straight alignment. This line became increasingly unstable due to underground voids left by iron ore mining across the Cleator Moor area.

New Route (Deviation Line)

In response, the Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway built a deviation line that curved around the west side of the undermined ground and the growing settlement of Cleator Moor.

This deviation line opened in 1866 and carried passenger trains into a new station, initially simply called Cleator Moor but later renamed Cleator Moor East (1924) to distinguish it from a later competitive station south-west of town. 

The old line into the original station was downgraded to goods traffic, becoming known as the "Crossfield Loop."

The deviation rejoined the original alignment northeast of the town, at Birks Bridge Junction, restoring through connectivity for freight while avoiding undermined ground.

Summary

  • Original Route (pre-1866): Ran straight from Moor Row to the original Cleator Moor station. Downgraded to the "Crossfield Loop" (Goods only) after 1866.
  • New Deviation (from 1866): Curved north-west around the subsidence zone. Served the new passenger station (later Cleator Moor East).
  • Birks Bridge Junction: The point north-east of the town where the deviation line rejoined the original trackbed towards Frizington.

Today, much of the trackbed of the WC&ER around Moor Row has been converted into parts of the National Cycle Network (Route 71). Walking or cycling these paths allows you to see the dramatic changes in topography caused by the mining activity you mentioned, including the remaining depressions and "tips" that the railway was forced to navigate.

Railway Diversion Illustration
Railway Diversion Illustration
Location: Moor Row CA24, UK

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