ROF Swynnerton

ROF Swynnerton was a Royal Ordnance Filling factory built in 1939–40. It became operational in the middle of 1940 and by mid 1942 the number of people working at the site had grown to approximately 18,500. To meet the need of getting the factory workers to and from the factory the Ministry of Supply asked the LMS to construct a station. The site already had an extensive rail network served from the West Coast main line between Crewe and Stafford but the LMS chose to build a new branch line running to the site from the North Staffordshire Railway line between Stone and Norton Bridge. The branch line, which was double track throughout, ran for just under 2 mi from Swnnerton Junction to Cold Meece station.

The station was for passenger traffic only and no goods facilities were ever provided, all freight movements for the factory were dealt with via the West Coast main line link.

After the war ended the factory and station both continued in use until 1958. The factory closed in May 1958 and although the last scheduled train ran in June 1958, the station did not officially close until August 1959. The branch had been lifted by September 1963.

During the war the factory worked 24 hours a day and the passenger service to Cold Meece reflected this with nineteen trains a day, Monday to Saturday, serving the station in time for the shift changes at 5:35 am, 1:35 pm and 8:35 pm. Services ran to and from three main destinations; Newchapel and Goldenhill, Silverdale and Blythe Bridge picking up at all stations en route except those between Stoke and Stone. In addition there was one service each way classed as a recreational service for people who lived on the site to get into Stoke. Sunday services comprised two trains each way to Silverdale and Blythe Bridge and three each way to Newchapel and Goldenhill.

From October 1945 the factory moved to one shift only.