_{Daily Mail reporting Sarah Owen’s retirement in 1939 after 41 years of looking after Micklewood Crossing – and ten children.}

There was a near miss in May 1882, when Sarah Owen’s mother was  in charge of the crossing:

The railways brought some employment to Longnor:
1871 – William Davies is a 28-year-old railway official
1901 – 21-year-old Henry Downes works on the railways
1911 – Thomas Evans at Papermill Cottages is a railway porter.

There were stations at Condover, Dorrington and Leebotwood. These opened up new markets for Longnor farmers. Esther Thomas took her cheeses to Leebotwood for transport to Manchester.

The Shrewsbury to Hereford line opened on 20 April 1852, when a train with 27 carriages went from Shrewsbury to Ludlow and back. Thousands of people all along the line turned out to catch a glimpse of the first ‘iron horse’. They had to wait a bit, as it was nearly an hour late setting off from Shrewsbury!

When the train arrived at Ludlow the church bells rang, a cannon was fired, and the dignitaries went off for a champagne lunch, while on the Castle Green there were ‘rural sports for all classes’ including “jumping in sacks the length of the green. Navvies to climb a greased pole for a new hat and slop. Six boys to eat Treacled loaves, the successful candidate to receive 5 shillings. A race by married women, once around the course. The winner to receive a new metal teapot, second a pound of tea”.
_{Hereford Times 24 June 1852}