Forest of Dean Railway on a contiguous line built by the GWR. Newnham was the main line junction station, although some branch trains ran through to Gloucester. As motor bus services became dominant, the passenger services became unprofitable and they were withdrawn in 1958. The network was closed completely in 1967 as mineral traffic ceased. The Forest of Dean Coalfield had long been a source of mineral working, for iron ore and coal. Free Miners had statutory rights in the Forest, which protected them from external competition. However this limited the extent to which large scale operations could be undertaken. A number of short
Dean Forest Act 1861 been agreed by the Forestry Commission to be obsolete, spent, unnecessary or superseded. In the case of any grant after the passing of the Dean Forest (Mines) Act 1904 of any gale to which that Act applies section 7 of the Dean Forest Act 1861 (which relates to the cesser and refixing of rents and royalties) has effect as though such number of years not exceeding sixty-three as may be specified in the grant were substituted for twenty-one years in that section. This section was repealed by section 1(4) of, and the Schedule to, the Wild Creatures and Forest Laws