Before this could be built, however, the Potteries Loop Line had been authorised, running through Hanley, Burslem, Tunstall and on to Kidsgrove. Though not opened until 1873-5, it cast doubt over the viability of the Tunstall Railway, but after some persuasion this was also built, albeit in two sections: one, the Tunstall Branch on the map, swung east from Pinnox Junction to join the Loop at Tunstall Junction, and was opened in 1875 (and to occasional passenger trains in 1892); further north the Newfields branch left the Loop north of the map, but because of the steepness, access to it was via a zig-zag, trains having to reverse onto a spur behind Stanley Street before climbing the branch.

This section (like the Tunstall Branch) was very steep, with a section at 1 in 37 and engines had to propel their wagons, with severely restricted loads; even so in 1923 it was the scene of a crash when a goods train ran away down the branch and demolished itself at Newfields Junction. The Newfields branch closed in 1959 (it is amazing it lasted so long) and the other lines only survived it by a few years.

Mineral lines had existed here to serve the collieries for many years. The Whitfield-Pinnox Mineral Railway, serving the major collieries at Whitfield, connected with the NSR at Pinnox Junction and also had branches westward to Brownhills Wharf and southward to Greenhead Wharf at Burslem, principally to serve coal depots. We can also see the route of a branch running north east to serve the Williamsons' old pits at Chalkey and High Lane. The Whitfield-Pinnox line closed in 1964, but almost all these lines (excepting the Loop's viaduct) now form a peaceful network of 'Greenway' paths."