Changes

Jump to: navigation, search

Wyre Forest Line

1,775 bytes added, 15:21, 4 February 2020
Closure: additional info and history
==Closure==
[[File:Tenbury line closure poster.jpg|thumb|300px|right|1964 Poster advertising the closure of the line(passenger services had ended in 1962)]]
In November 1960 British Railways published a proposal to close the entire line between Woofferton and Bewdley.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Magner (1997)]] p. 16.</ref> The West Midland Transport Users Consultative Committee met in March 1961 to discuss the closure. Many representations were made on the hardships that closure would cause, particularly for school children who made use of the the line. A compromise was reached whereby the old Tenbury Railway (Woofferton to Tenbury Wellsincluding Easton Court station) would close with effect from Monday 31 July 1961, but one passenger train each way would continue between Kidderminster and Tenbury Wells for a trial period of one year.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Beddoes & Smith (1995)]] ppp. 190, 195.</ref>
The last through passenger service between Bewdley and Woofferton was the 7.50 pm return working to Kidderminster on 28 July 1961.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Beddoes & Smith (1995)]] p. 190.</ref> The 'special', which was hauled by GWR 2-6-2T No 6144, can be seen at the beginning of this film by 'Cam' Camwell on [http://player.bfi.org.uk/film/watch-camwell-personal-film-no-54-special-last-train-kidderminster-to-woofferton-junction-1961/ BFIPlayer].
The steam hauled "school childen's train" service duly began on Monday 31 July 1961, notwithstanding that this was the school holiday period. It left Tenbury Wells at 7.55 am with the return working leaving Kidderminster at 4.10 pm. On the same day Wyre Forest station became unstaffed and was closed to goods services. Over the next year BR allowed the service to run as 'mixed' if required, and also advertised cheap day excursions to Birmingham. However the one year trial was not deemed a success and BR successfully proposed a full closure from 1 August 1962. The last steam-hauled service to return to Tenbury Wells ran on 31 July 1962 and comprised two coaches hauled by ex-GWR 0-6-0PT No 3619.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Beddoes & Smith (1995)]] pp. 192-193, 195.</ref>
The Following the end of passenger services, Wyre Forest station closed completely on 1 August 1962. However the daily Stourbridge - Tenbury goods service ended in January 1964continued, serving the remaining stations at Cleobury Mortimer, Newnham Bridge, Neen Sollars and Tenbury Wells. At the end of that month, the Daily Telegraph reported that Tenbury Wells still had 12 staff serving no passengers and only one goods train per day. Staff numbers soon reduced, with all traffic ceasing the signal box being closed on 28 April 1963. The following day electric token working between Cleobury and Tenbury was replaced by a single wooden staff for 'one engine in April 1965steam'.<ref name=BS196>[[Bibliography#Books|Beddoes & Smith (1995)]] p. 196. </ref>
At The next significant closure resulted from the end of the daily goods service on Saturday 4 January 1964. The remaining stations were closed from 6 January, as seen in the closure notice. An infrequent goods service continued to the [[Cleobury Mortimer and Ditton Priors Light Railway|Admiralty depot at RNAD Ditton Priors]], using locos from [[Kidderminster Shed]] until its closure on 10 August 1964 and subsequently from Stourbridge shed. In the meantime the line between Tenbury and Newnham Bridge was used to store up to 1,000 condemned wagons.<ref name=BS196/> By early 1965 the Admiralty had announced the closure of Ditton Priors and only a few goods services still ran 'as required'. The last of that timetraffic ended from Good Friday 16 April 1965. Electric token working between [[Bewdley North signal box]] and Cleobury Mortimer was withdrawn on 8 May 1965 along with the wooden staff to Tenbury Wells. The branch was then worked as a siding while dismantling progressively took place, ending with the demolition of Dowles Bridge in March 1966. In 1965 the line between Bewdley and Cleobury Mortimer was considered as a possible candidate for preservation in the [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1965-1969#1965 | early days]] of the Severn Valley Railway Society. However continued use of Bewdley Station by BR meant this was not possible. Much of the line was demolished shortly thereafter, with Dowles Bridge being dismantled in March 1966<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Beddoes & Smith (1995)]] pp. 196-198.</ref>.
==Use by the present day SVR==
Trustworthy, administrator
11,894
edits

Navigation menu