Trustworthy, administrator
6,720
edits
Changes
Info added
Restoration by a "small group of Bridgnorth C&W volunteers" started in 1989.<ref>SVR News 100 p.35, SVR News 127 p.45</ref> By summer 1990, Steve Downs was "unofficial stationmaster".<ref>SVR News 100, p.31</ref> It was gradually cosmetically restored by the Friends and occasionally opened to visitors on certain special events, albeit with trains not stopping, from the [[Step Back to the 1940s|War Weekend]] of 25/26 June 1994 onwards.<ref>SVR News 111 p.36</ref>
Part of the cutting behind the station collapsed in January 1991.<ref>SVR News 100 pp.18 and 36, SVR News 101 p.31</ref>Quarrying operations behind the station were blamed, and Steve Downes believes the quarry operators did the remedial work. The cutting side was re-profiled, giving the grassy slope we have today. Trees were planted at the top of the bank, to take up moisture from the soil.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=131602261894762&set=pb.100066631855473.-2207520000 Eardington Facebook 24 June 2020] (Retrieved 23 April 2024)</ref>
In 2003 it reopened for trains to call on galas and the 1940s Weekend<ref>SVR News 142, p.54/5</ref>, the first advertised trains since 1982.
On 17 April 2015, the [[The 82045 Steam Locomotive Trust|82045 Steam Locomotive Trust]] ran a special fundraising train, [[The Eardington Explorer]].<ref name=SVROnlineForum>[https://forum.svr-online.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=3298 SVR Online Forum]</ref> This ran between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade, calling specially at Eardington. The Fund ran a second 'Eardington Flyer' on 22 April 2016.
In 2018 the SVR's retained stonemason Philip Chatfield fitted two stone window cills in place of crumbling stonework.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=136824128039242&set=pb.100066631855473.-2207520000 Eardington Facebook page 7 July 2020] (Retrieved 23 April 2024)</ref>
On 2-3 June 2018 it staged "'''Eardington 150'''" to mark its 150th birthday. The station was open to the public on both days with various special attractions (trains did not stop). The event coincided with the SVR's Goods Gala<ref>[https://www.shropshirestar.com/entertainment/attractions/2018/06/04/restored-shropshire-railway-station-celebrates-150-years---with-video-and-pictures/ SVR's PR on Shropshire Live website 4 June 2018] (Retrieved 24 June 2018)</ref>.
In early 1974 the Board reported that "''The circumstances under which Eardington loop was planned have so altered that it is unlikely to be needed. It is proposed to convert it to a siding, controlled from a ground frame at the south points, with the proposed platform area levelled off to form a loading bank and car park''."<ref>SVR News 31, ''Boardroom Notes'', David Mellor</ref> By winter 1974-5 the loop had been converted to a siding to for PW use. The two points at the north end which formed a crossover were both removed; the former point in the main line was reused at [[Arley]] while the point from the loop was taken to Bridgnorth for use in the loco yard. The single-bladed trap at the south end was not considered suitable for a siding opening onto a passenger carrying line, so was replaced by a double-bladed trap.<ref>SVR News 34</ref>
It was around this time the pre-preservation loading gauge on the goods siding, and the cattle dock on the loading dock, were both removed. Both feature in early preservation images.
In early preservation items of rolling stock were stored there before being restored to use, including carriages [[GNR 2701 Composite Corridor | 2701]], [[BR 4399 Tourist Standard Open |4399]], [[LMS Brake Third Corridor 26880 | 26880]] and [[LMS 27270 Third Open |27270]]; and [[Regent Oil & Texaco 345 Aviation Fuel Tank Wagon | Regent Oil & Texaco Aviation Fuel Tank Wagon 345]]. Since that time the siding is regularly used for storing Permanent Way rolling stock.
==Current and former points of interest==
=== Goods Lock Up ===
A number of stations on the Severn Valley branch were provided with a Goods Lock Up, a small corrugated iron hut where parcels and other merchandise traffic could be securely stored while awaiting collection or delivery. Lockups were generally built to a standard GWR design, although with many detail differences. Lengths also varied, with 10ft, 14ft and 20ft being commonplace.
The Goods Lock Up on Platform 1 at Hampton Loade is pictured below. A similar Goods Lock Up can also be seen at [[Arley#Goods Lock Up|Arley]] where it serves as the station shop.
</gallery>
At one time, Eardington also had a similar lockup. It was later removed, probably after the station became unstaffed in 1949, although the footprint of the building was still visible in the 1950s. It was covered by a landslip when part of the cutting behind the station collapsed in January 1991(see above), but the site has now been excavated by volunteers with the intention of rebuilding a replica Goods Lock Up in due course.<ref>Posters and photographs on display at Eardington, April 2024 (general history and replacement project)</ref><ref>SVR News 100 pp.18 and 36, SVR News 101 p.31 (cutting collapse date)</ref>
===Ground Frame hut===
===Pannier Tank boiler===
For some years from the winter of 1978-79 a GWR Collett 5700 class 0-6-0PT boiler was stored on the platform. This came from [[GWR Pannier 3612]], which was dismantled at the station<ref>SVR News 50.</ref>.
===Weighbridge===
Eardington also had a weighbridge, sited near the main gates. Only the brickwork of the pit survives<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=132473445140977&set=pb.100066631855473.-2207520000 Eardington Facebook post 26 June 2020] (Retrieved 23 April 2024)</ref>.
==TV and film==
