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Bridgnorth

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The station: add links
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==The station==
Bridgnorth is the current Northern terminus of the SVR. It has two platforms connected by a [[Bridgnorth Station Footbridge|footbridge]], a yard, and a [[Bridgnorth signal box|signal box]]. The original Severn Valley Railway continued northwards towards Ironbridge through [[Bridgnorth Tunnel|a 550 yard long tunnel ]] underneath Bridgnorth High Town. From time to time the possibility of re-opening the section of the line north of Bridgnorth is raised on discussion forums and elsewhere. The official stance of the SVR has over time varied between ''"maintaining a watching brief"'' and ''"the railway land north of Bridgnorth has been long since sold, and there is now no possibility of Severn Valley trains reaching Ironbridge and Shrewsbury ever again"''. An application by [[The Ironbridge Railway Trust]] in 2021 to the 'Restoring Your Railway Ideas Fund' was unsuccessful.
The main station building is listed Grade II by Historic England for its special architectural or historic interest. <ref>[https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1053173 Bridgnorth Station on the Historic England list]</ref>
*On 12 March 2019 the planning application for the proposed relocation of the turntable was resubmitted. Approval was granted on 30 April 2019.<ref>[https://pa.shropshire.gov.uk/online-applications/ Shropshire Planning] Ref:19/01151/FUL</ref>
*In June 2021 the SVR applied for Listed building alterations in association with the conservation, renovation and reordering of Bridgnorth station, including reconstruction of the former parcels office and change of use to a shop.<ref name=blaug21>[https://www.svrlive.com/blaug21 Branch Lines, August 2021]</ref>
*In autumn 2023 work commenced on converting the former ladies' toilet to a new [[Severn Valley Railway Engineering Services|SVR Engineering (ESMP)]] office. This is seemingly incompatible with the previously announced plans to relocate the shop and reinstate the waiting room.
SVR(H) Annual Reports give the total capital sums spent on the Bridgnorth project to the end of 2020 as £3,236k comprising:
*2019: £625k (final payments and retention monies for the refreshment room/toilet block and new car park/access roads)
*2020: £17,289 on the refreshment room, disabled toilet block, car park and access roads.<ref>SVR(H) Financial Statements for period ending 3 January 2021</ref>
*2022: £31,624 on windows, roof and professional fees.<ref>SVRH Report and accounts up to 2 January 2023</ref>
In October 2019 the SVR issued an update suggesting the next phase (the Bridgnorth Turntable pit, restoration of the Turntable, renewal of track work in Bridgnorth yard and the provision of a new loco pit) would be delayed until further quotes were obtained and plans developed. The full announcement may be read on SVRLive [https://www.svrlive.com/post/bridgnorth-development-update-oct19 here]. Previous updates on this project including pictures of the work in progress can be found on the [https://www.svrlive.com/bridgnorth-development SVRLive Bridgnorth Development page].
*1887: The Town Corporation pays for a new approach road to the station.
*1892: Two fully interlocked signalboxes open at the north and south ends of the station, replaced in 1923 by a [[Bridgnorth signal box|single central box ]] on the up platform.
*1895: The Town Corporation pays for a lattice footbridge to shorten the route from High Town to the railway, at a cost of £1,400.
*1922: [[SVR staff in 1922#Severn Valley Railway (Kidderminster to Bridgnorth)|GWR staff records for 1922]] show the station had a staff of 19.
 
*1923 Traders' siding completed.<ref>GWR Magazine January 1923</ref>
 
*1923 New brick-built [[Bridgnorth signal box| signal box]] opened with manual interlocking and 54 levers. Track circuit installed at the Worcester end of station.<ref>GWR Magazine March 1923</ref>
 
*1927 A loading bank was provided to facilitate ordinary goods business and to accommodate the new sugar beet traffic for The West Midlands Sugar Co (later British Sugar Corporation) factory at the site of [[Foley Park sidings]].<ref>GWR Magazine August 1927</ref>
 
*1928 [[Country Lorry Service and Cartage Service|Country Lorry Service]] introduced.<ref>GWR Magazine June 1928</ref>
 
*1929 The GWR began a long distance coach service from [[Wolverhampton]] to Aberystwyth via Bridgnorth and Ludlow; departing at 11.40am using a 26 seater, 6 cylinder Thorneycroft Victor vehicle.<ref>GWR Magazine September 1929</ref>
 
*1937 The supply and erection of a timber-framed warehouse was carried out by W&A Edgell Limited of Radstock.<ref>GWR Magazine January 1937</ref> A similar building was erected at Stourport.<ref>GWR Magazine August 1937</ref>
*1956: [[Railcar 22|GWR Diesel Railcar W10W]] was burnt out in a fire while standing at Platform 1.
 
*1960: The loop capacity, for the purpose of crossing trains, was 59 wagons, plus engine and brake van.<ref>Sectional Appendix to the Working Time Tables and Books of Rules and Regulations, Birmingham Traffic District, October 1960</ref>
*1962: Bridgnorth Town Council objects to BR's proposals to withdraw passenger trains between Shrewsbury and Bewdley, believing the line could be promoted as a holiday attraction.
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===Station Masters===
 
{| class="wikitable
|+ Early Station Masters
|-
!Name!!Born !! From !! To !! Comments
|-
| William Doughty || 15 February 1817 Broseley, Shropshire || data-sort-value="1/8/1863" | August 1863 || data-sort-value="1/9/1866" | September 1866 ||
|-
| Isaac Norris Hunt || 18 April 1828 Clifton, Gloucestershire || data-sort-value="1/9/1866" | September 1866 || data-sort-value="1/1/1869" | January 1869 || Previously station master at [[Stourport]]
|-
| Samuel Martin || 13 April 1834 Weymouth, Dorset || data-sort-value="1/1/1869" | January 1869 || data-sort-value="1/4/1872" | April 1872 ||
|-
| James Alexander Masters || 3 July 1840 Witney, Oxfordshire || data-sort-value="1/4/1872" | April 1872 || data-sort-value="6/7/1873" | 6 July 1873 || Deceased
|-
| William Edward Bradshaw || 29 May 1845 Sulgrave, Northamptonshire || data-sort-value="1/9/1873" | September 1873 || data-sort-value="1/7/1875" | Around July 1875 ||
|-
| Frederick Conran Barratt || 14 September 1833 Crewkerne, Somerset || data-sort-value="1/7/1875" | July 1875 || data-sort-value="1/9/1877" | Around September 1877 || Died November 1877.
|-
| William Gannimon Bowerman || 10 March 1836 Witney, Oxfordshire || data-sort-value="1/9/1877" | September 1877 || data-sort-value="10/11/1896" | 10 November 1896 || Retired
|-
|John Samuel <nowiki>Collett</nowiki>|| 3 June 1858 Chadlington, Oxfordshire || data-sort-value="1/12/1896" | December 1896|| data-sort-value="1/5/1905" | May 1905|| Died 30 August 1905. Served 33 years and left widow and three young children<ref>GWR magazine, October 1905</ref>
|-
|William James Cowan || 27 July 1857 Stonehouse, Devon|| data-sort-value="1/10/1905" | October 1905|| data-sort-value="1/1/1914" | 1914|| Retired in 1921 as Station Master at Newquay (Cornwall). He started in 1874 on the Devon and Cornwall Railway. He spent 9 years as Station Master at Bridgnorth from 1905<ref>GWR magazine, November 1921</ref>
|-
|George Smith || 14 January 1867 Shipton under Wychwood, Oxon ||data-sort-value="1/1/1917" | By 1917 || data-sort-value="1/1/1929" |1929|| George Smith, recently retired Station Master at Bridgnorth, received a presentation on 26 April 1929. His replacement, Mr Tubey presided.<ref name=GWR29>GWR magazine, June 1929</ref>
|-
|Mr Tubey || || data-sort-value="1/1/1929" |1929 || || <ref name=GWR29/>
|-
|D.B. Davis || || data-sort-value="1/1/1931" | 1931 || data-sort-value="1/1/1941" | 1941 || Retirement after 45 years service. Been at Bridgnorth for 10 years following Withington and Chipping Norton<ref>GWR magazine, January 1941</ref>
|-
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