Other rolling stock visiting the SVR and Eardington: Difference between pages

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[[File:Eardington_20180603.jpg|thumb|300px|right| Eardington (June 2018)]]
This page gives details of miscellaneous items of rolling stock that have visited the SVR. Listing is incomplete.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Next stations
|-
! Up (towards [[Kidderminster]]) !! Down (towards [[Bridgnorth]])
|-
| [[Hampton Loade]] (2&frac14; miles)<br> || [[Bridgnorth]] (2&frac14; miles)
|-
|}
'''Eardington''', sometimes referred to as "Eardington Halt", is situated on [[Eardington Bank]] and located mid-way between [[Bridgnorth]] and [[Hampton Loade]] at milepost 147&frac34;. Although the station does not feature in daily operations, it resumed use during gala events in 2023 more than 40 years since regular timetabled trains ceased. A dedicated 'Friends of Eardington Station' team under Station Master Steve Downs looks after this wayside gem.


==Eardington in preservation==
==2002==
*'''Parry People Mover''': original PPM 50 prototype for testing. Also visited in 2020 and 2021, see below.


===Restoration and use up to 1983===
==2007==
A working party began restoring Eardington at Whitsun 1967. During that year the platform was cleared, the station building was repainted black and white, and other repairs were carried out. Eardington was in operation during the 1967 and 1968 Steam Galas, the latter seeing locomotives watered there for the first time (see below).<ref name=SVR25>SVR News 25, ''Eardington Station'', David Marchant</ref>
*'''Track Gopher''': Provided on loan by the North Yorkshire Moors Railway to help recover from the [[2007 Storm Damage|2007 storm damage]]<ref>Picture in SVR News 159, Autumn 2007</ref>.
<br clear="all"/>


The station officially reopened on 23 May 1970 along with Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade, which at the time formed the limit of operations.<ref>SVR (Holdings) Ltd prospectus April 1972</ref> Eardington was used as an intermediate stopping point and watering place and was sometimes referred to as Eardington Halt. For the seasons 1970 to 1973 inclusive all trains were advertised in the [[SVR timetables|SVR public timetables]] to call there.
==2014==
*'''DR 73309''' Plasser & Theurer 07-275 Switch & Crossing Tamper. Used in repairs at [[Sterns]] and elsewhere. Seen leaving Kidderminster by low loader in [http://youtu.be/YhOIcvEcPJU this video]
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
File:Bishops Lydeard - DR73309.jpg|DR 73309 at the WSR in 2014 (Wikimedia Commons)
</gallery>


During the period of [[Sir Gerald Nabarro]]'s chairmanship, plans were made for the possible rebuilding of Eardington as the northern terminus on the line. As well as installing a run-round loop (see below), detailed plans were also prepared for the station to be enlarged and a car park provided, although this was not publicised at the time.<ref name=Marshall180>[[Bibliography#Books|Marshall (1989)]] p. 180.</ref>
==2017==
*'''DR 73913''': Plasser and Theurer Switch and Crossing Tamper. Property of Colas rail, the tamper was used in the relaying of a section of track near [[Waterworks Crossing]].
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
File:DR_73913_20170304.jpg |Colas Rail Tamper DR 73913
</gallery>


The station became 'request only' from 2 March 1974, the same year that services were extended to run south of Hampton Loade. The 'request' status continued until the end of the 1976 season, although calls were suspended that year because of fire risk.<ref>Minutes of SVR 10th Annual General Meeting</ref>
*'''6224''': Matisa R7 Ballast Regulator. Owned by B&R Track Services. A Ballast Regulator is used to sweep excess ballast from the track.
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
File:Ballast_Regulator_6224_20170422.jpg|Matisa R7 Ballast Regulator 6224
</gallery>


For 1977 only two round trips were advertised to call on request on Mondays to Saturdays, except Bank Holidays. The following year only one round trip was advertised to call on request, on Saturdays only. No calls were advertised during 1979 and 1980, but in 1981 and 1982 seasons all trains were again timetabled to call on request. No calls were advertised from the 1983 season onwards.<ref name=Marshall103>[[Bibliography#Books|Marshall (1989)]] p. 103.</ref>
*'''GBRf biomass hoppers''': Five GBRf biomass hoppers visited the SVR during July for PR purposes. The hoppers, which are normally used for transporting biomass such as wood pellets to power stations, were numbers 83 70 6955 326-6, 83 70 6955 342-3, 37 70 6955 222-4, 37 70 6955 251-3 and 37 70 6955 272-9 (pictured).
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
File:GBRf_Biomass_Hopper_20170726.jpg|A GBRf biomass hopper
</gallery>


It was removed from regular use thereafter, variously ascribed to the platform edge becoming dangerous or due to the steep gradient, short platform, and low passenger numbers.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eardington_Halt_railway_station Wikipedia]</ref>
*'''PSL 193 'Plimsoll' ''': Mark Saville’s 1957 Series 1 2-litre petrol Land Rover, capable of running on road and rails, made a return trip between Bridgnorth and Kidderminster on 12 August. The rail wheels are custom made from LM25 aluminium/magnesium alloy and take around an hour to fit.
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
File: Land_Rover_Highley_20170812.jpg | 'Plimsoll' at Highley
</gallery>


===Platform restoration 1989 to 2019===
*'''Loram CRG(01) Corrective Rail Grinder''': This Network Rail rail grinder arrived on the SVR on 23 October 2017. The 4 vehicles making up the unit are sequentially numbered DR 79301, DR 79302, DR 79303 and DR 79304. Pictured at Highley, DR 79304 nearest the camera.
By 1989 platform coping at the southern end of the platform, adjacent to station building, had been removed after it collapsed. A shortened platform, 152 feet long, remained at northern end.<ref>SVR News 92 p.2, SVR News 100 p.35, SVR News 109 p.19, SVR News 122 p.44, SVR News 127 p.45, SVR News 192 p. 30</ref> The Friends held a fundraising appeal in 2014 to replace the missing part;<ref>SVRA Working Members Newsletter November 2014</ref> it was reported on 27 October 2016 that sufficient funds had been raised to purchase the required replacement GWR bricks.<ref>[https://twitter.com/Eardingtonstn/status/791730973977219072 Eardington Station Twitter Feed], retrieved 1 November 2016</ref>
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
File:Rail_Grinder_20171025.jpg| Rail grinder at Highley
</gallery>


A project commenced during the January 2018 winter shutdown involving the partial rebuilding of the platform face.<ref>[https://svrtrust.org.uk/downloads/Platform%202018%20web%20version-1.pdf 'Platform' magazine, 2018 Issue 4, p.5]</ref> Some 8000 engineering bricks recovered from the London – Bristol mainline and donated by Kier Construction were cleaned up by the Friends, and provide a genuine connection to the GWR. The rebuild was undertaken by JSR Construction of Chelmarsh, thus keeping the work local.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/eardington-station SVRLive 'Eardington Station' 13 January 2018]</ref><ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/winter-works-2018 'SVRLive Winter Works 2018' 16 January 2018]</ref> Work was completed on 31 January 2019, giving the station a full length working platform of 300' - roughly 5 coaches - for the first time since 1984. The £41,000 project was aided by donations from the [[Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust Ltd| Charitable Trust]] and [[Severn Valley Railway Company Limited| the Guarantee Company]] of £6,500 each, with the remainder being raised by the Friends. The project was completed on time and on budget. <ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/eardington-station SVR Live February 2019]</ref><ref>[https://www.shropshirestar.com/entertainment/bridgnorth-entertainment/2019/03/01/volunteers-on-severn-valley-railway-proud-to-unveil-new-platform/ Smith, R., 'Severn Valley Railway volunteers proud to unveil new platform', Shropshire Star, 1 March 2019] (Retrieved 3 March 2019)</ref> The rebuilt platform, which incidentally is longer than those at [[Highley]], Hampton Loade and Bridgnorth’s platform 2, can be seen in the main photograph taken during the 2018 Goods Gala. It greatly improved the appearance of the station and progressed its potential use on future gala events.
==2018==
*'''DR 73309''' Plasser & Theurer 07-275 Switch & Crossing Tamper. Used in winter 2017-18 infrastructure work at [[Accommodation bridge near Severn Lodge|County Boundary]] and elsewhere. Also visited in 2014.
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
File:DR73309 20180720.jpg|DR 73309 at Highley in 2018
</gallery>


===Returning the station to passenger use 1989 to 2018 ===
*'''"Cavell Van"''' SE&CR 132: This van was used in 1919 to bring back the body of nurse Edith Cavell from Belgium where she helped 200 Prisoners of War escape before being caught and executed. It was displayed at Arley to commemorate the 100th anniversary of World War 1.
It had long been the Friends' ambition to stop local trains at Eardington during Galas.
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
Cavell van restored.JPG|The Cavell Van (Wikimedia Commons)
</gallery>


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>
*'''GBRf IIA hoppers''': Three GBRf IIA hoppers took part in the 2018 Goods Gala in June 2018. The hoppers, which are used to transport Silica sand for the glass industry,<ref>[http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Rail-News/gb-railfreight-picks-up-41-new-iia-hoppers railtechnologymagazine.com] (retrieved 2 June 2018)</ref> were numbers 8170 0659 032-4, 8170 0659 028-2 and 8170 0659 030-8 (pictured).

<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
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>
GBRf_IIA_Hopper_20180602.jpg| IIA hopper at Highley

</gallery>
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.

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>.

===Proposal for full reopening in 2018-19 ===
In November 2018, FCFM Group, the owners of nearby Astbury Hall, submitted plans to Shropshire Council for development of the hall and grounds as a 'holiday venue'. The Design Statement states "The applicant has agreed to assist in financing of the reopening of Eardington Station and to take a direct link between Astbury Estate and the Severn Valley Railway."<ref>[https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/bridgnorth/2018/12/05/50m-plans-revealed-for-world-class-holiday-venue/ Article on the proposed reopening in the Shropshire Star]</ref><ref>[https://pa.shropshire.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=PHHELNTDHH500 Planning application for Astbury Hall on Shropshire Council web site]</ref> This would see around 300 high quality log cabins at the site adjacent to Eardington Station. FCFM submitted to the SVR an outline proposal for investment such that trains could call regularly providing a link to the new development. The parties agreed to explore how public access could be provided from the estate to the station and what could be achieved while ensuring the character and feel of the station are not undermined.<ref>SVR announcement 7 December 2018</ref>

In February 2019, the SVR submitted a 'Support Comment' in favour of the development to Shropshire Council.<ref>[https://pa.shropshire.gov.uk/online-applications/files/18443101FA96A89B05C78950FB71FF7B/pdf/18_05052_FUL-SUPPORT_COMMENT_SEVERN_VALLEY_RAILWAY-3514070.pdf SVR Support Comment on Shropshire Council web site]</ref> In March 2019 the Shropshire Star reported that that plans had been approved.<ref>[https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/property/2019/03/12/astbury-hall-plans-backed-to-transform-former-kk-downing-estate-into-luxury-leisure-resort/ ''Astbury Hall: Plans backed to transform former KK Downing estate into luxury leisure resort''] Shropshire Star (retrieved 25 May 2019)</ref>

=== Use for galas from 2023 ===
By 2023 the ORR had given the SVR permission in principle to stop trains there during Galas. The Railway put in place the paperwork and procedures to enable this, as it had not been operational for many years, for the [[Autumn Steam Gala]].<ref>[https://news.railbusinessdaily.com/vulcan-joins-svr-gala-line-up-and-eardington-welcomes-first-arrivals-in-41-years/ Longhorn, Danny, ' 'Vulcan' joins SVR Gala line-up, and Eardington welcomes first arrivals in 41 years', Rail Business Daily, 21 July 2023] (Retrieved 25 July 2023)</ref> For safety reasons, only local trains not longer than the station platform may stop there, and not during hours of darkness.

==Eardington siding==
Opposite the station platform is a dead-end siding which is accessed by a two-lever [[Eardington ground frame | ground frame]] at the south end. This is released by the [[Highley signal box|Highley]]-[[Bridgnorth signal box|Bridgnorth]] long section token, and was commissioned in 1976.<ref>[http://svrsig.co.uk/svr/Frame8.htm Severn Valley Railway S&T Department (unofficial) website.]</ref>

The original siding at Eardington, which pre-dated the opening of the station itself, had been removed by BR in 1964 after closure of the line, but was reinstated in the early days of the SVR. In summer 1972 under Sir Gerald Nabarro's chairmanship, contractors began work to convert the siding into a passing loop at the then not insignificant cost of £8,000.<ref group="note">£8,000 in 1972 equates to around £135,000 in 2023. For context, the whole section of the railway between Bridgnorth and Alveley had cost only £25,000 just two years earlier.</ref> The loop was intended to accommodate a locomotive and 10 coaches, with a new concrete block-faced platform being built incorporating the cattle dock at the south end. A small signal box on the site of the cattle dock was to be added later. These works would have occupied most of the then car park area, so the small field above the station building was partially levelled to form a new car park which would have been accessed from the road at the north end.<ref name=SVR25/> Later that year, during preparation for commissioning the signalling between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade, an extra token machine was installed in [[Bridgnorth signal box]] to cater for the Eardington loop.<ref>SVR News 26, ''Signal & Telecommunications Department Notes''</ref>

The installation of the passing loop was seen as part of a plan by [[Sir Gerald Nabarro]] to abandon Bridgnorth,<ref group="note">Although officially described as a passing loop, discontented members believed it was actually intended as a run round loop at what would become the northern terminus following the closure of Bridgnorth.</ref> which led to much unrest on the SVR at the time. In fact the connection at the north end would have been too tight for most locomotives.<ref name=Marshall180/> However by May 1973 Nabarro had stepped down from the SVR(H) and Guarantee Company Boards. An EGM was held that month to consider the impact of the proposed [[Bridgnorth Bypass Bridge|Bridgnorth bypass]]. [[Richard Dunn]] advised shareholders and members via SVR News that "''I have no reason to reverse my opinion of 1968 that Eardington was not a suitable permanent terminus to the line, owing to the difficulties of road access and inadequate parking space.''"<ref>SVR News 27, ''The Proposed Bridgnorth By-pass'', R.H. Dunn</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>

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.


*'''PSL 193 'Plimsoll' ''': Mark Saville’s 1957 Series 1 Land Rover which first visited in 2017 made another return trip between Bridgnorth and Kidderminster on 12 August.
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
File:Eardington ground frame 20150701.jpg|Eardington ground frame in 2015
File: Land_Rover_Arley_20180811.jpg | 'Plimsoll' leaving Arley
File:Seacows_20170317.jpg|Ballast wagons in Eardington siding
</gallery>
</gallery>


==Current and former points of interest==
==2019==
=== Goods Lock Up ===
*'''Loram Rail Grinder''' on 2 April for training and also improving rail conditions in the process.<ref>Severn Valley Diesels (Official Group) Facebook</ref> The 4 vehicles are sequentially numbered DR 79401, DR 79402, DR 79403 and DR 79404 (nearest the camera). A similar unit visited in October 2017 as listed above.
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 mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
Hampton_Loade_Goods_Lock_Up_20160218.jpg|Hampton Loade Goods Lock Up
File:Rail_Grinder_20190407.jpg | Rail grinder at Highley on 7 April 2019
</gallery>
</gallery>
*'''GBRf IIA hoppers''': Three further GBRf IIA hoppers, as described in 2018 above, visited in June 2019 for a charter event. On this occasion the hoppers were numbers 8070 0659 011-8, 8070 0659 032-4 and 8070 0659 013-4.


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, 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>
*'''Osprey flat wagons''': 18 wagons, with '''Sibelco sand hoppers''', visited the SVR in June 2019, used to deliver a large quantity of rail.<ref>SVR News 207, pp. 10-11</ref>

===Ground Frame hut===
Access to the original siding was by two ground frames installed in 1983. The South Frame remained in use until closure and was enclosed in a hut, similar to a small signal box, with windows on three sides to improve sighting. The hut was later acquired by the Preservation Company at the fledgling Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway and erected at Castle Caereinon station as a passenger shelter. After that use ended, the W&LLR made contact to ask if Eardington would like it returned. The hut was inspected on 11 March 2010 and subsequently dismantled and transported to Eardington where it awaits re-erection<ref name=Miscellany>''"Eardington Station – A Miscellany." Text and Photos – Steve Downs.'' Information on public display at Eardington, April 2024</ref>.

===Locomotive watering facility===
The original station served as little more than a halt and therefore had no watering facilities. A water tank for Eardington was acquired by the [[Severn Valley Railway Society]] from the Netherton Goods Branch at Withymoor, Netherton (near Dudley) in the summer of 1967 and transported to Eardington. It was installed in time to be used for the 1968 Steam Gala. It was assisted in part by school parties from the The Royal School Wolverhampton under its history teacher, Brian Kingshott.<ref>Robert Betts and Nick Neath in Unofficial SVR Facebook post 22 April 2021</ref> The decision to install the SVR’s first proper watering facility at Eardington rather than Bridgnorth was due to Eardington having naturally soft water compared with very hard water at Bridgnorth.


At opening in 1970, the timetable allowed a 5 minute stop southbound at Eardington for locomotive watering; passengers frequently took the opportunity to photograph the locomotive or buy pop and sweets which were sold at the station. Once watering facilities were installed at Bridgnorth, this was reduced to one minute, effectively ending this practice.
*'''PSL 193 'Plimsoll' ''': Mark Saville’s 1957 Series 1 Land Rover which visited in 2017 and 2018 made another return trip between Bridgnorth and Kidderminster during the Classic Vehicle Day on 31 August.


Unused for some years and heavily perforated, the water tank was removed on 22 April 2021 using the [[Cowans Sheldon 30-ton steam crane]]. The intention was to assess whether the tank is reusable elsewhere and, if the tank could be saved, a low priority project would replace the [[Bewdley#Water_towers|inauthentic LNWR pattern tank at Bewdley]] to create a more Great Western feel.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/blmay21 Branch Lines May 2021]</ref> {{As of|2024}} it is still in the station yard.
*'''Mark 3 sleepers and other carriages''': In November 2019 a number of [[Mk 3a Convertible Sleeper#Locomotive Services Limited ('LSL') Mk 3 coaching stock|Mark 3 Sleepers]] and other Mark 3 carriages arrived on the SVR as part of a storage contract with Locomotive Services Limited. They are generally stored alongside Kidderminster Carriage Shed (as pictured on 23 April 2021) but from time to time have been moved to other sidings on the Railway, including at Highley and Arley, for operational reasons. {{As of|2021|12}} the 12 vehicles at Kidderminster were ex-Caledonian Sleepers Nos. 10504, 10513, 10648, 10650, 10675 and 10683 and ex-First Great Western carriages Nos 40106, 40808, 41149, 42319, 42583 and 46012.
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
Eardington Lift Chris Bond.jpg|The tank is removed in April 2021 (Chris Bond)
LSL_Mark_3_Sleepers_20210423.jpg| Sleepers and other carriages stored alongside Kidderminster Carriage Shed, April 2021
</gallery>
</gallery>


==2020==
===Lamps===
An electricity supply has never been installed. The Friends have developed a collection of vintage [http://tilleylamp.co.uk/ Tilley lamps] with a railway provenance, to light the station after dark when open for galas and special occasions.<ref name="SVROnlineForum"/> Eardington is the only remaining station in the UK that is lit entirely by oil lamps. The permission granted in 2023 by the ORR is conditional upon trains not stopping after darkness.
*'''Parry People Mover''': In April 2019 Parry People Movers announced plans to upgrade the original PPM 50 prototype ('Car 12') and seek approval for its entry into passenger service as ‘No 139000’.<ref>[http://friendlycreatives.co.uk/ppm/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/PN76-March-2019-pdf-version-3.pdf Parry News Issue 76, April 2019, p. 6.]</ref> It was delivered to the SVR in February 2020 for testing,<ref>[https://forum.svr-online.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=4311 SVR-Online Forum]</ref> leaving later in the year.

<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
In March 2021 the SVR’s YouTube channel included a video ''Eardington’s hidden gem – lighting the way for heritage rail on the Severn Valley Railway'' featuring volunteer lampman Phil Harris.
File:PPM_20200229.jpg | 'PPM 139000' at Bewdley

<youtube>bxMR0_dpuWk</youtube>

In 2023 a new post and oil-lit and 'Eardington' lettered luminaire was commissioned opposite the lamp hut, to illuminate the foot crossing<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=688938810003841&set=a.429830885914636 Eardington SVR Facebook post 14 December 2023]</ref>.
Sadly, two of the Tilley lamps were stolen in April 2024.<ref>[https://twitter.com/svrofficialsite/status/1780580905645429159 SVR X (formerly Twitter) post 17 April 2024]</ref>

===Former Bath Road turntable===
An electrically powered Ransom Rapier 65'3" standard-pattern over-girder turntable, originally from Bristol (Bath Road) depot, is stored at Eardington. It is intended for the [[Bridgnorth Turntable|Bridgnorth turntable project]]. This film shows the turntable's removal from Bristol and transport to Eardington.

<youtube>3Hnh0LJC_Qc</youtube>

===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>.

==TV and film==
The station was a location in a chase scene in the film [[Candleshoe]].

Steve Downes, the Station Master, is a member of acoustic trio 'Whalebone'. A music video of the Simon & Garfunkle classic 'The Boxer' was filmed at the station in 2011<ref>Heritage Railway 6 July 2011, p. 22</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FgtP7tpg1A The Boxer, Whalebone, music video on YouTube (2011)]</ref>.

==Model==
Tunnel Lane Model Railways produced 7mm 3D printed models of the station building and lamp hut, offered for sale at the 2023 O Gauge Get Together event<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=290153220438096&set=a.134519002668186 SVR O Gauge Get Together Facebook post.2 October 2023] (Retrieved 13 October 2023)</ref>

==Eardington history before preservation==

*1862: From opening, Eardington had no passenger facilities. Eardington Siding served the nearby Upper Forge and Lower Forge, two local ironworks located respectively west and east of the line and joined by a 750 yard long navigable canal tunnel. In 1864 a siding connection to Lower Forge was proposed but never built. The [[Timetable: Severn Valley Branch 1867|1867 service timetable]] showed the siding was served by two daily goods workings in each direction, with five minutes allowed for loading and unloading. <ref name=Miscellany/><ref name = "Marshall103" />
*1868: Eardington Station was opened by the GWR on 1 June 1868, some six years after the opening of the Severn Valley Railway.<ref name=SVRGuide>SVR Souvenir Guide, Ninth Edition</ref>
*1893: The station platform was extended.<ref name = "Marshall103" />
*1899: The ironworks closed.<ref name ="Marshall103" />
*1922: [[SVR staff in 1922#Severn Valley Railway (Kidderminster to Bridgnorth)|GWR staff records for 1922]] show the station had a staff of 2, the station master and a Gatewoman.
*1931: The station lost its station master, coming under the control of [[Highley]].<ref name=SVRNews201>SVR News 201 'Eardington News' (Steve Downs)</ref>
*1949: BR reduced the station to unstaffed status after 1 April 1949.<ref name = SVRGuide/>
*1952: The first noted instance of the station being referred to as "Eardington Halt" in a BR timetable.<ref name=SVRNews201/>
*1959: The goods loop was reduced to a siding, accessed from the south end only.<ref name = SVRGuide/> The station was still called "Eardington" in the [[Timetable: Severn Valley and Tenbury Lines 1959|1959 BR Working Timetable]].
*1963: The station closed when passenger traffic ceased on 9 September 1963.<ref name = SVRGuide/>
*1964: The former goods loop siding was completely removed.<ref name = SVRGuide/>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ [[The Severn Valley Railway under GWR/BR ownership#Traffic statistics|GWR Traffic statistics]] for Eardington, selected years prior to 1939<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Nabarro (1971)]] p. 55.</ref>
|-
! !! colspan="3" | Passenger Traffic !! colspan="2" | Freight Traffic !!
|-
! Year !! Tickets issued !! Parcels despatched !! Revenue (&pound;) !! Tons received &amp; despatched !! Revenue (&pound;) !! Total revenue (&pound;)
|-
|1903||style="text-align:right"|5,944||style="text-align:right"|778||style="text-align:right"|290||style="text-align:right"|1,493||style="text-align:right"|609||style="text-align:right"|899
|-
|1913||style="text-align:right"|6,690||style="text-align:right"|961||style="text-align:right"|311||style="text-align:right"|1,704||style="text-align:right"|464||style="text-align:right"|775
|-
|1923||style="text-align:right"|5,267||style="text-align:right"|2,259||style="text-align:right"|389||style="text-align:right"|2,355||style="text-align:right"|1,275||style="text-align:right"|1,664
|-
|1933||style="text-align:right"|3,361||style="text-align:right"|438||style="text-align:right"|150||style="text-align:right"|604||style="text-align:right"|217||style="text-align:right"|367
|-
|1938||style="text-align:right"|2,075||style="text-align:right"|277||style="text-align:right"|90||style="text-align:right"|1,434||style="text-align:right"|273||style="text-align:right"|303
|-
|}

=== Early Booking Porters and Station Masters at Eardington===
The first description of ‘Station Master’ in GWR records is in 1879. It seems likely that where no station master is shown, then the booking porter supervised the station.

{| class="wikitable
|-
!Name!!Born !! data-sort-type="date" | From !! data-sort-type="date" | To !! Comments
|-
| John George Brecknell ||1845 Abberley, Warwickshire || data-sort-value="20/5/1868" | May 1868||data-sort-value="4/8/1879" | August 1879|| Booking porter when the station opened in 1868 and may have supervised the station, the census of 1871 describing him as Station Master. Previously employed at Bridgnorth.
|-
|Stephen Floyd||1852 Tackley, Oxfordshire|| data-sort-value="4/8/1879" | August 1879||data-sort-value="1/8/1883" | January 1883||Station Master
|-
|William Sherwood||15 November 1846 Bidford, Warwickshire|| data-sort-value="1/1/1883" | January 1883||data-sort-value="1/1/1887" | January 1887||Booking Porter. Previously employed at [[Hartlebury]] on the branch, amongst other stations. Later Station Master at [[Hampton Loade]] and [[Berrington]].
|-
|Henry Powell||1836 Ombersley, Worcestershire|| data-sort-value="1/1/1887" | January 1887|| data-sort-value="1/6/1887" | June 1887|| Booking Porter. Served his entire railway career on the Severn Valley Branch, and censuses 1871 and 1881 record him as station master at Highley.
|-
|William George Cleeton||1859 Broseley, Shropshire|| data-sort-value="5/5/1890" | May 1890||data-sort-value="24/8/1891" |August 1891||Booking Porter, then Station Inspector, Census of 1891 records Station Master. Employed at [[Coalport]], [[Buildwas]] and Bridgnorth before Eardington, and later Station Master at Hampton Loade and Berrington.
|-
|George Walter Cooke||1865 Eardington, Shropshire|| data-sort-value="24/8/1891" | August 1891||data-sort-value="1/4/1930" | April 1930|| Station Master
|-
|Edward Morris Casey||1874 Abergavenny|| data-sort-value="1/4/1930" | April 1930||data-sort-value="1/3/1931" | March 1931|| Station Master
|-
|}

==Historic maps of Eardington Station==

* Original GWR plan of the station.
* 1884 OS map showing the position of the station in relation to the river and iron works. Unfortunately, the station lies across the join between two maps and the track detail is not very clear.
* 1903 OS map on which the loop and headshunt can be seen more clearly. By this date, the iron works was disused.
* 1905 GWR schematic plan of Eardington giving siding capacity and other details.

<gallery mode=packed heights=150px style="text-align:left">
File:GWRplanEardington.jpg | GWR plan
File:Eardington1884map.jpg | 1884
File:Eardington1903map.jpg | 1903
File:Eardington plan 1905.png | 1905
</gallery>
</gallery>
*'''DR 73309''' Plasser & Theurer 07-275 Switch & Crossing Tamper. Arrived on hire July 2020. Previously hired in 2014 and 2018.
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
File:DR73309 20180720.jpg|DR 73309 at Highley in 2018
</gallery>


==2021==
== Gallery ==
*'''Parry People Mover''': PPM 50 prototype 'Car 12' returned to the SVR for testing. Unfortunately, during tests its flywheel was damaged, and it was subsequently stored awaiting collection by the owner. In 2023 it was 'tagged' at [[Highley]] by vandals.
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
File:1997-7219_RJS_SV_55.jpg|Ex-GWR Pannier 3788 calls at Eardington in November 1960 ([[Sellick Collection]])
File:PPM_20210417.jpg | 'PPM 139000' at Highley
File:Eardington-DMU-1962-09-16.jpg|A BR DMU at Eardington in September 1962 ([[Sellick Collection]])
File:Eardington-2015-03-21.JPG|A similar view of Eardington, taken in March 2015
File:Eardington_Board_20170317.jpg|The station running in board
File:Eardington_Platform_20170317.jpg|An old bicycle on the platform next to milepost 147&frac34;
File:Candleshoe screenshot Eardington.jpg| 1977 [[Candleshoe]] image filmed from the [[Overbridge at north end of Eardington siding |Eardington Road Bridge]] featuring [[4566]] and three of the SVR's GWR carriages
3612 remains.jpg| Ex-GWR 0-6-0PT 3612's boiler on Eardington platform, minus chimney, frames, cab roof and tanks in the yard
</gallery>
</gallery>
*'''Bayer Environmental Science's Smart Weed System Train 1''' with GBRf 66709 'Sorrento' and 66771 'Amanda' for testing in June and July 2021<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/bljul21 Branch Lines July 2021]</ref>. It revisited in November and December 2021, delivered by a pair of Class 20s.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/bldec21 Branch Lines December 2021]</ref>
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
Class_66_66709_20210630.jpg | 66709 'Sorrento' at Kidderminster
Class_66_66771_20210630.jpg | 66771 'Amanda' at Kidderminster
50049 Defiance runs past with the Bayer Smart Weed System train just north of Bewdley tunnel July 2021. Matt Robinson.jpg| [[50049|50049 Defiance]] with the train near [[Bewdley Tunnel]]. Photo: Matt Robinson
</gallery>
*'''BR Class 43 (HST) Power Cars''': Five HST Power Cars, numbers 43251/43257/43272/43274/43277, arrived by rail as part of a storage contract with Colas Rail. The first three to arrive (pictured) were accompanied by 43044 which left by road for the Nottingham Heritage Railway at Ruddington. All five were moved to the yard at [[Arley]] shortly after arrival. 43272 and 43274 moved to Derby by rail under their own power on 9 September 2021<ref>[https://youtu.be/jePPMaxSf6o Sharpo's World video on YouTube]</ref>. 43257 & 43251 were collected by Colas Rail's Class 37 37116 on 13 October. The final power car, 43277, was moved from Arley to Highley for further stabling on 11 November 2021, to make room for [[Santa's Grotto|Santa operations]] set up at Arley.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/blnov21 Branch Lines November 2021]</ref> It left on 10 December 2021, being collected by 43272<ref>[https://youtu.be/rWlsD_DJMoQ Sharpo's World video on YouTube]</ref>.
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
HST_Power_Car_43251_20210723.jpg|43251 at Kidderminster
HST_Power_Car_43257_20210723.jpg|43257 at Kidderminster
HST_Power_Car_43274_20210723.jpg|43274 at Kidderminster
Arley_20210729.jpg|Five HST Power Cars at Arley
</gallery>
*'''PSL 193 'Plimsoll' ''': revisited during the Vintage Transport Extravaganza on 7 and 8 August.
*'''YRP 38t Rectank 909069''' (ADB909069, internal user 060973) adapted to carry class 50 power unit. On loan to the [[Class 50 Alliance Limited]] from Devon Diesel Society/South Devon Railway.


==2022==
== See also ==
*[[List of stations]]
*'''Bayer Environmental Science's Smart Weed System Trains 2 and 3''' were delivered on 4 February by 66779 ‘Evening Star’, for testing.
*[[Shropshire Historic Environment Record]]
*'''Tamping machine 99709 908014-2 T204''' hired from Trackwork of Doncaster, arrived 15 March.
*[[Models of the Severn Valley Railway]]
*'''HYA bogie hopper wagons 371098 and 371112''' visited in March with locomotives 69002 'Sir Bob Tiller CM&EE' and 66796 'The Green Progressor' for GBRf and Network Rail corporate days.
*'''Liebherr 0960 Road Rail Vehicle 99709 940617-2''' hired from Story in August 2022 for cropping scrap rail<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/blaug22 Branch Lines August 2022]</ref>.
*'''PSL 193 'Plimsoll' ''': Mark Saville’s 1957 Series 1 2-litre petrol Land Rover made a return visit on 3 September for the 'Purple Weekend'


==2023==
==Notes==
<references group="note"/>
*In March two Rail Adventure Class 43 power cars briefly visited the [[Diesel Depot|TMD]] to undertake a compressor change.
*On 5 May Rail Adventure Class 43 power cars 43186 and 43188 delivered [[UIC classification| wagons 80 2797 018-4, 80 2797 017-6 and 80 4737 025-3]] to the TMD for contract examination and storage. The wagons left by rail on 22 June.
*On 22 June four Meridian Generic Rail Limited 'Universal Barrier Vehicles' were noted stored adjacent to [[Sandbourne Viaduct]]. The vehicle ID's are 96602 'Henry', 96603 'Oliver', 96605 'Ernest' and 96607 'Philip' (example full ID 96 70 GB-MGRL 0096607-7)<ref>ST Publications, ''UK Combined Summer 2023''</ref>.
*Network Rail's BR Class 73 Bo-Bo 73951 Malcolm Brinded and 73952 Janis Kong were on display at the [[Diesel Locomotives visiting the SVR for galas#2020-present|2023 Spring Diesel Festival]] before being de-named and stored under contract, pending their later sale to Harry Needle Railroad Company. They left the SVR on 12 January 2024 by rail.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rlwmg9X64k&themeRefresh=1 Railcam YouTube video] (Retrieved 9 February 2024)</ref>
*On 1 September four Rail Adventure Class 43 power cars brought two further barrier wagons for storage. Two power cars underwent paid contract work using the C&W inspection pit and TMD facilities.
*The same month an ex-BR tube wagon was delivered to [[Carriage Repair Works|Kidderminster Carriage & Wagon yard]] for contract refurbishment and to enable it to carry movement sensors and monitoring equipment.
*October brought SB Rail's Plasser & Theurer Unimat 09-4x4/4S Dynamic Tamper 99 70 9123 012-5 (DR 75012), hopefully the start of regular training visits by SB Rail to the SVR.
*From 11 October Harsco Rail’s YZA Plain Line Stoneblower 99 70 9426 020-2 (DR80207). Visit planned for an extended period of mainline staff training, with the simultaneous benefit to the SVR of its track being maintained.
*In November recommissioned Class 43 power cars visited the TMD, 43306 & 43320 heading for export, hauling 43307 & 43316. Also, TXM Plant brought a Road Railer with flail attachment as part of a training course for new operators.
*December saw eight Rail Adventure Class 43s on site with a further four continental wagons and six wagons to complement the four barrier vehicles: subsequent frequent moves saw some depart the railway for export and to move rolling stock. Two Class 20s arrived from Peak Forest, one going into the Carriage Works for the contract repaint. The six wagons were for storage.


==2024==
== References ==
*[http://www.railchronology.free-online.co.uk/EARDINGTON%20summary.htm Rail Chronology, Eardington station] (Retrieved 20 September 2023). Richard Maund and Allan Brackenbury's research, an earlier version of which appeared in Railway & Canal Historical Society Railway Chronology Group Co-ordinating Newsletter no. 49, January 2007.
*On 12 February 66720 moved a weedkilling train from Kidderminster SVR<ref>RAIL Magazine Issue 1003, 21 February 2024, p.28</ref>.
*Early Booking Porters and Station Masters at Eardington information from Chris Haynes' research of GWR records and public records.
*On 5 March further Class 43 power cars 43423 and 43467 operated on test working Kidderminster SVR to Leamington Spa and return.


==See also==
*[[List of rolling stock|Rolling stock]]
*[[Diesel Locomotives visiting the SVR for galas]]
*[[Steam Locomotives visiting the SVR for galas]]

==References==
<references />
<references />


==Links==
==Links==
*[http://www.sharpos-world.co.uk/cpg/thumbnails.php?album=300 Sharpo's World photos at Eardington, showing station building & yard area]
*[http://www.yorkareagroup.co.uk/galleries/track-gopher-gallery/ NYMR York Area Group Track Gopher gallery]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6l1rg_1TeXU&feature=youtu.be Sharpos World video of Matisa Ballast Regulator at Kidderminster]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EefpdhOq38 "To Eardington" by Sammy B Videography on YouTube]
*[https://www.facebook.com/Eardington-Station-SVR-111506607237661 Eardington Station SVR on Facebook]
*[https://twitter.com/Eardingtonstn Eardington Station on X (Twitter)]

{{#coordinates:52.501739|-2.400062|[primary|][dim:1000]}}
{{StationNavbox}}
[[Category:Featured articles]]

Revision as of 17:11, 22 April 2024

Eardington (June 2018)
Next stations
Up (towards Kidderminster) Down (towards Bridgnorth)
Hampton Loade (2¼ miles)
Bridgnorth (2¼ miles)

Eardington, sometimes referred to as "Eardington Halt", is situated on Eardington Bank and located mid-way between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade at milepost 147¾. Although the station does not feature in daily operations, it resumed use during gala events in 2023 more than 40 years since regular timetabled trains ceased. A dedicated 'Friends of Eardington Station' team under Station Master Steve Downs looks after this wayside gem.

Eardington in preservation[edit | edit source]

Restoration and use up to 1983[edit | edit source]

A working party began restoring Eardington at Whitsun 1967. During that year the platform was cleared, the station building was repainted black and white, and other repairs were carried out. Eardington was in operation during the 1967 and 1968 Steam Galas, the latter seeing locomotives watered there for the first time (see below).[1]

The station officially reopened on 23 May 1970 along with Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade, which at the time formed the limit of operations.[2] Eardington was used as an intermediate stopping point and watering place and was sometimes referred to as Eardington Halt. For the seasons 1970 to 1973 inclusive all trains were advertised in the SVR public timetables to call there.

During the period of Sir Gerald Nabarro's chairmanship, plans were made for the possible rebuilding of Eardington as the northern terminus on the line. As well as installing a run-round loop (see below), detailed plans were also prepared for the station to be enlarged and a car park provided, although this was not publicised at the time.[3]

The station became 'request only' from 2 March 1974, the same year that services were extended to run south of Hampton Loade. The 'request' status continued until the end of the 1976 season, although calls were suspended that year because of fire risk.[4]

For 1977 only two round trips were advertised to call on request on Mondays to Saturdays, except Bank Holidays. The following year only one round trip was advertised to call on request, on Saturdays only. No calls were advertised during 1979 and 1980, but in 1981 and 1982 seasons all trains were again timetabled to call on request. No calls were advertised from the 1983 season onwards.[5]

It was removed from regular use thereafter, variously ascribed to the platform edge becoming dangerous or due to the steep gradient, short platform, and low passenger numbers.[6]

Platform restoration 1989 to 2019[edit | edit source]

By 1989 platform coping at the southern end of the platform, adjacent to station building, had been removed after it collapsed. A shortened platform, 152 feet long, remained at northern end.[7] The Friends held a fundraising appeal in 2014 to replace the missing part;[8] it was reported on 27 October 2016 that sufficient funds had been raised to purchase the required replacement GWR bricks.[9]

A project commenced during the January 2018 winter shutdown involving the partial rebuilding of the platform face.[10] Some 8000 engineering bricks recovered from the London – Bristol mainline and donated by Kier Construction were cleaned up by the Friends, and provide a genuine connection to the GWR. The rebuild was undertaken by JSR Construction of Chelmarsh, thus keeping the work local.[11][12] Work was completed on 31 January 2019, giving the station a full length working platform of 300' - roughly 5 coaches - for the first time since 1984. The £41,000 project was aided by donations from the Charitable Trust and the Guarantee Company of £6,500 each, with the remainder being raised by the Friends. The project was completed on time and on budget. [13][14] The rebuilt platform, which incidentally is longer than those at Highley, Hampton Loade and Bridgnorth’s platform 2, can be seen in the main photograph taken during the 2018 Goods Gala. It greatly improved the appearance of the station and progressed its potential use on future gala events.

Returning the station to passenger use 1989 to 2018[edit | edit source]

It had long been the Friends' ambition to stop local trains at Eardington during Galas.

Restoration by a "small group of Bridgnorth C&W volunteers" started in 1989.[15] By summer 1990, Steve Downs was "unofficial stationmaster".[16] It was gradually cosmetically restored by the Friends and occasionally opened to visitors on certain special events, albeit with trains not stopping, from the War Weekend of 25/26 June 1994 onwards.[17]

Part of the cutting behind the station collapsed in January 1991.[18]

In 2003 it reopened for trains to call on galas and the 1940s Weekend[19], the first advertised trains since 1982.

On 17 April 2015, the 82045 Steam Locomotive Trust ran a special fundraising train, The Eardington Explorer.[20] This ran between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade, calling specially at Eardington. The Fund ran a second 'Eardington Flyer' on 22 April 2016.

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[21].

Proposal for full reopening in 2018-19[edit | edit source]

In November 2018, FCFM Group, the owners of nearby Astbury Hall, submitted plans to Shropshire Council for development of the hall and grounds as a 'holiday venue'. The Design Statement states "The applicant has agreed to assist in financing of the reopening of Eardington Station and to take a direct link between Astbury Estate and the Severn Valley Railway."[22][23] This would see around 300 high quality log cabins at the site adjacent to Eardington Station. FCFM submitted to the SVR an outline proposal for investment such that trains could call regularly providing a link to the new development. The parties agreed to explore how public access could be provided from the estate to the station and what could be achieved while ensuring the character and feel of the station are not undermined.[24]

In February 2019, the SVR submitted a 'Support Comment' in favour of the development to Shropshire Council.[25] In March 2019 the Shropshire Star reported that that plans had been approved.[26]

Use for galas from 2023[edit | edit source]

By 2023 the ORR had given the SVR permission in principle to stop trains there during Galas. The Railway put in place the paperwork and procedures to enable this, as it had not been operational for many years, for the Autumn Steam Gala.[27] For safety reasons, only local trains not longer than the station platform may stop there, and not during hours of darkness.

Eardington siding[edit | edit source]

Opposite the station platform is a dead-end siding which is accessed by a two-lever ground frame at the south end. This is released by the Highley-Bridgnorth long section token, and was commissioned in 1976.[28]

The original siding at Eardington, which pre-dated the opening of the station itself, had been removed by BR in 1964 after closure of the line, but was reinstated in the early days of the SVR. In summer 1972 under Sir Gerald Nabarro's chairmanship, contractors began work to convert the siding into a passing loop at the then not insignificant cost of £8,000.[note 1] The loop was intended to accommodate a locomotive and 10 coaches, with a new concrete block-faced platform being built incorporating the cattle dock at the south end. A small signal box on the site of the cattle dock was to be added later. These works would have occupied most of the then car park area, so the small field above the station building was partially levelled to form a new car park which would have been accessed from the road at the north end.[1] Later that year, during preparation for commissioning the signalling between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade, an extra token machine was installed in Bridgnorth signal box to cater for the Eardington loop.[29]

The installation of the passing loop was seen as part of a plan by Sir Gerald Nabarro to abandon Bridgnorth,[note 2] which led to much unrest on the SVR at the time. In fact the connection at the north end would have been too tight for most locomotives.[3] However by May 1973 Nabarro had stepped down from the SVR(H) and Guarantee Company Boards. An EGM was held that month to consider the impact of the proposed Bridgnorth bypass. Richard Dunn advised shareholders and members via SVR News that "I have no reason to reverse my opinion of 1968 that Eardington was not a suitable permanent terminus to the line, owing to the difficulties of road access and inadequate parking space."[30]

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."[31] 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.[32]

In early preservation items of rolling stock were stored there before being restored to use, including carriages 2701, 4399, 26880 ‎and 27270; and 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[edit | edit source]

Goods Lock Up[edit | edit source]

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 where it serves as the station shop.

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, but the site has now been excavated by volunteers with the intention of rebuilding a replica Goods Lock Up in due course.[33][34]

Ground Frame hut[edit | edit source]

Access to the original siding was by two ground frames installed in 1983. The South Frame remained in use until closure and was enclosed in a hut, similar to a small signal box, with windows on three sides to improve sighting. The hut was later acquired by the Preservation Company at the fledgling Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway and erected at Castle Caereinon station as a passenger shelter. After that use ended, the W&LLR made contact to ask if Eardington would like it returned. The hut was inspected on 11 March 2010 and subsequently dismantled and transported to Eardington where it awaits re-erection[35].

Locomotive watering facility[edit | edit source]

The original station served as little more than a halt and therefore had no watering facilities. A water tank for Eardington was acquired by the Severn Valley Railway Society from the Netherton Goods Branch at Withymoor, Netherton (near Dudley) in the summer of 1967 and transported to Eardington. It was installed in time to be used for the 1968 Steam Gala. It was assisted in part by school parties from the The Royal School Wolverhampton under its history teacher, Brian Kingshott.[36] The decision to install the SVR’s first proper watering facility at Eardington rather than Bridgnorth was due to Eardington having naturally soft water compared with very hard water at Bridgnorth.

At opening in 1970, the timetable allowed a 5 minute stop southbound at Eardington for locomotive watering; passengers frequently took the opportunity to photograph the locomotive or buy pop and sweets which were sold at the station. Once watering facilities were installed at Bridgnorth, this was reduced to one minute, effectively ending this practice.

Unused for some years and heavily perforated, the water tank was removed on 22 April 2021 using the Cowans Sheldon 30-ton steam crane. The intention was to assess whether the tank is reusable elsewhere and, if the tank could be saved, a low priority project would replace the inauthentic LNWR pattern tank at Bewdley to create a more Great Western feel.[37] As of 2024 it is still in the station yard.

Lamps[edit | edit source]

An electricity supply has never been installed. The Friends have developed a collection of vintage Tilley lamps with a railway provenance, to light the station after dark when open for galas and special occasions.[20] Eardington is the only remaining station in the UK that is lit entirely by oil lamps. The permission granted in 2023 by the ORR is conditional upon trains not stopping after darkness.

In March 2021 the SVR’s YouTube channel included a video Eardington’s hidden gem – lighting the way for heritage rail on the Severn Valley Railway featuring volunteer lampman Phil Harris.

In 2023 a new post and oil-lit and 'Eardington' lettered luminaire was commissioned opposite the lamp hut, to illuminate the foot crossing[38]. Sadly, two of the Tilley lamps were stolen in April 2024.[39]

Former Bath Road turntable[edit | edit source]

An electrically powered Ransom Rapier 65'3" standard-pattern over-girder turntable, originally from Bristol (Bath Road) depot, is stored at Eardington. It is intended for the Bridgnorth turntable project. This film shows the turntable's removal from Bristol and transport to Eardington.

Pannier Tank boiler[edit | edit source]

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[40].

TV and film[edit | edit source]

The station was a location in a chase scene in the film Candleshoe.

Steve Downes, the Station Master, is a member of acoustic trio 'Whalebone'. A music video of the Simon & Garfunkle classic 'The Boxer' was filmed at the station in 2011[41][42].

Model[edit | edit source]

Tunnel Lane Model Railways produced 7mm 3D printed models of the station building and lamp hut, offered for sale at the 2023 O Gauge Get Together event[43]

Eardington history before preservation[edit | edit source]

  • 1862: From opening, Eardington had no passenger facilities. Eardington Siding served the nearby Upper Forge and Lower Forge, two local ironworks located respectively west and east of the line and joined by a 750 yard long navigable canal tunnel. In 1864 a siding connection to Lower Forge was proposed but never built. The 1867 service timetable showed the siding was served by two daily goods workings in each direction, with five minutes allowed for loading and unloading. [35][5]
  • 1868: Eardington Station was opened by the GWR on 1 June 1868, some six years after the opening of the Severn Valley Railway.[44]
  • 1893: The station platform was extended.[5]
  • 1899: The ironworks closed.[5]
  • 1922: GWR staff records for 1922 show the station had a staff of 2, the station master and a Gatewoman.
  • 1931: The station lost its station master, coming under the control of Highley.[45]
  • 1949: BR reduced the station to unstaffed status after 1 April 1949.[44]
  • 1952: The first noted instance of the station being referred to as "Eardington Halt" in a BR timetable.[45]
  • 1959: The goods loop was reduced to a siding, accessed from the south end only.[44] The station was still called "Eardington" in the 1959 BR Working Timetable.
  • 1963: The station closed when passenger traffic ceased on 9 September 1963.[44]
  • 1964: The former goods loop siding was completely removed.[44]
GWR Traffic statistics for Eardington, selected years prior to 1939[46]
Passenger Traffic Freight Traffic
Year Tickets issued Parcels despatched Revenue (£) Tons received & despatched Revenue (£) Total revenue (£)
1903 5,944 778 290 1,493 609 899
1913 6,690 961 311 1,704 464 775
1923 5,267 2,259 389 2,355 1,275 1,664
1933 3,361 438 150 604 217 367
1938 2,075 277 90 1,434 273 303

Early Booking Porters and Station Masters at Eardington[edit | edit source]

The first description of ‘Station Master’ in GWR records is in 1879. It seems likely that where no station master is shown, then the booking porter supervised the station.

Name Born From To Comments
John George Brecknell 1845 Abberley, Warwickshire May 1868 August 1879 Booking porter when the station opened in 1868 and may have supervised the station, the census of 1871 describing him as Station Master. Previously employed at Bridgnorth.
Stephen Floyd 1852 Tackley, Oxfordshire August 1879 January 1883 Station Master
William Sherwood 15 November 1846 Bidford, Warwickshire January 1883 January 1887 Booking Porter. Previously employed at Hartlebury on the branch, amongst other stations. Later Station Master at Hampton Loade and Berrington.
Henry Powell 1836 Ombersley, Worcestershire January 1887 June 1887 Booking Porter. Served his entire railway career on the Severn Valley Branch, and censuses 1871 and 1881 record him as station master at Highley.
William George Cleeton 1859 Broseley, Shropshire May 1890 August 1891 Booking Porter, then Station Inspector, Census of 1891 records Station Master. Employed at Coalport, Buildwas and Bridgnorth before Eardington, and later Station Master at Hampton Loade and Berrington.
George Walter Cooke 1865 Eardington, Shropshire August 1891 April 1930 Station Master
Edward Morris Casey 1874 Abergavenny April 1930 March 1931 Station Master

Historic maps of Eardington Station[edit | edit source]

  • Original GWR plan of the station.
  • 1884 OS map showing the position of the station in relation to the river and iron works. Unfortunately, the station lies across the join between two maps and the track detail is not very clear.
  • 1903 OS map on which the loop and headshunt can be seen more clearly. By this date, the iron works was disused.
  • 1905 GWR schematic plan of Eardington giving siding capacity and other details.

Gallery[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. £8,000 in 1972 equates to around £135,000 in 2023. For context, the whole section of the railway between Bridgnorth and Alveley had cost only £25,000 just two years earlier.
  2. Although officially described as a passing loop, discontented members believed it was actually intended as a run round loop at what would become the northern terminus following the closure of Bridgnorth.

References[edit | edit source]

  • Rail Chronology, Eardington station (Retrieved 20 September 2023). Richard Maund and Allan Brackenbury's research, an earlier version of which appeared in Railway & Canal Historical Society Railway Chronology Group Co-ordinating Newsletter no. 49, January 2007.
  • Early Booking Porters and Station Masters at Eardington information from Chris Haynes' research of GWR records and public records.
  1. 1.0 1.1 SVR News 25, Eardington Station, David Marchant
  2. SVR (Holdings) Ltd prospectus April 1972
  3. 3.0 3.1 Marshall (1989) p. 180.
  4. Minutes of SVR 10th Annual General Meeting
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Marshall (1989) p. 103.
  6. Wikipedia
  7. SVR News 92 p.2, SVR News 100 p.35, SVR News 109 p.19, SVR News 122 p.44, SVR News 127 p.45, SVR News 192 p. 30
  8. SVRA Working Members Newsletter November 2014
  9. Eardington Station Twitter Feed, retrieved 1 November 2016
  10. 'Platform' magazine, 2018 Issue 4, p.5
  11. SVRLive 'Eardington Station' 13 January 2018
  12. 'SVRLive Winter Works 2018' 16 January 2018
  13. SVR Live February 2019
  14. Smith, R., 'Severn Valley Railway volunteers proud to unveil new platform', Shropshire Star, 1 March 2019 (Retrieved 3 March 2019)
  15. SVR News 100 p.35, SVR News 127 p.45
  16. SVR News 100, p.31
  17. SVR News 111 p.36
  18. SVR News 100 pp.18 and 36, SVR News 101 p.31
  19. SVR News 142, p.54/5
  20. 20.0 20.1 SVR Online Forum
  21. SVR's PR on Shropshire Live website 4 June 2018 (Retrieved 24 June 2018)
  22. Article on the proposed reopening in the Shropshire Star
  23. Planning application for Astbury Hall on Shropshire Council web site
  24. SVR announcement 7 December 2018
  25. SVR Support Comment on Shropshire Council web site
  26. Astbury Hall: Plans backed to transform former KK Downing estate into luxury leisure resort Shropshire Star (retrieved 25 May 2019)
  27. Longhorn, Danny, ' 'Vulcan' joins SVR Gala line-up, and Eardington welcomes first arrivals in 41 years', Rail Business Daily, 21 July 2023 (Retrieved 25 July 2023)
  28. Severn Valley Railway S&T Department (unofficial) website.
  29. SVR News 26, Signal & Telecommunications Department Notes
  30. SVR News 27, The Proposed Bridgnorth By-pass, R.H. Dunn
  31. SVR News 31, Boardroom Notes, David Mellor
  32. SVR News 34
  33. Posters and photographs on display at Eardington, April 2024 (general history and replacement project)
  34. SVR News 100 pp.18 and 36, SVR News 101 p.31 (cutting collapse date)
  35. 35.0 35.1 "Eardington Station – A Miscellany." Text and Photos – Steve Downs. Information on public display at Eardington, April 2024
  36. Robert Betts and Nick Neath in Unofficial SVR Facebook post 22 April 2021
  37. Branch Lines May 2021
  38. Eardington SVR Facebook post 14 December 2023
  39. SVR X (formerly Twitter) post 17 April 2024
  40. SVR News 50.
  41. Heritage Railway 6 July 2011, p. 22
  42. The Boxer, Whalebone, music video on YouTube (2011)
  43. SVR O Gauge Get Together Facebook post.2 October 2023 (Retrieved 13 October 2023)
  44. 44.0 44.1 44.2 44.3 44.4 SVR Souvenir Guide, Ninth Edition
  45. 45.0 45.1 SVR News 201 'Eardington News' (Steve Downs)
  46. Nabarro (1971) p. 55.

Links[edit | edit source]