A set of sidings between [[Highley]] and [[Hampton Loade]], built to serve File:Alveley_Sidings-1959-10-07.jpeg|thumb|300px|right|6388 passes large numbers of coal wagons at Alveley Colliery, located across the river. The sidings were opened in the 1930s, and were kept Sidings in use beyond the closure of the line between October 1959 ([[BewdleySellick Collection]] and [[Shrewsbury)]] in 1963, accessed from Bewdley. However, the mine became uneconomical to work and was closed in 1969, with the sidings and line North of Bewdley being closed at the same time, as no other source of traffic remained.
== Alveley Sidings were located between [[Highley]] and [[Hampton Loade]], and opened on 30 January 1939 to serve [[Collieries served by the Severn Valley Railway#Alveley Colliery | Alveley Colliery ==]], which was located across the river. The sidings were kept in use beyond the closure of the line between [[Bewdley]] and [[Shrewsbury]] in 1963, accessed from Bewdley. However, the mine became uneconomical to work and was closed in 1969, with the sidings and line North of Bewdley being closed at the same time, as no other source of traffic remained. The sidings were adjacent to a [[Alveley Miners Halt level crossing | halt]] used by miners travelling to the colliery by railway.
The shaft at == Operations ==[[File:GWRplanAlveleySidings.jpg|thumb|300px|right|GWR plan of Alveley Sidings]]A concrete arched bridge was sunk in 1935 to a depth of 360 yards by built across the Highley Mining Company, river Severn between 1936 and was connected with their workings from their Highley shaft, which had proceeded under the river by this point. Initial work was completed in 1937, and production starting in 1938. The new shaft replaced the one at Highley, which Coal was closed in 1939, with all production being brought from the colliery to the surface at Alveleysidings and colliery, although initially by a narrow gauge cable-worked tramway across the old shaft was retained for ventilation bridge, and as later by an emergency evacuation routeaerial ropeway above it. The workings were very modern, with full use being made of electrical power, including completely mechanical working of the coal face<ref name ="Marshall101">[[Bibliography#Books | Marshall (1989)]] p. 101.</ref>
Coal was brought across The sidings were accessed via two ground frames, [[Alveley North ground frame|Alveley North]] and [[Alveley South ground frame|Alveley South]], which were unlocked by the river by a rope[[Highley signal box|Highley]]-worked tramway across [[Hampton Loade signal box|Hampton Loade]] token. An intermediate token instrument was provided in a bridge built to serve cabin between the minetwo ground frames, which was later replaced with an aerial ropeway direct telephone lines to Highley Signal Box and Hampton Loade Booking Office, as well as the Worcester Exchange-Bridgnorth Signal Box omnibus line. The intermediate instrument allowed trains to be locked in so that other traffic could pass on the main line whilst shunting took place in 1961. This served the washeries and sidings.
Production was fairly consistentThe layout on the GWR side consisted of a front loop line, reaching full output in 1944 with 275,000 tons raised, with that year's record being 5,547 tons in one weeka capacity of 50 wagons, and a peak number of 300other sidings and headshunts. Two connections to the private sidings were provided,000 tons per year reached in one at the late 1950s. Employment was 741 in 1947, rising South end leading to over 1the empty wagon sidings,250 in the mid 1950swhich held 40 wagons, and falling another at the North end leading to around 700 by the mine's closureloaded wagon sidings, holding 36 wagons. A major expansion was undertaken in The two rakes of private sidings were connected internally via the late 1950s and early 1960scoal screens, completed the large buildings visible in 1962the Sellick photograph, after large reserves of where coal were found to the East of was loaded into the current workingswagons. These GWR locomotives were purported to be enough used to last the mine between 50 set down and 100 yearspick up wagons on these sidings, but a drop were otherwise not allowed in the quality of coal combined with a reduction in demand forced the closure of the mine in 1969, with the last coal being lifted on the 31st of Januaryprivate sidings.
== Operations Preservation==The sidings were deemed unsuitable for the storage of SVR stock due to the remoteness of the location and the resultant risk of vandalism.<ref name ="Marshall101" /> They were therefore dismantled, with much of the rail and point-work later being re-used elsewhere on the line.
The sidings were access via two ground framesIn 1996, [[Alveley North ground frame|Alveley NorthCountry Park Halt]] and [[Alveley South ground frame|Alveley South]], which were unlocked by was opened on the Highley-Hampton tokensite. An intermediate token instrument The river bridge linking the main country park on the east bank with the Halt on the SVR was provided to allow trains to be locked replaced in, meaning that other traffic could pass 2006.<ref>[https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/7072/highley-alveley-footbridge-shropshire News article on the main line whilst the sidings were being shuntedwww.transportxtra.com]</ref> It is also used by [[National Cycle Route 45]].
== Photographs ==
File:GWR_Alveley_Colliery_1.jpg|GWR Notice covering the opening and operation of Alveley Sidings. 2 of 2.
</gallery>
* A series of photos of 1420 and 4555 with an SLS railtour at Alveley Sidings, by flickr user "ricsrailpics", 19/09/1965. [https://www.flickr.com/photos/16749798@N08/5300686174/in/photostream/ Image 1], [https://www.flickr.com/photos/16749798@N08/5300171333/ Image 2], [https://www.flickr.com/photos/16749798@N08/6393731807/in/photostream/ Image 3]. The sidings were still in use at this time.
* A photo of the 4555 on the same railtour, by flickr user "Prof2940", 19/09/1965. [https://www.flickr.com/photos/78911862@N06/7837700982/ Link]. The sidings were still in use at this time.
* A series of photos of the SVR, including six at Alveley Sidings, Alan Thwaites, 1974. [http://www.hatspics.co.uk/svr/svr_1974.php Link].
* Two photos of 5764 and 45110 passing Alveley Sidings, RCTS Mystery Photographs. [http://www.rcts.org.uk/features/mysteryphotos/show.htm?img=G-245-10 Image 1], [http://www.rcts.org.uk/features/mysteryphotos/show.htm?img=G-245-07 Image 2].
==See also==
*[[Alveley Miners Halt level crossing]]
*[[Maps#Schematic maps of the pre-closure SVR | Pre-1963 map]]
*[[List of signal boxes#List of historical Signal Boxes and Ground Frames | List of historical Signal Boxes and Ground Frames]]
== References ==
<references />
* "Alveley". Wikipedia article. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alveley Link]. Accessed 09/01/2015.
* "Alveley Colliery". Shropshire History article. [http://shropshirehistory.com/mining/mines/alveley.htm Link]. Accessed 09/01/2015.
* "Alveley Sidings at 144m 8 1/2c in the Section Highley-Hampton Loade". GWR Notice No. W472, 28/01/1939. [[:File:GWR_Alveley_Colliery_1.jpg|Part 1]] and [[:File:GWR_Alveley_Colliery_2.jpg|Part 2]].
* Leslie Oppitz. "The Severn Valley Railway". BBC Shropshire article. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/content/articles/2008/10/10/svr_railway_feature.shtml Link]. Accessed 09/01/2015.
* Transactions of the Alveley Historical Society, 1995-2003. [http://www.alveleyhistoricalsociety.co.uk Link]. Accessed 09/01/2015
* "Railways of Highley". Highley.org.uk article. [http://www.highley.org.uk/railhist.html Link]. Accessed 09/01/2015.
==Links==
[http://www.highley.org.uk/page31.html "Mines and miners" on www.highley.org.uk]
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