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==The Stationstation==
Arley station has two platforms and a [[Arley signal box|signal box]], allowing trains travelling in opposite directions to pass.
During periods of lighter traffic, when [[Arley signal box]] is switched out, all trains use the platform adjacent to the main station building.
In February 2017 the waiting room at Arley Station became licensed to hold civil marriages and partnerships, with space for up to 21 people. Further information on packages may be found on the [http://www.svr.co.uk/Weddings_Day_Package.aspx SVR website Wedding Day Packages page].
Arley was until 2018 also the site of [[Santa's Grotto]] for the [[Christmas services|Santa Special services]]. From 2020 it hosted the plays that formed part of the SVR's Christmas services.
==Arley village==
The village itself is named Upper Arley (also historically Over Arley<ref>[http://www.gutenberg.org/files/17612/17612-h/17612-h.htm Handbook to the Severn Valley Railway, by J. Randall 1863]</ref><ref>[http://www.shropshirestar.com/entertainment/2016/05/03/the-first-ever-map-of-shropshire-up-for-sale/ 1579 map of Shropshire on the Shropshire Star web site]</ref>), which differentiates it from the similarly named, but differently spelled Areley Kings less than six miles away near Stourport.
Until 1895 Arley, including the railway, was part of a narrow neck of Staffordshire bounded on three sides by Shropshire and Worcestershire until it was moved to Worcestershire<ref>[https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/worcs/vol3/pp5-10 "Parishes: Upper Arley", British History Online] (Retrieved 12 December 2019)</ref><ref>[https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/STS/UpperArley Upper Arley, UK and Ireland Geneology)] (Retrieved 12 December 2019)</ref>.
[http://www.sharpos-world.co.uk/cpg/thumbnails.php?album=318 Photos at Arley, showing station building, signalbox & gardens]
==Facilities==
Arley station does not have a public car park. There is Until 2020 there was a small cafe café building behind the station which serves served hot and cold drinks and snacks, but has not reopened after the [[2020 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic]]. ==Film and TV productions filmed at Arley==Several [[List of film and TV productions filmed on the Severn Valley Railway|film and TV productions]] have scenes from, or filmed at, Arley. The station has temporarily carried other identities for filming purposes, including: *[[Candleshoe]] 1977 (''Hambleden'')*[[Silver Blaze]] 1977 (''Tavistock'')*[[The Good Soldier]] 1981 (''Branshaw'')*[[L For Lester]] 1982 (''Barrow Gurney'')*[[The Box Of Delights]] 1984 (''Condicote'')*[[A Wreath of Roses]] 1987 (''Hampton'', for which a dummy footbridge connected platforms 1 and 2)*[[The Halt]] 1987 (''Newton Halt'')*[[Oh Doctor Beeching!]] 1995-97 (''Hatley'', see below)*[[Goodnight Mister Tom]] 1998 (''Weirwold'')*[[Enola Holmes]] 2020 (''Ferndell'') ===Oh Doctor Beeching!===(See ''[[Oh Doctor Beeching!|main article]]'')<br>A BBC TV sitcom ran from 1995 to 1997, set in the small fictional branch line railway station of Hatley. Filming took place at Arley.
A row of Victorian railway cottages was built in the yard as a film prop. After final filming the cottages were dismantled and retained, but despite reminders to the BBC about what they wanted with them they gave no response. Ultimately they were broken up with the assistance of the [[SVR Apprentices|Junior Club]]. The garden on the main platform by the Gents WC was created by the BBC and is known today as the BBC garden. The signalbox had a name plate above the door. <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">File:Hatley1.jpg | Hatley (Arley) signal boxFile:Hatley2.jpg | Film prop cottages at ArleyFile:Hatley3.jpg | Film prop cottages at ArleyFile:Hatley4.jpg | Film prop cottages at Arley</gallery> ==Points of Interestinterest==
===Station buildings===
The main station building at Arley dates from the opening of the Severn Valley Railway in 1862. Extensions were later added, consisting of a Ladies ' waiting room authorised in 1892 and an additional bedroom in the Station Master’s house added in 1901.
The shelter on Platform 2 is also original, dating from the opening of that platform in 1883.
The café building behind the station was built during the summer of 1992 on the site of the former weighbridge. It replaced a similar building known as 'Tom’s Cabin' that had become dangerous.
In 2016, a number of stone sills, coping stones and quoins were replaced.
<gallerymode=packed heights=150px style="text-align:left">
File:Arley SVR Station, northbound platform - geograph.org.uk - 699616.jpg | Shelter on Platform 2 (Wikimedia Commons)
File:Arley kiosk.jpg | Refreshment kiosk
File:Arley stone2.jpg | Stonemason at work in 2016
</gallery>
In 2018 an [[:Category:SVR fundraising lotteries|SVRA raffle]] raised over £7,000 for new facilities including a workshop and storage for Santa equipment to replace a small corrugated metal shed next to the gift shop.<ref>SVR News 200</ref> In late 2019 construction started on the new building at the north end of the station, with the roof coming from part of the old [[Bewdley]] platform canopy. It was also partly funded by the [[Arley Station Fund]]<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/epfeb20 Express Points, February 2020] (Retrieved 4 February 2020)]</ref>.
===Restoration===
When the SVR first re-opened the line between Hampton Loade and Bewdley in [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1970-1979 #1974 | 1974]], there was no facility to pass trains, the Up loop (the running line nearer the station building) having been removed by BR in the 1960s. This was re-laid over the next year and re-opened on [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1970-1979 #1974 | 25 May 1975]].
<gallerymode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
File:S0635 Arley Station 1972.jpg | Rebuilding platform 2 in 1972 (David Cooke)
File: S6842 Arley Station 1973.jpg | Relaying the Up line (David Cooke)
</gallery>
===Telephone Kioskkiosk===
The telephone kiosk on Platform 1, which can be seen in the main picture above, was acquired from the P.O. in Birmingham circa late 1981, having been vandalised ‘beyond economic repair’<ref>SVR News 62</ref>. Once at Arley it was duly repaired, and within a year had been returned to full working order<ref>SVR News 66</ref>.
<gallerymode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
File:Arley phone box.jpg
</gallery>
===Anderson shelter===
An Anderson shelter was erected in the picnic garden in 2018, where it could be seen during that year’s ‘Step Back to the 1940s’ weekends. More than 3.5 million of these shelters were issued to the public before and during World War II to provide shelter from bombs and shrapnel. This particular example was originally installed at a house in Weoley Castle, Birmingham, and was donated to the SVR by Lisa Priest of Birmingham City Council and Mrs Dorothy Sigures of Weoley Castle.<ref>Information board next to the shelter</ref><ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_raid_shelter#Anderson_shelter Anderson shelter on Wikipedia]</ref>
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
Arley_Anderson_Shelter_20180705.jpg|Anderson Shelter
</gallery>
===GWR 446 6 ton hand crane===
[[GWR 446 6Ton Hand Crane]] is stabled with [[GWR 2501 'Rotank' 6-Wheeled Road Milk Tank Flat Wagon]] which arrived in July 2021 to replace the former [[BR 707261 Crane Runner | Crane Runner 707261]], 2501 being considered better suited to the crane.<ref>SVR Wagons Facebook 13 January 2019</ref> The crane and flat wagon will undergo cosmetic restoration.
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
GWR_446_and_B707261_20190506.jpg|GWR Crane 446 and former crane runner 707621 at Arley in May 2019
GWR_2501_20210729.jpg|New crane runner GWR 2501 in July 2021
GWR446.16.01.88.jpg|GWR Crane 446 in use at Bewdley in 1988
</gallery>
==Station masters==
Station masters at Arley since preservation have been as follows:
*C.P. May (1974-1975)
*Barrie Geens (1975-1983)
*Ian Latimer (1983- )
==Arley history before preservation==
[[File:Arley_Pre_1882.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Arley before the addition of a second platform and ladies waiting room]]
*1862: Arley station opened with the rest of the Severn Valley Line on 1 February, but had only one platform and no facility for crossing trains. Control of train movements was by single needle telegraph only
*1883: A second platform , authorised in August 1882, was brought into use in June 1883. Installation of a signal box and interlocking of points and signals were completed around this time.*1891: ‘Train staff and ticket’ working in conjunction with a single-needle block telegraph was introduced throughout the line, replacing the earlier simple telegraph working arrangements. Henceforth drivers could not enter a section without possession of a physical staff , or a paper ticket stating the staff would follow on a succeeding train. Those used at Arley were for Arley to [[Bewdley North signal box|Bewdley North]] (hexagonal staff, yellow ticket) and Arley to [[Hampton Loade]] (square staff, red ticket).
*1894: ‘Electric staff’ working replaced staff and ticket working. [[Highley]] also became a staff station, breaking the long section to Hampton Loade.
*1898: An [[The Severn Valley Railway under GWR/BR ownership#Accidents | accident]] occurred when a train overran signals when entering the station and was derailed.
*1907: The platforms were lengthened and the up platform widened.
*1913: Following the building of a signal box at [[Kinlet and Billingsley Sidings signal box | Kinlet and Billingsley Sidings]], Arley to Kinlet (when switched in) was worked by electric staff but Arley to Highley was worked by electric tablet, probably Tyers No 7.
*1922: [[SVR staff in 1922#Severn Valley Railway (Kidderminster to Bridgnorth)|GWR staff records]] show the station had a staff of 3, comprising the stationmaster and two signalmen.
*1938: A GWR [[Arley Camp Coach|camping coach]] was based at Arley.
*1950: By this date, [[ETT | Electric Train Token]] working had been introduced, becoming the fifth method of train control.
*1963: Through passenger services ceased on 9 September, with through freight services ending at the end of November.
*1964: The signal box closed on 28th June. The up line and sidings were lifted, and the edge of the down platform was removed to give greater clearance for coal trains from [[Alveley Sidings|Alveley]]. The original signal box was later demolished.
{| class="wikitable
|+ Early Station Masters at Arley prior to 1939
|-
!Name!!Born !! From !! To !! Comments
|-
|Samuel Allard||1820, Great Creeton, Northamptonshire|| August 1863|| September 1865||Joined West Midland Railway February 1852. Booking Constable at Buildwas (1865 - 1866). Retired 1897.
|-
|William Pearson||1835, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire|| September 1865||Retired ca.1885||Died 7 March 1886.
|-
|Joseph Pugh||28 September 1830, Stoke Prior, Worcestershire||January 1886||Resigned October 1900||Joined West Midland Railway December 1855. Formerly Booking Porter at Linley (1864 - 1880).
|-
|George Batchelor||1 April 1860, Honeybourne, Worcestershire||20 October 1900|| Retired 1920?|| Formerly Signalman at Hartlebury (1882) and Kidderminster (1887). Died 23 December 1942.
|-
|Joseph Thomas Hill||5 April 1877, Kinver, Staffordshire||1920?|| Before 1932||Formerly Porter at Bewdley (1896), Signal Porter at Hampton Loade (1897) and Bridgnorth (1899) and Station Master at Hampton Loade (1915?). Died July 1943.
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ [[The Severn Valley Railway under GWR/BR ownership#Traffic statistics|GWR Traffic statistics]] for Arley, selected years prior to 1939<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Nabarro (1971)]] p. 54.</ref>
|-
! !! colspan="3" | Passenger Traffic !! colspan="2" | Freight Traffic !!
|-
! Year !! Tickets issued !! Parcels despatched !! Revenue (£) !! Tons received & despatched !! Revenue (£) !! Total revenue (£)
|-
|1903||style="text-align:right"|17,295||style="text-align:right"|2,453||style="text-align:right"|914||style="text-align:right"|881||style="text-align:right"|178||style="text-align:right"|1,092
|-
|1913||style="text-align:right"|15,796||style="text-align:right"|3,219||style="text-align:right"|761||style="text-align:right"|1,399||style="text-align:right"|301||style="text-align:right"|1,062
|-
|1923||style="text-align:right"|12,898||style="text-align:right"|1,341||style="text-align:right"|862||style="text-align:right"|1,828||style="text-align:right"|996||style="text-align:right"|1,858
|-
|1933||style="text-align:right"|8,663||style="text-align:right"|997||style="text-align:right"|477||style="text-align:right"|54||style="text-align:right"|47||style="text-align:right"|524
|-
|1938||style="text-align:right"|11,623||style="text-align:right"|926||style="text-align:right"|526||style="text-align:right"|44||style="text-align:right"|24||style="text-align:right"|550
|-
|}
==Historic maps of Arley station==
*GWR plan of Arley station showing the original single line with later amendments in red
*1885 map (survey date 1883) showing the single line through the station
*1904 map showing the passing loop and second platform opened in June 1883
*1927 map showing the 1907 extensions to both platforms
*1960 map showing no significant changes in over 30 years
<gallery mode=packed heights=150px style="text-align:left">
File:GWRplanArley.jpg
File:Arley1885map.jpg | 1885
File:Arley1904map.jpg | 1904
File:Arley1927map.jpg | 1927
File:Arley1960map.jpg | 1960
</gallery>
== Gallery ==
<gallerymode=packed heights=150px style="text-align:left">
File:Arley-Prairie-1959-10-03.jpeg | An ex-GWR Prairie calls at Arley in October 1959 ([[Sellick Collection]])
File:Arley-1962-09-29.jpg|Pannier 3619 calls at Arley in September 1962 ([[Sellick Collection]])
== See also ==
*[[List of stations]]*[[Christmas services|Santa Special services]]*[[Santa's Grotto]]*[[List of stationsfilm and TV productions filmed on the Severn Valley Railway]]
==References==
*[http://www.svr.co.uk/Weddings_Day_Package.aspx SVR Wedding Day Packages]
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[[Category:Featured articles]]
[[Category:SVR fundraising lotteries]]
