Bewdley
| UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) (towards Kidderminster) | DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) (towards Bridgnorth) |
|---|---|
| Kidderminster (3½ miles) | Arley (3¾ miles) via Northwood Halt |
| Towards Hartlebury | Towards Kidderminster | Towards Shrewsbury |
|---|---|---|
| Stourport (2½ miles) ) via Burlish Halt (from 1930) |
Kidderminster (3¾ miles) via Rifle Range Halt (1905-1920) and Foley Park Halt (from 1905) |
Arley (3¾ miles) via Northwood Halt (from 1935) |
The station
Bewdley station has three platforms and was formerly the junction for both the Wyre Forest and Stourport lines, both of which are now used as sidings.
The station is controlled by two signal boxes, Bewdley South and Bewdley North. The section through platforms 1 and 2 is the only double track section of the present SVRSevern Valley Railway. This is worked under Absolute Block regulations.
The yard at Bewdley is home to the Carriage and Wagon department which supplements the Carriage Repair Department at Kidderminster and maintains the fleet of goods wagons. The 4150 Fund are also restoring GWRGreat Western Railway locomotive 4150 in Bewdley yard. Public access to the yard is available during the annual Members and Shareholders 'Behind the Scenes' event, organised by the 4150 Fund.
Bewdley MPD is home to the Class 108 DMU. Other operational locomotives are also stabled at Bewdley, running light engine to Kidderminster at the start and end of each day as required.
Bewdley Platform 1 is home to the Volunteer Liaison Office.
Facilities
Bewdley has limited public pay and display parking. There is a buffet adjacent to Platform 1. Three sales coaches run by support groups are adjacent to the car park.
Points of interest
Footbridge
A covered wooden footbridge at the northern end of the station allows access between Platform 1 and Platforms 2&3. It is numbered bridge 10.
Bewdley station footbridge
Water towers
Two water towers at the southern end of Platforms 2&3 and in the MPDMotive Power Depot area allow watering of locomotives.
Water towers at Bewdley station
Island platform canopy
Platforms 2&3 share a canopy, built in 1878, giving passengers protection from the weather. The canopy was extended around 1900.
Bewdley station from the footbridge, showing the island canopy
Underside of the canopy, showing the older timber frame on cast iron pillars closest, with the later steel frame in the distance
Bewdley station clock, installed in 1977 ex Stourbridge Junction Station
The canopy was refurbished using materials from the old Snow Hill station.
Gent's urinal
An open roofed cast iron gentlemen's urinal is located on Platforms 2&3. This was relocated from Melrose in Scotland by SVRSevern Valley Railway volunteers and formally opened in September 1977.
Bewdley gents urinal
Bewdley gents urinal detail
Portable water tank
A portable water tank with hand powered pump was used for the refilling of carriage water tanks.
Portable water tank
Bewdley history before preservation
- 1862: When the Severn Valley Line opened, Bewdley was a crossing point and was deemed a principal station, being provided with a goods shed and goods yard. Construction of the Tenbury and Bewdley Railway and the Kidderminster Loop had already been authorised, and the station was always planned to be a junction.
- 1877: In preparation for the delayed opening of the Kidderminster Loop, authorisation was given to enlarge the island platform and provide a shelter and footbridge. New Bewdley North and Bewdley South signal boxes were also built.
- 1878: The Kidderminster Loop opened on 1 June.
- 1900: Authorisation was given for additional siding space including the Rock Siding at the back of Platform 3 and the siding along the far side of the yard.
- 1962: Passenger services to Tenbury ceased on 29 July (services beyond Tenbury to Woofferton had ended a year earlier).
- 1963: Passenger services towards Shrewsbury ceased on 9 September, with through freight services ending at the end of November.
- 1964: Goods services ended on the Tenbury Branch and the line was closed.
- 1965: The goods yard closed on 1 February.
- 1969: All goods traffic north of Bewdley ceased with the closure of Alveley Colliery.
- 1970: Passenger services to Kidderminster and Hartlebury ended on 5 January, ending the pre-preservation use of Bewdley Station.
| Passenger Traffic | Freight Traffic | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Tickets issued | Parcels despatched | Revenue (£) | Tons received & despatched | Revenue (£) | Total revenue (£) |
| 1903 | 63,131 | 15,577 | 4,296 | 16,588 | 5,076 | 9,372 |
| 1913 | 82,475 | 19,845 | 4,702 | 17,020 | 4,074 | 8,776 |
| 1923 | 92,463 | 16,783 | 7,584 | 20,171 | 7,553 | 15,137 |
| 1929 | 92,479 | 17,812 | 6,202 | 20,201 | 8,875 | 15,077 |
| 1930 | 88,763 | 14,840 | 5,251 | 19,323 | 7,812 | 13,063 |
| 1931 | 69,627 | 14,706 | 4,922 | 20,599 | 9,227 | 14,149 |
| 1932 | 56,206 | 13,689 | 4,042 | 16,907 | 7,180 | 11,222 |
| 1933 | 56,012 | 15,578 | 4,007 | 15,158 | 6,802 | 10,809 |
| 1934 | 55,051 | 15,834 | 4,061 | 14,797 | 6,679 | 10,740 |
| 1935 | 61,135 | 16,093 | 3,988 | 13,668 | 5,920 | 9,908 |
| 1936 | 63,262 | 16,300 | 3,896 | 14,457 | 6,931 | 10,827 |
| 1937 | 66,925 | 16,001 | 4,164 | 13,357 | 5,627 | 9,701 |
| 1938 | 60,251 | 14,120 | 3,748 | 10,874 | 3,833 | 7,581 |
See Also
List of stations
List of shops
