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[[File:Bewdley South signal box.jpg|200px300px|thumb|right|Bewdley South signal box]][[File:BS Frame.jpg|200px300px|thumb|right|Interior of Bewdley South signal box]]A signal box at [[File:BewdleySouthSBAward_20150315.jpg|200px|thumbBewdley]], working to [[Bewdley North signal box|right|Award won by Bewdley South North]] and [[Kidderminster signal box|Kidderminster]].
The box passed almost immediately from British Rail's care into the hands of the SVR, and this coupled with the only minor alterations to the track layout it controls has undergone, have been carried out since that time. This means it is one of the most 'original' signal boxes in preservation, retaining its 1909 1923 lever frame, pre-preservation block shelf and rear wall furniture, including a token instrument cupboard (one of the originals working either to Stourport, Kidderminster or Bewdley North via the Back Road) and cupboards, phone board and train register desk, complete with curve worn into it by generations of signalmen leaning against it! The box also contains a table, box stool, and short bench which possibly date to pre-preservation days. Two armchairs and a GWR table chair ex-Gloucester S&T offices provided in 1993 complete the furnishings.
When services to Bewdley began in May 1974, the South box was initially used only for engines running round trains. Major work was carried out between 1980 and 1985 to accommodate the extension to Kidderminster. The box won work included installing electric signal lamps, moving the Down Home signal further out to permit shunting whilst a National Railway Heritage Awardtrain was approaching from Kidderminster, installing signals and trap points on the Westinghouse Signaling Awardtruncated Stourport line, and other mechanical locking modifications. The work ended with a rewire of the box. Services to Kidderminster commenced on 30 July 1984 under 'one engine in 2007steam' working. Full track circuiting of the line to Kidderminster was installed and working by acceptance lever was introduced on 21 November 1987. In September 1988 plans were made to install working distant signals at Bewdley North and South. The up and down distant signals were eventually commissioned on 1 April 1990. <ref>[http://nrhawww.svrsig.org.uk/winners-2007svr/Frame2.htm SVR S&T Dept website</ref><ref>SVR News 134, S&T Notes</ httpref> The box and the privy situated adjacent to it are both included on the [[Wyre Forest District Council Local Heritage List]]. In 2024 work took place to underpin the box, funded by the [[Charitable Trust]], necessary as the sandstone on which it is sited having eroded over time.<ref>[https://nrhawww.orgsvrlive.ukcom/blmar24 Branch Lines March 2024]</ref> <gallery>File:BewdleySouthSBAward_20150315.jpg | Award won by Bewdley South signal boxFile:Bewdley South Privy.JPG | Privy</gallery>
== Diagram ==
[[File:BS_Diagram.jpg|800px]]
Signalling diagram in Bewdley South. The circles on the diagram are track circuit indicators, which light in the presence of a train (or failure of a track circuit), the pilot light in bottom left right being constantly lit to indicate that the power is on.
[[File:BS_BR_Era_Diagram.jpg|800px]]
Construction of the first two signal boxes at Bewdley was authorised by the GWR Board in October 1877 as part of the opening of the [[Kidderminster Loop Line]]. They were the first 'proper' signal boxes on the Severn Valley Railway, all other boxes dating from after 1880<ref>[[Bibliography | Marshall (1989), p128]]</ref>. There is uncertainty as to whether Bewdley North and Bewdley South are these original 1877/78 build boxes or later (19th century) replacements.
The box has had three lever frames during its life. The original 28-lever McKenzie and Holland lever frame was replaced in the Box dates from September 1909 with a 31 (or 32) lever frame, and has an early example of standard replaced again circa 1923 with a GWR three32-lever 4" 3-bar vertical tappet interlockingframe. <ref name="SRSSignalBoxRegister_Update9">Signal Box Register, Volume 1: Great Western, revised 2011 edition, Signalling Record Society (plus correction sheet #9 )</ref> The interlocking has had minor alterations in preservation to suit preservation needs, but much is as it was prior to 1970.
Bewdley South signal box closed under BR ownership on Saturday 3 January 1970. The Train Register recording the closure is was formerly on display in [[The Engine House]] at Highley.
<gallery>
File: Train_Register_Bewdley_South_20090626.jpg | Bewdley South Train Register
==Signalling controlled from the Box==
[[File:Bewdley_South_Ian_Murray.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Signals on the approach to Bewdley South]]Most of the signals at Bewdley South are of late GWR/BR(W) steel tubular post and enamel arm design, however Signals 5, 6, 7, 9, 14 and 20 are mounted on two wooden post bracket signals and are of the earlier GWR 'wasp-tail' design. Many of the signals at Bewdley South are of pre-preservation vintage, because the layout has been so little altered. However, the large bracket outside of the signal box carrying signals 6, 7, 9 and 14 did not carry signal 14 or Bewdley North's Down distant signals pre-preservation, and the opposite bracket carrying signals 5 and 20 did not carry the bracket for signal 20 or a distant either, and it has been shortened somewhat to combat rot discovered in the lower end of the post. In early 2000 a start was made on refurbishment of Bewdley South Down Inner Home bracket.<ref>SVR News 132, S & T Notes</ref> In Autumn 2001 it was determined that the wood on the existing bracket signal needed to be renewed, requiring a temporary signal while the existing bracket signal was removed.<ref>SVR News 137, S & T Notes</ref> During July 2005 the refurbished five foot arms on the signal were ready to be replaced, but an examination of the main post of the signal showed that previous repairs carried out by BR had deteriorated to the extent that the main post itself would have to be replaced. By 4 November 2005 a new temporary signal had been dug in and connected, and the old signal was lifted out with the 30 ton steam crane and transported to the car park. Over the next 6 month a new post was obtained and the fittings refurbished. On 2 May 2006 the Bridgnorth crane made another visit and the completed signal was planted, being recommissioned a short time later.<ref>SVR News 153, S&T Notes</ref> On 5 December 2007 the SVR was announced as joint winner of that year's National Railway Heritage Award, the Westinghouse Signalling Award for the best restored signal box or signalling installation. The award was for "''…the restoration of the GWR pattern Down Inner Home signal at Bewdley''."<ref>[http://nrha.org.uk/winners-2007/ http://nrha.org.uk]</ref><ref>SVR News 160, Boardroom Notes</ref> The signal diagram and notes above refer to signal 14 on the Bewdley South Down Inner Home bracket as a disc signal controlling access to the Rock Siding. The disc signal, which can be seen in this [https://www.flickr.com/photos/71592768@N08/14890140673/ photo on 20 April 1986 by David Rostance], was still present in 2002.<ref>SVR News 139</ref> Although the SVR News Signalling Notes did not specifically mention its replacement in 2006, the disc is no longer in situ, being replaced by a signal arm as seen in the 2020 photograph (right) and also featured on the front cover of SVR News 178 (Summer 2012). The wooden posts on the larger bracket which were replaced in 2006were again declared unsafe in 2020.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/epsep20 Express Points newsletter, September 2020] (Retrieved 29 August 2020)</ref> Between 28 September and 2 October 2020, under an absolute possession, the wooden Inner Home bracket was removed using a hired MEWP (a rail mounted [[Mobile Elevating Work Platform]]) and the [[Cowans Sheldon 30-ton steam crane RS 1087|Bridgnorth steam crane]]. Temporary signals consisting of a 35 foot metal post carrying signals 6, 7 and a fixed distant, and a double disc ground signal carrying signals 9 and 14 were installed at the same time and were commissioned on 2 October 2020. The wooden post was removed to Bewdley Yard for stripping down. A replacement wooden bracket signal was fabricated and lifted into place on 23 March 2022.<ref>SVR News 218</ref>
Signals 0 and 33, the Down and Up Distants respectively, are motor worked. Signal 33 is mounted beneath Bewdley North's Signal 3, and is electrically slotted.
<gallery mode=packed heights=150px style="text-align:left">
Southern approach to Bewdley.jpg|Footplate view of the signals
Bewdley_South_20201010.jpg|Temporary signal replacing the normal Inner Home bracket (Oct 2020)
</gallery>
== See Also also ==
* [[List of signal boxes]]
==References==
<references />[[Category:Featured articles]]