Changes

Burlish Branch Junction appears in the [[Engineer's Line References]] for the Severn Valley Railway. The junction with the Severn Valley branch was situated 3 chains (66 yards) west of [[Stourport|Stourport station]], towards Bewdley in the direction of travel. It formed the entrance to a long goods loop, access to the north end of which which was controlled by the [[List of signal boxes#List of historical Signal Boxes and Ground Frames|Park Street ground frame]]. The ELRs give the length of record the Burlish Branch as a 'dead end' line with a length of 42 chains, placing the northern end approximately at the location terminus of [[the Steatite & Porcelain Products private siding, adjacent to Burlish Halt]].

A private siding for the company Steatite & Porcelain Products Ltd. connected with this goods loop.<ref>==Early history==[[Bibliography#BooksFile: OS_Stourport_West_1927.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Mitchell & Smith (2007)1927 OS Map of the sidings west of Stourport]]From opening in 1862, picture 7</ref> Access to the loop from goods sidings at [[Stourport]] were originally situated east of the junction at station. On 11 April 1913 the southern end was closed in 1933, although GWR authorised the construction of further sidings remained in usewest of the station.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Marshall (1989)]] p. 90.</ref> OS Maps after that time suggest these were accessed from the south only, with no north-facing connection at the north end. The company premises were (two southernmost sidings faced the station and are) situated in the vicinity of Burlish Haltappear to have been accessed via a long head-shunt. <br clear="all"/>

==Extension to create the Burlish Branch==[[File:OS_Burlish_1939_1.jpg|thumb|300px|right|1939 OS Map of the Burlish Branch from Stourport station (bottom right to Park Sidings ground frame (top left)]] [[File:OS_Burlish_1939_2.jpg|thumb|300px|right|1939 OS Map showing the extension forming Steatite and & Porcelain Products siding]]By 1939 the siding had become a long goods loop, access to the north end of which was established in 1907 and in 1910 incorporated as Ernst Hildebrant Ltdcontrolled by the Park Sidings ground frame. It changed names in 1917 <ref name="SA1960">Birmingham Traffic District Sectional Appendix 1960</ref><ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Mitchell & Smith (2007)]], fig 7</ref> An extension to the Clay Ring Co. Ltd. and in 1928 to original head-shunt had become a private siding for the company Steatite & Porcelain Products Ltd. It <br>By 1960 this loop was acquired in 1941 by ICI Metals Division described as "the former independent line to the Steatite Company's private siding" and in 1964 by Morgan Advanced Ceramics Ltd (now Morgan Advanced Materials plc)was available as storage accommodation for up to 39 wagons with the adjacent loop furthest from the running line able to hold 45 wagons.<refname="SA1960"/><br>[https://wwwThe Park Sidings were used for excursion trains with "...portable steps being provided to enable passengers to enter the trains, the steps being moved by the staff from compartment to compartment, as required by the progress of the loading." When backing an empty train in to pick up passengers, staff were instructed to "...warn all persons to stand clear...and.gracesguide.co.uk/Steatite_and_Porcelain_Products Grace's guide prevent any attempt on the part of the passengers to British Insustry webpage] (retrieved 7 October 2018)enter the moving vehicles".<ref name="SA1960"/ref>

*[[Private sidings connected to the Severn Valley Railway]]*[[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]]

[http://www.morganadvancedmaterials.com/en-gb/ Morgan Advanced Materials plc]<br>[https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/archive/collections/aerial-photos/record/RAF_541_177_RP_3269 Aerial view of Stourport from 1948 showing Steatite & Porcelain Products and the National Cold Store]