Changes

'''Eardington''', sometimes referred to as "Eardington Halt", is situated on [[Eardington Bank]] and located mid-way between [[Bridgnorth]] and [[Hampton Loade]] at milepost 147¾. Although the station does not feature in daily operations, it resumed use for during gala events in 2023 after an absence of more than 40 yearssince regular timetabled trains ceased. A dedicated 'Friends of Eardington Station' team under Station Master Steve Downs looks after this wayside gem.

On 17 April 2015, the [[The 82045 Steam Locomotive Trust|82045 Steam Locomotive Trust]] ran a special fundraising train, [[The Eardington Explorer]].<ref name=SVROnlineForum>[https://forum.svr-online.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=3298 SVR Online Forum]</ref>. This ran between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade, calling specially at Eardington. The Fund ran a second 'Eardington Flyer' on 22 April 2016.

By 2023 ORR had given the SVR permission in principle to stop trains there during Galas. The Railway put in place the paperwork and procedures to enable this, as it had not been operational for many years, for the [[Autumn Steam Gala]].<ref>[https://news.railbusinessdaily.com/vulcan-joins-svr-gala-line-up-and-eardington-welcomes-first-arrivals-in-41-years/ Longhorn, Danny, ' 'Vulcan' joins SVR Gala line-up, and Eardington welcomes first arrivals in 41 years', Rail Business Daily, 21 July 2023] (Retrieved 25 July 2023)</ref>For safety reasons, only local trains consisting of a few carriages are able to stop, because of the short station platform.

Opposite the station platform is a dead-end siding which is accessed by a two-lever [[Eardington ground frame | ground frame]] at the south end. This is released by the [[Highley signal box|Highley]]-[[Bridgnorth signal box|Bridgnorth]] long section token, and was commissioned in 1976.<ref>[http://svrsig.co.uk/svr/Frame8.htm Severn Valley Railway S&T Department (unofficial) website.]</ref>.

to form a new car park which would have been accessed from the road at the north end.<ref name=SVR25/> Later that year, during preparation for commissioning the signalling between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade, an extra token machine was installed in [[Bridgnorth signal box]] to cater for the Eardington loop.<ref>SVR News 26, ''Signal & Telecommunications Department Notes''</ref>.

The installation of the passing loop was seen as part of a plan by Sir Gerald Nabarro to abandon Bridgnorth,<ref group="note">Although officially described as a passing loop, discontented members believed it was actually intended as a run round loop at what would become the northern terminus following the closure of Bridgnorth.</ref> which led to much unrest on the SVR at the time. In fact the connection at the north end would have been too tight for most locomotives.<ref name=Marshall180/> However by May 1973 Sir Gerald Nabarro had stepped down from the SVR(H) and Guarantee Company Boards. An EGM was held that month to consider the impact of the proposed Bridgnorth bypass. [[Richard Dunn]] advised shareholders and members via SVR News that "''I have no reason to reverse my opinion of 1968 that Eardington was not a suitable permanent terminus to the line, owing to the difficulties of road access and inadequate parking space.''"<ref>SVR News 27, ''The Proposed Bridgnorth By-pass'', R.H. Dunn</ref>.

In early 1974 the Board reported that "''The circumstances under which Eardington loop was planned have so altered that it is unlikely to be needed. It is proposed to convert it to a siding, controlled from a ground frame at the south points, with the proposed platform area levelled off to form a loading bank and car park''."<ref>SVR News 31, ''Boardroom Notes'', David Mellor</ref>. By winter 1974-5 the loop had been converted to a siding to for PW use. The two points at the north end which formed a crossover were both removed; the former point in the main line was reused at [[Arley]] while the point from the loop was taken to Bridgnorth for use in the loco yard. The single-bladed trap at the south end was not considered suitable for a siding opening onto a passenger carrying line, so was replaced by a double-bladed trap.<ref>SVR News 34</ref> Since that time the siding is regularly used for storing Permanent Way rolling stock.

An electricity supply has never been installed. The 'Friends' have developed a collection of vintage [http://tilleylamp.co.uk/ Tilley lamps] with a railway provenance, to light the station after dark when open for galas and special occasions.<ref name="SVROnlineForum"/>Eardington is the only remaining station in the UK that is lit entirely by oil lamps. The permission granted in 2023 by the ORR is conditional upon trains not stopping after darkness.

*1864: A siding connection to Lower Forge was proposed but never built. Upper Forge and Lower Forge were two local ironworks, located respectively west and east of the line and joined by a 750 yard long navigable canal tunnel.<ref name = "Marshall103" />.*1868: Eardington Station was opened by the GWR on 1 June 1868, some six years after the opening of the Severn Valley Railway.<ref name = SVR Guide”>SVR Souvenir Guide, Ninth Edition</ref>.*1893: The station platform was extended.<ref name = "Marshall103" />.*1899: The ironworks closed.<ref name ="Marshall103" />.

*1949: BR reduced the station to unstaffed status after 1 April 1949.<ref name = SVR Guide” />.

*1959: The goods loop was reduced to a siding, accessed from the south end only.<ref name = SVR Guide” />. The station was still called "Eardington" in the [[Timetable: Severn Valley and Tenbury Lines 1959|1959 BR Working Timetable]].*1963: The station closed when passenger traffic ceased on 9 September 1963.<ref name = SVR Guide” />.*1964: The former goods loop siding was completely removed.<ref name = SVR Guide” />.