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Goods traffic on the SVR

16,040 bytes added, 16:38, 24 July 2022
add LNWR depot Kidderminster
{{stub}}[[File:Britain From Above Kidderminster Goods yard..jpg|thumb|300px|right|Kidderminster goods yard in 1938 showing most of the siding space occupied by goods wagons]]This article is an attempt to piece together information During its 101 year history the Severn Valley branch was never financially successful.<ref>[[Bibliography#Other References|Oppitz (2004)]] p.106.</ref> [[The Severn Valley Railway under GWR/BR ownership#Traffic statistics| GWR Traffic statistics]] for stations on the quantity branch show that between 1903 and variety 1923, passengers only accounted for around 20% of the total revenue, with around 80% of goods carried on the SVR during GWR revenue arising from freight traffic. After that time passenger numbers declined, and BR daysby 1938 revenue from passenger traffic accounted for little more than 10% of the total, with freight traffic nearing 90%.
November 10 1888Freight traffic therefore played a major role in the history of the branch. It included coal traffic from the [[Collieries served by the Severn Valley Railway]], 6:30pm goods train traffic to and from Tenbury due at Bewdley at 8:32 consisted the industries of 25 loaded the Ironbridge Gorge, and three empty wagons plus a brake van with two guardsother goods traffic, mainly agricultural.<ref>[https://postimgThis article is an attempt to piece together information on the quantity and variety of goods carried on the SVR during that time.cc/v4MqnVKj Worcestershire Chronicle - Saturday 15 December 1888]</ref>
Invitation to tender for construction of a canal basin and goods warehouse ==Colliery traffic==There were [[Collieries served by the Severn Valley Railway]] with sidings at Stourport[[Highley]] (1880s-1939), July 8 1884.<ref>[https://postimg.cc/SYGzjwfc Herapath's Railway Journal [Kinlet and Billingsley Sidings signal box|Kinlet and Billingsley]] (1895- Saturday 12 July 18841937), and [[Alveley Sidings|Alveley]]</ref>(1939-1969).
New sidingAfter the [[Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal#Stourport station canal basin and interchange sidings| Stourport station canal basin and interchange sidings]] opened in the 1880s, lines &c. coal was moved by rail from Highley to the canal basin and from there to be built the nearby ironworks at Bewdley, Cressage, Highley Wilden and Hartlebury in 1870Stourvale via the [[Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal]].<ref>[https://postimg[Bibliography#Other References|Langford (1974)]] p. 174.cc</p9gjSQd5 Herapath's Railway Journal - Saturday 05 March 1870ref><ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Vanns (2017)]]p. 29.</ref>
"The timber obtained A branch line from [[Stourport|Stourport Station]] to the [[Stourport Power Station|power station]] opened in 1940; thereafter coal could be brought in by rail. Alveley coal trains required the use of a tender engine; initially a Kidderminster based [[Locomotives used on the Severn Valley Branch in commercial service#Goods locomotives |LNER J25]] during the War years and thereafter an ex-GWR 43xx Mogul.<nowikiref name=Turley>[the Wyre Forest[Bibliography#Books|Turley (2005)]]p. 70.</nowikiref> is used for During the most part 1950s a daily morning train would work empty from Stourport Power Station to [[Alveley Sidings]] and return fully loaded, with another round trip in collieries in South Staffordshire"the afternoon. The normal motive power at the time was GWR 6382 or another Mogul.<refname=Barfield1981>[https[Bibliography#Books|Barfield (1981)]] p. 52.</ref><gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align://postimgleft">Alveley_Sidings-1959-10-07.jpeg|GWR Mogul 6388 passes large numbers of coal wagons at Alveley Sidings in October 1959 ([[Sellick Collection]])Coalport-Goods-1962-07-12.cc/18KMffSF Worcester Journal jpg| An ex- Saturday 31 May 1884GWR prairie hauls a short northbound coal train through Coalport on 12 July 1962 ([[Sellick Collection]])</refgallery>
Seven trucks of long oak timber Slack trains would also arrive from the LMS area via Great Bridge to Hartlebury from Bewdley where they would reverse to Griff CollieryStourport, Nuneaton, August 22 1899returning empty. The trains consisted of around 36 wagons with LMS brake vans at each end.<ref>These were normally worked by a [[https://postimg.cc/Fdh9nw20 Rugby Advertiser Locomotives used on the Severn Valley Branch in commercial service#Goods locomotives |GWR 56xx 0-6- Saturday 26 August 18992T]], generally no. 6665 or 6684 from Stourbridge. In 1956 Kidderminster was allocated its own 56xx, no. 6679<ref name=Turley/ref>.
A luggage brief glimpse of a diesel hauled coal train "can be seen in the background at the end of considerable length" carrying sacks this Media Archive for Central England film on the opening of bran, iron fencing and copper sheets through Tenbury on its way to Bewdley Trimpley Waterworks in 18641967.<ref>[https://postimgwww.ccmacearchive.org/mcK3JDzH Worcestershire Chronicle films/midlands-news-05051967-pumping-station- Wednesday 09 November 1864opened-trimpley www.macearchive.org]</ref>
Sixty truck loads of cattle and sheep from Kidderminster market ==Daily goods train==A daily goods train would work in 1903each direction on the Severn Valley branch.<refgroup="note">[https://postimgA similar 'Tenbury Goods' worked on the Tenbury branch.cc/GB22LcDh Worcestershire Chronicle - Saturday 28 November 1903]</ref> Tony Barfield, a fireman at Kidderminster in the mid-1950s, described the northbound operation thus:
An average of 2000 homing pigeons ''The Salop Goods was a daily through goods train from [[Hartlebury]] to [[Shrewsbury]], calling at the stations and goods yards along the branch, picking up and putting off odd wagons, re-arranging coal wagons and cattle trucks at small yards such as [[Arley]] or [[Hampton Loade]], sometimes doing considerable shunting at [[Bewdley]] or [[Bridgnorth]]. Loads would vary from day during one week in 1901 being sent to Kidderminsterday. A hard struggle to Bridgnorth with a mixed train of coal, cattle trucks, pit props, fruit vans, might be compensated by a non-stop run back with perhaps only half a dozen empties.<ref>[https://postimgThe Salop Goods was usually worked by tender locomotives except at boiler washouts or repairs when a 41xx class 2-6-2 deputised.cc/56CKrvkf Swindon Advertiser and North Wilts Chronicle Moguls such as 6382, 5355, 6314, 6388 all worked at times but generally the train was worked by Collett 0-6- Friday 31 May 1901]0 no 2207.''<ref name=Barfield1981/ref>
"The general waiting room <nowiki>[[Timetable: Severn Valley Line 1948 | BR(W) 1948 working timetable]] gives an example of this working, which began with a 9.30am departure from Hartlebury and ended at Bewdley [[Coton Hill Yard | Shrewsbury Coton Hill yard]] at 6.58pm. The stop at [[Cressage]] has a note in 1901]</nowiki> was usually crowded the timetable 'To deal with luggage Cattle traffic and parcelsperform S.T.work only', the S."<ref>T. referring to the [https://postimg[Station Truck]] forming part of the train.cc/TKWyg2w7 Worcestershire Chronicle - Saturday 01 December 1900]</ref>
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
Cressage-5153-1963-03-02.jpg | Ex-GWR Prairie 5153 passes Cressage with a goods train on 2 March 1963 ([[Sellick Collection]])
</gallery>
==Sugar==
The opening of the West Midlands Sugar Co (later British Sugar Corporation) factory at [[Foley Park sidings]] in 1925 began sugar beet trains to Foley Park, which ran until closure of the factory in 1982. The processing season ran from mid-September to mid-January, during which time up to four complete trains per day would arrive at Kidderminster. Tripping these loads from Kidderminster yard along the [[Kidderminster Loop Line|Loop line]] required a locomotive to be available 24 hours per day.<ref>[[Bibliography | Turley (2005), p72.]]</ref>
Outside the regular beet season, the factory was kept supplied by train loads of sugar cane from Newport or Cardiff docks. Tank loads of molasses, a by-product of the refining process, were shipped from the factory to Avonmouth docks<ref>[[Bibliography | Turley (2005), p74.]]</ref>.
==Cattle==
A number of the stations on the branch had 'cattle docks' from which loaded cattle wagons could be collected. The 1936 GWR 'General Appendix to the Rule Book' stated that "''In dealing with Live Stock, including horses, cattle, sheep, pigs and goats, care and patience must be shown, not only in loading and unloading, but also in their treatment during transit, and in or about the yards, pens, sheds and stations, in order to avoid fright or injury, and consequent suffering on the part of the animals.''"<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Vanns (2017)]] p. 37.</ref>
 
Post-War, cattle trains ran on market days as required from Bridgnorth on alternate Mondays and Tenbury on alternate Tuesdays to Bordesley via Kidderminster<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Turley (2005) p. 80.]]</ref>
 
==Bricks and tiles==
A number of the brick and tile works in the Ironbridge Gorge had their own private sidings or made use of the extensive [[Jackfield sidings |sidings at Jackfield]]. [[Maw and Co's Siding| Maw and Co]]'s factory opened in 1883 and became the largest tile works in the world, employing almost 400 people and producing 20 million tiles annually. They had their own privately owned railway wagons and for many years made extensive use of the Severn Valley Branch to transport almost the whole of the factory's output. The 1922 working timetable showed that it was served by the Down goods train from Hartlebury (the 'Salop Goods') arriving at 4.13pm and the Up goods from Shrewsbury arriving at 3.45pm. The siding continued in use until 1959.
 
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
Maw_and_Co_1.jpg|Maw & Co's private siding shortly after opening in 1883
Craven Dunnill.jpg | Goods wagons at Craven Dunnill c.1900-1910
</gallery>
 
==Lime==
The [[Bower Yard Lime Kilns Siding| Bower Yard Lime Kilns]] were located north of [[Ironbridge]]. For some years the GWR brought coal to the kilns and transported the lime to various areas of the country.
 
==Sand and gravel==
There were a number of private sidings including H. Whitehouse's sidings at [[H. Whitehouse's Sand Siding|Kidderminster]] and [[Wilden Sand Siding|Wilden]], and those accessed via the Foley Park sidings.<br>
When [[Gravel Pit at Foley Park | Kellett's Gravel pit]] at Foley Park closed in 1904, the sale included 51 ballast wagons and a 5000 ton stockpile, suggesting that many thousands of tons of ballast had been carried on the SVR on its way to Frankley, Birmingham, in the two and a half years the pit was open.<ref>[https://postimg.cc/7GNzLSn8 Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Monday 18 July 1904]</ref>
 
==Examples of references to goods traffic==
Some newspaper stories make passing reference to the type and quantity of goods carried on the SVR.
 
*A luggage train "of considerable length" carrying sacks of bran, iron fencing and copper sheets through Tenbury on its way to Bewdley in 1864.<ref>[https://postimg.cc/mcK3JDzH Worcestershire Chronicle - Wednesday 09 November 1864]</ref>
 
*1867 [[Tales from the Severn Valley#Daring_robberies_from_Bewdley_goods_shed|thefts from Bewdley goods shed]] included a ham; 'other articles suitable for domestic consumption'; clothing, and liquor.<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000150/18670831/065/0003?browse=False Worcester Journal of Saturday 31 August 1867 on the British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
 
*Around 1867 charcoal production was a significant industry in Bewdley and the Wyre Forest. At 4am on Wednesday 15th May 1867, a wagon loaded with charcoal caught fire "through carelessness in loading it with a piece of lighted charcoal". The fire spread to the two adjacent wagons and resulted in two wagons being destroyed.<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000150/18670518/106/0008?browse=False Worcester Journal on the British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
 
*Bewdley's winter fair was by the time of opening of the branch 'becoming a good fair for sheep and cattle'. In 1870 a Mr Barnes successfully sued the LNWR for non-delivery of seven cows to the market from Northwich, via Bridgnorth.<ref>Shrewsbury Chronicle - Friday 19 May 1871</ref>
 
*"The timber obtained from <nowiki>[the Wyre Forest]</nowiki> is used for the most part in collieries in South Staffordshire" in 1884.<ref>[https://postimg.cc/18KMffSF Worcester Journal - Saturday 31 May 1884]</ref>
 
*Three truck loads of hay from Newnham Bridge to London in 1885<ref>[https://postimg.cc/MvN14R06 Tenbury Wells Advertiser - Tuesday 10 March 1885]</ref>
 
*November 10 1888, 6:30pm goods train from Tenbury due at Bewdley at 8:32 consisted of 25 loaded and three empty wagons plus a brake van with two guards.<ref>[https://postimg.cc/v4MqnVKj Worcestershire Chronicle - Saturday 15 December 1888]</ref>
 
*Seven trucks of long oak timber from Bewdley to Griff Colliery, Nuneaton, August 22 1899.<ref>[https://postimg.cc/Fdh9nw20 Rugby Advertiser - Saturday 26 August 1899]</ref>
 
*"The general waiting room <nowiki>[at Bewdley in 1901]</nowiki> was usually crowded with luggage and parcels..."<ref>[https://postimg.cc/TKWyg2w7 Worcestershire Chronicle - Saturday 01 December 1900]</ref>
 
*An average of 2000 homing pigeons a day during one week in 1901 being sent to Kidderminster.<ref>[https://postimg.cc/56CKrvkf Swindon Advertiser and North Wilts Chronicle - Friday 31 May 1901]</ref>
 
*Sixty truck loads of cattle and sheep from Kidderminster market in 1903<ref>[https://postimg.cc/GB22LcDh Worcestershire Chronicle - Saturday 28 November 1903]</ref>
 
==Bewdley Consignment Notes from 1965==
A selection of consignment notes from Bewdley Station have been preserved and give an example of the type of parcels and small loads being handled at the station in 1965.
*Alton Glasshouses, 3 lbs of timber to Bradford. [https://postimg.cc/R6Mq5ng8 Image]
*Alton Glasshouses, 7 lbs of timber to Littleborough, Lancs. [https://postimg.cc/MvcHSwYW Image]
*Alton Glasshouses, 5 lbs of timber and steel to Sutton Coldfield. [https://postimg.cc/yJTYP87T Image]
*Alton Glasshouses, 5 lbs of steel to Northampton. [https://postimg.cc/q6NJ4cym Image]
*Thomas' Dairy Ltd, Wribbenhall, Bewdley, box containing water meter, 2 lbs, to The Leeds Meter Co. Ltd. [https://postimg.cc/kDYGzGK1 Image]
*Catswell Farm, Wyre Forest, 31 trays of cherries, totalling over 3 cwt (150kg), to Smithfield Market, Birmingham. [https://postimg.cc/mt0DZnd7 Image]
*Charles Smith, 9 trays of cherries to Birmingham. [https://postimg.cc/3yhxmvQR Image]
*Mr. Venables, 22 trays of cherries to Manchester. [https://postimg.cc/ygY6rCdC Image]
*L. Parkes, Kinlet, 4 trays of cherries to Birmingham. [https://postimg.cc/23y8QYM4 Image]
*Mr. Murray, Bliss Gate, Rock, 2 chips<ref group="note">A chip is a wooden tray for carrying fruit, with a capacity of about 12 lbs</ref> of cherries to Chulmleigh, Devon. [https://postimg.cc/14dRMT1b Image]
*Alton Glasshouses 7 lbs of timber to Barnsley, Yorks. [https://postimg.cc/hXWDRdjr Image]
*A fishing rod being returned to Kay & Co. Worcester.<ref group="note">Kay & Co. was a large mail order catalogue business founded in Worcester in 1889. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kays_Catalogues Kay's Catalogues on Wikipedia]</ref> [https://postimg.cc/nX4HFh9t Image]
*C.J.Adam, Bewdley, 6 lbs fruit to Sheffield and 5 lbs fruit to Chester, [https://postimg.cc/JyKMXYQ6 Image]
*A watering can being returned from Rhea Hall Estate to Wigan due to being damaged in transit. [https://postimg.cc/nsnnCfq9 Image]
*C.J.Adam, Bewdley, 12 lbs fruit to Rutland. [https://postimg.cc/wyvHQ5f6 Image]
*C.J.Adam, Bewdley, 13 lbs fruit to Sheffield. [https://postimg.cc/ygbKQJt0 Image]
*Mr. Murray, Bliss Gate, Rock, 2 chips of cherries to Crediton, Devon. [https://postimg.cc/mhPBcw1j Image]
*Mr. Murray, Bliss Gate, Rock, 1 chip of cherries to Lapford, Devon. [https://postimg.cc/Yhg7RC3m Image]
*Two Collico<ref group="note">Collico cases were standardised packing cases that could be folded flat for return. The sender was charged only for the weight of the contents, and there was no charge for returning the folded empty container. </ref> cases being returned from a Cleobury Mortimer Chemist to Max Factor, Wembley. [https://postimg.cc/k2mmpP1Y Image]
*One basket of pigeons from Highley for release by the Station Master at Gloucester. [https://postimg.cc/94xH0RWs Image]
*Dowles Nurseries, near Bewdley, sending plants to Hampshire, Kent and Middlesex. [https://postimg.cc/yDBMTXxw Image]
*Herbert C. Styles sending 2 qtr (25kg) of diet powder to a Swindon hospital. [https://postimg.cc/c6tG1LP5 Image]
*Dowles Nurseries, near Bewdley, sending plants to Leicestershire and Stratford-upon-Avon. [https://postimg.cc/2VpR1fDj Image]
*Alton Glasshouses sending 7 lbs of timber to Kirkcudbright, Scotland. [https://postimg.cc/ctnpFFQN Image]
*Alton Glasshouses sending 19 lbs of timber to Derby. [https://postimg.cc/tZLfnF8v Image]
*Alton Glasshouses sending 4 lbs of timber to Bude, Cornwall. [https://postimg.cc/Z0dXtDyG Image]
*Stocklands Estate Nursery, Bewdley, sending a 21 lb bundle of shrubs to Duffield, Derbyshire [https://postimg.cc/V0nhqd8f Image]
 
===Other consignment notes and way bills===
*In 1889 a 14 lb parcel was sent from Stourport to Bootle Rectory.
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
Stourport way bill 1889.jpg|1889 way bill from Stourport
</gallery>
 
==Goods offices==
Before the SVR opened, the GWR had an office in High Street, Bridgnorth, where 'passengers, parcels &c.' could be booked through to 'most parts of the kingdom' by a horse drawn omnibus to meet the GWR train at Shiffnal Station. [https://postimg.cc/tsnSNzZk Image]<br>
The LNWR had a goods office at Bridgnorth by 1871<ref>[https://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/digital/collection/p16445coll4/id/218324/ Cassey & Co.'s Directory of Shropshire, 1871]</ref>, and at Kidderminster and Stourport.
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
File:Limekiln Chandlers Mart Lane - geograph.org.uk - 1052908.jpg | Former LNWR and SURCC depot at Stourport
File:LNWR depot 2.jpg | LNWR depot at Kidderminster
</gallery>
 
==Revenue-earning freight in preservation==
Since preservation, the SVR has seen occasional revenue-earning freight services, including the following:
*On 9 October 2003 [[D3586]] hauled a load of roof trusses from Kidderminster to the [[Orchard Bungalow level crossing]]. The trusses for the bungalow were too large to pass under the bridge carrying the former [[Wyre Forest Line]] over Northwood Lane, but were just able to fit through [[Bewdley Tunnel]].<ref>SVR News 145</ref>
*On 11 March 2005 the SVR's first steam-hauled revenue-earning freight involved [[5764|GWR 5764]], transporting an excavator from the yard at [[Eardington]] to [[Country Park Halt]] for the contractors Mowlem Construction who were rebuilding the nearby pedestrian/cycle-way bridge across the river.<ref>SVR News 150</ref> A number of other loads were also transported for the same project.
*In May 2007, [[4566]] was used on another steam-hauled revenue earning freight charter, taking a load of pipes to Trimpley Reservoir for Severn Trent Water.<ref>SVR News 160</ref>
*The winter 2014-15 project to replace corroded pipes bringing the [[Elan Valley Aqueduct]] under the railway at Trimpley required all the plant, equipment and materials to be delivered via the Railway from Bewdley. The SVR provided the use of [[Ruston and Hornsby 165hp Diesel Shunter 319290|Ruston shunter D2957]] and crew.
==See also==
*[[Collieries served by the Severn Valley Railway]]
*[[Station Truck]]
*[[Country Lorry Service and Cartage Service]]
 
==Notes==
<references group="note"/>
==References==
==Links==
 
[[Category: Miscellaneous articles]]
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