View source for Hampton Loade

[[File:Hampton_Loade_20170408.jpg|Hampton Loade|thumb|300px|right|Hampton Loade station]]
[[File:Hampton-Loade-Pannier-1962-09-29.jpg|thumb|300px|right|An unidentified pannier on a Northbound service in September 1962 ([[Sellick Collection]])]]
{| class="wikitable"
|+Next stations
|-
! Up (towards [[Kidderminster]]) !!  Down (towards [[Bridgnorth]])
|-
| [[Highley]] (2 miles)<br>via [[Country Park Halt]]|| [[Bridgnorth]] (4&frac12; miles)<br>via [[Eardington]] (disused)
|- 
|}

'''Hampton Loade''' station is a minor country station located between [[Bridgnorth]] and [[Highley]], located close to the [[River Severn]]. On opening, the station had only a single platform and a siding, with a second platform and signal box being added in 1880s.
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==The station==
The station house is built of yellow brick. Unlike some of the other station houses including Highley and Arley, this was not upgraded during the GWR era by the extension of the waiting room and provision of an extra bedroom.

Other than 'sympathetic restoration', the station has changed little in appearance since preservation, although the ladies' toilet on platform one was demolished and replaced by a larger structure in the early 1970s<ref name=SVR32>SVR News 32</ref>. 

==Hampton Loade in preservation==
During the early years of SVR operation (1970 to 1974) Hampton Loade formed the southern terminus. Trains were initially operated as 'one engine in steam'; the signal box was commissioned and signalling brought into use after the last train on Saturday 19 May 1973.<ref>SVR News 28</ref> Evidence of the station's terminus function remains in the form of the presence of the down starting signal on platform 2, which is normally only used for up trains. Following the [[2007 Storm Damage]] the station again acted as the limit of trains from Bridgnorth for a short period in 2008. It was later the terminus of [[The Eardington Explorer]] trains, and is occasionally used as such during galas.

====Operations====
Hampton Loade station has two platforms and a [[Hampton Loade signal box|signal box]], allowing trains travelling in opposite directions to pass. In addition there is a south facing siding with a bay goods platform adjacent to platform 2. The crossing loop is the shortest on the railway, only able to hold a loco and 8 full-length coaches, with special arrangements to allow longer trains to pass. In normal operation Down trains (to Bridgnorth) use platform 1, adjacent to the station house, while Up trains (to Kidderminster) use platform 2.
 
There are signals for Down trains (to Bridgnorth) to depart from either platform. However there are only signals for Down trains to arrive in the Down platform 1. In addition, there is no Facing Point Lock on the siding point, so that must be manually "clipped" before a Bridgnorth train can use the Up platform 2. Similarly, you can only clear the signal to route an Up (Kidderminster) train through the Down platform 1 by switching the box out, and there is no Up starting signal on the Down line in Platform 1. 

During periods of lighter traffic, when [[Hampton Loade signal box]] is switched out, all trains use platform 1 with movements controlled by the signal boxes at [[Highley signal box|Highley]] and [[Bridgnorth signal box|Bridgnorth]] using long section tokens under [[Single line working using tokens|ETT regulations]]. 

====Facilities====
The station has a small kiosk (originally a Wyman's bookstall from Snow Hill station)<ref name=SVR32/> serving snacks and hot and cold drinks.  This is located adjacent to the waiting room on Platform 2.

The [[Hampton Loade Station Fund Shop]] and the [[The Barry Railway Carriage Trust Sales Van | Barry Railway Carriage Trust sales van]] are both situated in the bay platform.  There is a small picnic area next to the station.

Although the station has a very small car park, road access to the station is limited and SVR visitors are advised not to travel to Hampton Loade station by car.

====Volunteer accommodation====
[[GWR 2426 Toplight Full Third]] was stabled at Hampton Loade from 1988 for SVR volunteers' accommodation. 2426 continued in use until mid-2016 and was succeeded by [[GWR 55 Riding/Dormitory Van|GWR Riding Van 55]].

<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
GWR 2426 20150307.jpg|GWR Toplight Full Third 2426 in March 2015
</gallery>

In late 2014 the railway announced that the station house had become vacant, and plans were in hand for it to be converted into SVR volunteers' accommodation and mess room, with costs shared between [[Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC]] and [[Hampton Loade Station Fund]].<ref>SVR(H) notice board issue NBI-H-194 "October-December 2014 Round Up", published on [https://www.svrlive.com/ SVRLive]</ref> This provides a more suitable facility than does rolling stock. Volunteer work involved decoration and the [[Hampton Loade Station Fund|Station Fund]] acquiring period GWR and BR(WR) furniture.<ref>Hampton Loade Station Facebook</ref>

==Points of interest==

==== Goods Lock Up ====
A number of stations on the Severn Valley branch were provided with a Goods Lock Up, a small corrugated iron hut where parcels and other merchandise traffic could be securely stored while awaiting collection or delivery. Lock Ups were generally built to a standard GWR design, although with many detail differences.  Lengths also varied, with 10ft, 14ft and 20ft being common.<ref>Posters and photographs on display at Eardington, April 2024</ref>

The Lock Up at Hampton Loade can still be seen on Platform 1. A similar lockup can also be seen at [[Arley]] where it serves as the station shop. The footprint of a third Lock Up can be seen next to the station building at [[Eardington]], although the structure itself was removed, probably in the late 1940s. All three examples are (or were) of the 20ft type.

<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
Hampton_Loade_Goods_Lock_Up_20160218.jpg|Hampton Loade Goods Lock Up
</gallery>

====Diesel gala====
The station makes particular efforts to celebrate [[Diesel galas]]. Station running in signs are added in BR 1980s Regional Railways-style, station staff wear similar-era uniform, and posters are produced in a classic style. 

<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
Hampton Loade station diesel gala poster September 2022.jpg | Station diesel gala poster from 2022, in 1962 style
</gallery>

====Paddock Garden Railway====
The [[Paddock Garden Railway]], a 32mm gauge model railway, is situated adjacent to the station and operates every Sunday when the SVR trains are in operation, every Bank Holiday Monday and other days when certain special events are taking place.
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
Garden_Railway_20090504.jpg | The Paddock Garden Railway
</gallery>

====Water Pump====
A water pump next to the station building was the sole source of drinking water until the station was connected to the mains in the 1930s. It is hand powered and mounted over a well, 3'6" diameter and 50' deep, and pumped water in to a tank in the roof of the Gent's toilets. A 1938 chemical and bacteriological analysis found the water unsafe for drinking.<ref>[http://scans.bgs.ac.uk/sobi_scans/boreholes/270353/images/10537359.html Records on the British Geological Survey web site]</ref>

<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
Hampton Loade water pump 1.jpg | Water Pump
</gallery>

====Siding exit ground signal====
The Up Main siding exit ground signal is the only oil lit signal on the SVR. The oil lamp is stored in the signal box and only fitted in the signal at galas.
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
HL siding signal.jpg | Siding exit ground signal
</gallery>

====Filming at Hampton Loade====
Hampton Loade has been used as a filming location on a number of occasions, including:
*[[The Incredible Robert Baldick]] (1972 BBC TV drama) 
*[[Carrie's War]] (1974 BBC Children's drama)
*[[Survivors]] (1977 BBC TV Drama)
*[[God's Wonderful Railway]] (1980 BBC Children's drama)
*[[The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain]] (1995 film).
*[[Can you hear me?]] (2023 film)
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
HE_686_at_Hampton_Loade_1972.jpg | 686 as used for filming in 1972 (David Cooke)
</gallery>

====Motorcycles====
[[Hampton Loade Station Fund]] holds each October an informal [[Vintage transport events#Other_classic_transport_events|Classic British Motorcycle event]].

<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
Classic Motorcycle Meet poster 2021.png | Classic Motorcycle Meet poster 2021
</gallery>

====Hampton Loade derailment====
On 28 September 2009, a [[Accidents|derailment]] occurred when the tender of [[LMS Ivatt Class 4 43106]] hauling a down passenger train became derailed as it approached Hampton Loade.  There were no injuries. The immediate cause of the accident was the leading right-hand wheel of the tender flange climbing over the rail at the site of a track twist. An incorrect spring had been fitted to this axle of the tender.<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/raib-reports/derailment-on-severn-valley-railway Rail Accident Investigation Branch] (retrieved 6 January 2017)</ref>

==Former points of interest==

====Former 15in gauge railway====
Plans were developed in 1986, led by John Tennent, for a short narrow gauge line at the station. Initially this was to have been a 2 ft gauge line with colliery tubs, as existed at the station before the First World War for the slag traffic from the old forge. However, following the acquisition of a 15in gauge petrol hydraulic 'Flying Scotsman', a 15in gauge track was laid and other rolling stock acquired including a complete train from the defunct Porthcawl Miniature Railway consisting of a 4-6-4T steam outline petrol electric locomotive 'Silver Jubilee'<ref name=PMR>[https://localgiving.org/appeal/Silver-Jubilee-Appeal/ Porthcawl Miniature Railway fundraising page] (retrieved 10 March 2023)</ref> and three coaches which were some of the original Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch four-wheelers. By winter 1989-90 a loco shed had been built, track and points laid and a workshop was almost complete.<ref>SVR News 81, 94</ref>

In 1991 it was decided that using it as a passenger-carrying miniature railway was becoming less likely to become a reality, so it was re-purposed as a demonstration industrial line using a Lister industrial locomotive, the other stock being sold, including 'Silver Jubilee' which initially moved to the Windmill Farm Railway.<ref name=PMR/> The stock sheds were then converted into a workshop for station restoration and maintenance, named 'The Forge Works', in memory of the old Hampton Loade forge. The line was used to carry items such as sand bags, lengths of rail, fence panels, sleepers, ash and ballast until 1995 when it transpired that its use was not covered by the SVR's insurance. It closed on 8 June 1995, and track lifting began shortly afterwards<ref>SVR News 118</ref>.

====Former rolling stock under restoration ====
*[[Hampton Loade Locomotive Fund]] between 1973 and 1998 supported the acquisition and restoration of former resident [[GWR Large Prairie 4141]].
*From 1992<ref>SVR News 118</ref> to 2024 Hampton Loade was the base for [[Barry Railway Carriage Trust]] who are restoring [[Barry Railway Carriage 163]].  

<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
Barry_163_20180325.jpg| Barry Railway Carriage 163 (2018)
</gallery>

====Passenger Foot Ferry====
The station and the nearby Unicorn Inn are actually situated in the hamlet of Hampton. The village of Hampton Loade is on the other bank of the river (Loade comes from the Saxon word 'lode' meaning ford).  A ferry service at the location is believed to date from the mid-1600s.<ref>SVR News 139, ''Hampton Loade Ferry''</ref>

There is now no ford or bridge, but in modern times a passenger foot ferry operated in summer months. This was a 'reaction ferry', tethered to a pulley block on an overhead cable suspended across the river and propelled by angling the ferry against the river current. The last ferry in use (pictured) was built in 2004, replacing the previous ferry which had been in use for 38 years. It closed after the [[2007 Floods]] and was put up for sale by the owner.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampton_Loade_Ferry Wikipedia]</ref>. The SVR turned down an offer to acquire the ferry as they did not feel the Railway was the right body to operate it.<ref>SVR News 166, Summer 2009</ref> It was eventually reopened in April 2009,<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/shropshire/8020060.stm BBC News]</ref>  but has not operated since 2013. Subsequently, a tree brought down the cable during floods. It is not known if or when it will return to operation.

<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
Ferry_20090525.jpg | Hampton Loade ferry (May 2009)
</gallery>

====Velocipede====
The GWR probably made the greatest use of velocipedes of the 'big 4' railway companies; Swindon's use of them continued into BR days. 

From time-to-time Hampton Loade organised its own station galas, usually held on a Sunday at the end of July. The 2001 Hampton Loade Station Gala included what was thought to be Britain's first 'Velocipede Rally'. A contemporary report noted that Hampton Loade's own velocipede was thought to be unique, being the only known example to have survived at the place to which it was first allocated and having avoided the re-call to Swindon at closure. The velocipede, which at the time had never been restored and was preserved in 'just-as-stopped-work' condition, was owned by Hampton Loade's Barry Bull and Steve Dockerty. It was joined by two visiting velocipedes.<ref>SVR News 139, ''Hampton Loade Velocipede Rally 2001''</ref>

The event was repeated in following years with four visiting velocipedes in 2002 and six in 2003, by which time the Hampton Loade velocipede had been restored to working order.<ref>SVR News 142, 144</ref> The last Hampton Loade Station Gala advertised as such in the [[Severn Valley Railway News|SVR News]] 'forthcoming events' was on 25 July 2004, which also included a fourth velocipede rally.

A fifth National velocipede rally took place on Sunday 24 July 2005 with five velocipedes in attendance. After that time, no further 'national rallies' were reported in SVR News.
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
Velocipedes_Hampton_Loade_1975.jpg|Velocipedes in 2005 (SVR News)
</gallery>

==Hampton Loade history before preservation==
Although the village was also historically known as Hampton's Loade<ref>[http://www.gutenberg.org/files/17612/17612-h/17612-h.htm Handbook to the Severn Valley Railway, by J. Randall 1863]</ref>, the station was originally called '''Hampton''', with that name appearing in the [[Timetable: Shrewsbury to Worcester 1862| opening timetable]]. However within a month it had adopted the name Hampton Loade which it has retained ever since<ref name = MarshallP101">[[Bibliography | Marshall (1989), p101]]</ref>.

Key dates in the history of Hampton Loade were:
*1862: Hampton Loade station opened with the rest of the Severn Valley Line on 1 February, with a single platform on the west side of the line and a short siding opposite. There was no facility for crossing trains.  
*1882-1883: Approval was given for construction of the up platform and provision of the passing loop and an additional siding, controlled by a newly-installed signal box.  The Board of Trade approved these works in June 1883<ref name = MarshallP101" />.
*1922: [[SVR staff in 1922#Severn Valley Railway (Kidderminster to Bridgnorth)|GWR staff records]] show the station had a staff of 3, comprising the stationmaster and two porter/signalmen.
*1930s: Hampton Loade was the site of a [[Arley Camp Coach|GWR camping coach]] pre-World War 2<ref name = MarshallP101" />.
*1960: The loop capacity, for the purpose of crossing trains, was 23 wagons, plus engine and brake van.<ref>Sectional Appendix to the Working Time Tables and Books of Rules and Regulations, Birmingham Traffic District, October 1960</ref>
*1963: Through passenger services ceased on 9 September, with through freight services ending at the end of November.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ [[Traffic statistics in commercial service]] for Hampton Loade, selected years 1903 to 1952
|-
! !! colspan="3" | Passenger Traffic !! colspan="2" | Freight Traffic !! 
|-
! Year !! Tickets issued !! Parcels despatched !! Revenue (&pound;) !! Tons received &amp; despatched !! Revenue (&pound;) !! Total revenue (&pound;)
|-
|1903||style="text-align:right"|9,967||style="text-align:right"|2,691||style="text-align:right"|760||style="text-align:right"|1,488||style="text-align:right"|631||style="text-align:right"|1,391
|-
|1913||style="text-align:right"|10,350||style="text-align:right"|3,076||style="text-align:right"|579||style="text-align:right"|4,632||style="text-align:right"|1,270||style="text-align:right"|1,849
|-
|1923||style="text-align:right"|9,077||style="text-align:right"|3,117||style="text-align:right"|778||style="text-align:right"|900||style="text-align:right"|599||style="text-align:right"|1,377
|-
|1933||style="text-align:right"|4,704||style="text-align:right"|1,183||style="text-align:right"|350||style="text-align:right"|335||style="text-align:right"|147||style="text-align:right"|497
|-
|1938||style="text-align:right"|5,116||style="text-align:right"|659||style="text-align:right"|304||style="text-align:right"|555||style="text-align:right"|201||style="text-align:right"|505
|-
|1942||style="text-align:right"|7,067||style="text-align:right"|301||style="text-align:right"|480||style="text-align:right"|250||style="text-align:right"|X||style="text-align:right"|X
|-
|1947||style="text-align:right"|6,956||style="text-align:right"|177||style="text-align:right"|556||style="text-align:right"|131||style="text-align:right"|X||style="text-align:right"|X
|-
|1952||style="text-align:right"|(b)||style="text-align:right"|(b)||style="text-align:right"|(b)||style="text-align:right"|(b)||style="text-align:right"|X||style="text-align:right"|X
|-
|}
X: Information not recorded <br>
(b): Information recorded under Bridgnorth

=== Early Station Masters at Hampton Loade===

The first description of ‘Station Master’ in GWR records is in 1897.

John Williams (booking constable, 1863) and Henry Powell (Booking Porter 1866-1887) may have supervised the station, the censuses of 1871 and 1881 describing the latter as Station Master.

{| class="wikitable 
|-
!Name!!Born !! data-sort-type="date" | From !! data-sort-type="date" | To !! Comments
|-
| John Williams || 1831 Lampeter Velfrey, Pembrokeshire || data-sort-value="1/8/1863" | August 1863 || data-sort-value="1/7/1866" | July 1866 || Booking Constable.
|-
| Henry Powell || 7 October 1836 Ombersley, Worcestershire || data-sort-value="1/7/1866" | July 1866 || data-sort-value="1/1/1887" | January 1887 || Booking Porter. Previously employed at [[Hartlebury]], later as Booking Porter at [[Eardington]], and at [[Highley]]. 
|-
|William Sherwood||15 November 1846 Bidford, Warwickshire|| data-sort-value="1/1/1887" | January 1887||data-sort-value="1/10/1904" | October 1904||Booking Porter, Station Inspector (January 1890) and Station Master (November 1897). 1891 census describes Sherwood as ‘Station Master”. Previously employed at Hartlebury and Eardington on the branch, amongst other stations. From January to May 1899 ‘stould in’ for W G Cleeton as station master at [[Berrington]]. Resigned 1904, the 1911 census records Sherwood as “Invalided Retired Station Master”.
|-
| Alfred Stanley || 21 December 1855 Blockley, Worcestershire || data-sort-value="1/1/1907" | From 1907 || data-sort-value="14/2/1918" | 14 February 1918 || Signalman from 1904.
|-
| Joseph Thomas Hill || 5 April 1877 Kinver, Staffordshire || data-sort-value="1/4/1918" | April 1918 || data-sort-value="1/9/1922" | September 1922 || Previously employed at [[Bewdley]], Hampton Loade and [[Bridgnorth]] on the branch, amongst other stations. Moved to become station master at [[Arley]].
|-
| Joseph Bousher || 7 April 1875 Kintbury, Berkshire || data-sort-value="1/9/1922" | September 1922 || data-sort-value="1/11/1924" | November 1924 || Previously employed at Ironbridge and Bewdley.
|-
| Frederick Ralph Stratford Richards || 19 December 1882 Minchinhampton || data-sort-value="1/11/1924" | November 1924 || data-sort-value="1/4/1926" | April 1926 || Subsequently station master at Hartlebury.
|-
| Frederick William Peachey || 29 March 1891 Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire || data-sort-value="1/1/1946" | 1946 || data-sort-value="11/10/1946" | 11 October 1946 || Deceased. Previously employed at Stourport, then station master at Highley and Ironbridge.
|-
|}

From 1930 looked after by the Station Master at Highley. In 1939 the signalman was residing in Hampton Loade Station House.
From 1 April 1951 Hampton Loade was supervised by Bridgnorth.

==Historic maps of Hampton Loade Station==

*Early GWR plan showing the original single line and siding
*Later GWR plan showing the 1883 loop and second platform as amendments in red. 
*1884 map (surveyed 1882) showing the single line and siding.
*1903 map showing the loop and second platform and repositioned siding
*1926 map showing little change over the previous twenty years.

<gallery mode=packed heights=150px style="text-align:left">
File:GWRplanHamptonLoade early.jpg
File:GWRplanHamptonLoade.jpg
File:Hampton Load 1884 map.jpg | 1884
File:Hampton Loade 1903 map.jpg | 1903
File:Hampton Loade 1926 map.jpg | 1926
</gallery>

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">File:Hampton-Loade-Railcar-1959-10-07.jpg|An ex-GWR diesel railcar on a Northbound service in October 1959 ([[Sellick Collection]])
File:Hampton-Loade-40126-1960-04-14.jpg|Ex-LMS 40126 arriving with a Southbound service in April 1960 ([[Sellick Collection]])
</gallery>

== See also ==
*[[Variant spellings of SVR station names]]
*[[List of stations]]
*[[Accidents]]
*[[List of film and TV productions filmed on the Severn Valley Railway]]
*[[Shropshire Historic Environment Record]]

==References==
<references />

Early Station Masters data taken from census and GWR staff records by Reg Instone, who is involved with the Signalling Records Society, the LNWR Society and the GWR Study Group. Additional information from Chris Haynes.

== Links ==
*[http://www.sharpos-world.co.uk/cpg/thumbnails.php?album=17 Sharpos-World photos at Hampton Loade, showing station buildings, signalbox etc.]
*[https://hamptonloadestation.org.uk/ Hampton Loade station website]


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