Hampton Loade

Hampton Loade station
An unidentified pannier on a Northbound service in September 1962 (Sellick Collection)
Next stations
Up (towards Kidderminster) Down (towards Bridgnorth)
Highley (2 miles)
via Country Park Halt
Bridgnorth (4½ miles)
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.

Contents

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[1].

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.[2] 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 Bridnorth for a short period in 2008. It was later the terminus of The Eardington Explorer trains.

Operations

Hampton Loade station has two platforms and a 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 and Bridgnorth using long section tokens under ETT regulations.

Facilities

The station has a small kiosk (originally a Wyman's bookstall from Snow Hill station)[1] 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 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 Riding Van 55.

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.[3] This provides a more suitable facility than does rolling stock. Volunteer work involved decoration and the Station Fund acquiring period GWR and BR(WR) furniture.[4]

Points of interest

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.[5]

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.[6]. The SVR turned down an offer to acquire the ferry as they did not feel the Railway was the right body to operate it.[7] It was eventually reopened in April 2009,[8] 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.

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.

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'[9] 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.[10]

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.[9] 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[11].

Barry Railway Carriage 163

Since 1992,[12] Hampton Loade has been the base for Barry Railway Carriage Trust who are restoring Barry Railway Carriage 163. In 2022 the Trust and Railway agreed that 163 will leave the SVR.

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.[13]

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.

Filming at Hampton Loade

Hampton Loade has been used as a filming location on a number of occasions, including:

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.[14]

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.[15] The last Hampton Loade Station Gala advertised as such in the 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.

Hampton Loade derailment

On 28 September 2009, a 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.[16]

Hampton Loade history before preservation

Although the village was also historically known as Hampton's Loade[17], the station was originally called Hampton, with that name appearing in the opening timetable. However within a month it had adopted the name Hampton Loade which it has retained ever since[18].

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[18].
  • 1922: 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 GWR camping coach pre-World War 2[18].
  • 1960: The loop capacity, for the purpose of crossing trains, was 23 wagons, plus engine and brake van.[19]
  • 1963: Through passenger services ceased on 9 September, with through freight services ending at the end of November.
Traffic statistics in commercial service for Hampton Loade, selected years 1903 to 1952
Passenger Traffic Freight Traffic
Year Tickets issued Parcels despatched Revenue (£) Tons received & despatched Revenue (£) Total revenue (£)
1903 9,967 2,691 760 1,488 631 1,391
1913 10,350 3,076 579 4,632 1,270 1,849
1923 9,077 3,117 778 900 599 1,377
1933 4,704 1,183 350 335 147 497
1938 5,116 659 304 555 201 505
1942 7,067 301 480 250 X X
1947 6,956 177 556 131 X X
1952 (b) (b) (b) (b) X X

X: Information not recorded
(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.

Name Born From To Comments
John Williams 1831 Lampeter Velfrey, Pembrokeshire August 1863 July 1866 Booking Constable.
Henry Powell 7 October 1836 Ombersley, Worcestershire July 1866 January 1887 Booking Porter. Previously employed at Hartlebury, later as Booking Porter at Eardington, and at Highley.
William Sherwood 15 November 1846 Bidford, Warwickshire January 1887 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 From 1907 14 February 1918 Signalman from 1904.
Joseph Thomas Hill 5 April 1877 Kinver, Staffordshire April 1918 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 September 1922 November 1924 Previously employed at Ironbridge and Bewdley.
Frederick Ralph Stratford Richards 19 December 1882 Minchinhampton November 1924 April 1926 Subsequently station master at Hartlebury.
Frederick William Peachey 29 March 1891 Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire 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

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 SVR News 32
  2. SVR News 28
  3. SVR(H) notice board issue NBI-H-194 "October-December 2014 Round Up", published on SVRLive
  4. Hampton Loade Station Facebook
  5. SVR News 139, Hampton Loade Ferry
  6. Wikipedia
  7. SVR News 166, Summer 2009
  8. BBC News
  9. 9.0 9.1 Porthcawl Miniature Railway fundraising page (retrieved 10 March 2023)
  10. SVR News 81, 94
  11. SVR News 118
  12. SVR News 118
  13. Records on the British Geological Survey web site
  14. SVR News 139, Hampton Loade Velocipede Rally 2001
  15. SVR News 142, 144
  16. Rail Accident Investigation Branch (retrieved 6 January 2017)
  17. Handbook to the Severn Valley Railway, by J. Randall 1863
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 Marshall (1989), p101
  19. Sectional Appendix to the Working Time Tables and Books of Rules and Regulations, Birmingham Traffic District, October 1960

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.

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