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[[File:Kidderminster Town Station - geograph.org.uk - 118920.jpg|Kidderminster Station|thumb|200px300px|right|Kidderminster station]]'''Kidderminster Town''', commonly abbreviated to "Kidderminster" on the Severn Valley, is the Southern terminus of the SVR, located within the county of Worcestershire. The railway shares a [[Connection to Network Rail|railway link at this location to the Network Rail mainline]], on the Worcester Shrub Hill to Birmingham Snow Hill Line, while the station also shares an approach road with the adjacent [[Kidderminster mainline station]]. The town of Kidderminster is famous for its carpets, for which it was of worldwide reknown for many years.

The next station along the line, in the Down direction towards [[Bridgnorth]], is [[File:Kidderminster Town railway station MMB 08.jpg|Kidderminster station concourse|thumb|200px|right|Kidderminster station concourseBewdley]].

Kidderminster is the Southern terminus The layout of the SVR, located within station offers the county of Worcestershire. The railway shares a railway link at this location variety of running options, and is often home to frequent simultaneous train movements during the Network rail mainline, on the Worcester Shrub Hill to Birmingham Snow Hill Linebusier timetable spells. The next station along the linehas two platforms for passenger use, in which both offer the Down direction ability to depart towards [[Bridgnorth]], is [[Bewdley]]. The town of Kidderminster is famous These platforms are each served by their own engine runaround lines, where watering facilities for its Carpetsthe steam locomotives are available. Both engine runaround lines also possess Dock platforms at the station building end, for which it was of worldwide reknown are frequently used to stable the railway's inspection saloons and dining carriages for many yearsservicing and restocking between dining trains.

The station is the newest of the railway's stationshas a support group, having been built by the railway on the site of the old Kidderminster Mainline Goods Yard, which occupied the site before the railway was preserved. The building was constructed to blend correctly to the historic nature and atmosphere of the railway, and is home to a large covered concourse, booking office, and facilities for visitors. Please see [[The development Friends of Kidderminster Town Station]] for more details about the building of the station.

== Facilities == Facilities for visitors at Kidderminster Station are comprehensive; Under the covered concourse is the railway's Cafe, the [[Kidderminster Station Emporium | gift shop]], and the [[Kidderminster Station Sweet Shop | heritage sweet shop]]. The layout "King & Castle" pub forms an integral part of the station building and serves a selection of real ales and alcoholic beverages. Also located on the site is the [[Kidderminster Railway Museum | Kidderminster Railway Museum]], and the [[Coalyard Miniature Railway]], which offers a short ride adjacent to the Kidderminster Station platforms for a small additional fee.  The station has a large car park for those arriving by car to the railway , for which £4 a day is charged on an ANPR system. The Severn Valley Railway station at Kidderminster is located within easy walking distance of the Kidderminster mainline station, for those arriving by [[Mainline Operators Servicing Kidderminster|West Midlands Railway]] mainline services. == Points of Interest == === Station entrance === *Main Entrance Canopy. The ‘Porte Cochere’ style canopy over the station entrance was the first major project undertaken by the Friends of Kidderminster Town Station. The canopy at Ross-on-Wye sloped downwards, but to allow additional clearance for coaches an upward sloping design was adopted based on a canopy at Kingham, Oxfordshire built in the 1880s. The stone corbels supporting the canopy were laid into the wall in a ceremony on 23 September 1994 and the canopy was completed in 1996<ref>SVR News 112</ref><ref>Friends of Kidderminster Town website</ref>. [https://web.archive.org/web/20190923041105/http://www.kfriends.org.uk/projects/canopy.htm Link] *Ornamental Roof Crestings. The addition of the roof crestings was the Friends’ second major project; funding was helped by a raffle circa 1996 [[:Category:SVR fundraising lotteries|organised by the SVRA Stourbridge Branch]].<ref>SVR News 121</ref> This type of cresting was produced to a variety standard design by the specialist foundry of McFarlain of Glasgow from about 1880, and was found on the roof towers of many GWR stations including Ross on Wye, on which Kidderminster Town is based. Fragments of running optionsthe originals recovered from Ross-on-Wye were used by the SVR's pattern shop to produce patterns for casting the new roof crestings (cast in Aluminium for lightness). [https://web.archive.org/web/20190923041105/http://www.kfriends.org.uk/projects/crest.htm Link] *Bundy Time Clock. This clock, which can be seen outside the station, was used to provide a reliable method of time recording on the Birmingham Bus and Tram system. It was re-commissioned in October 2001. [https://web.archive.org/web/20190923041105/http://www.kfriends.org.uk/projects/bundy.htm Link] *Horse trough. The Horse Trough situated next to the Bundy Time Clock is often home a casting made by the Friends, from an original trough recovered from Wolverhampton Road, Sedgely and thought to date from the early 1920s. [https://web.archive.org/web/20190923041105/http://www.kfriends.org.uk/projects/trough.htm Link] *Coal yard offices. The wooden building behind the Bundy clock was a coal merchant's office dating from the early 20th Century.<ref>[http://www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/planning-and-buildings/conservation-areas-and-listed-buildings/listed-buildings/local-heritage-list/local-heritage-list-for-the-severn-valley-railway.aspx Wyre Forest DC Heritage Preservation List] Retrieved February 2016)</ref> The coal yard formed part of the Comberton Hill goods yard on which the SVR's present day Kidderminster Station was built. The coal yard land rented by Charringtons Coal Merchants was vacated in 1996.<ref>SVR Stock Book Ninth Edition P. 76.</ref> <gallery>File: Kidderminster Town Station - geograph.org.uk - 1477651.jpg | Canopy over the station entrance (Wikimedia Commons)File: Kidderminster_Crestings_20150528.jpg | Roof crestingsFile: Kidderminster_Bundy_Clock_20150214.jpg | Bundy ClockFile: Kidderminster_Trough_20150528.jpg | Horse TroughFile: Coal_Yard_Offices_20170514.jpg | Coal yard offices File:Kidderminster stone.jpg | Commemorative stones</gallery> === Station concourse ===The main station building and concourse have a ‘seamless’ appearance, but were actually built in stages over a period of more than 20 years. The first phase, the West wing with the Station Emporium and toilets, was built in 1984. The second phase including the entrance hall and ticket office was added in 1985. The third phase was the East wing, also known as The [[John Garth]] Building. This was opened by HRH The Duke of Gloucester on 18 October 2006. It mainly houses ‘The Valley Suite’, the station’s licensed restaurant and buffet and the [[Awards|multiple award-winning]] King and Castle Pub. The concourse roof was also added in 2006.  The concourse features the W.H. Smith & Son bookstall, now used as a [[Kidderminster Station Sweet Shop | sweet shop]], and the replica independent tobacconists kiosk used as the [[Kidderminster Station Fund Shop]]. From time to frequent simultaneous train movements during time temporary sales stands manned by other [[List of preservation groups | preservation groups]] are also found on the busier timetable spellsconcourse.  <gallery>File:Building_work_at_Kidderminster_Town_Station_-_geograph.org.uk_-_118931.jpg | Phase 3 commences in 2006 (Wikimedia Commons)File:Kidderminster Town railway station MMB 08. jpg | The West wing and station has two entrance (Wikimedia Commons)File:Interior Kidderminster Station - geograph.org.uk - 1148744.jpg | The East Wing (Wikimedia Commons)File:2014 at Kidderminster Town - inside the booking office.JPG | Booking office (Wikimedia Commons)</gallery> ==Main platforms==Passenger services normally depart from platforms for passenger use1 and 2, which both offer accessed from the ability station concourse. A long term ambition remains to depart towards provide a canopy for these platforms, similar to that at Bewdley, when funds permit. These Also intended is an extension of the platform. The platforms are each served gas lit and an impressive running in board is situated at the far end.<gallery>File:Kidderminster_Running_In_Board_20160504.jpg | Running in board at KidderminsterFile:Geograph-4704277-by their own engine runaround lines-Chris-Allen.jpg | Gaslights on Kidderminster platform at dusk. </gallery> ===Bay Platform===Most of the buildings and structures alongside the Bay Platform are the work of the Friends of Kidderminster Town Station. Some are original and have been relocated and painstakingly restored, where watering facilities for the steam locomotives while others are availablenewly built re-creations. Both engine runaround lines also possess Dock platforms at Starting nearest the main station building end, the Bay Platform includes:*Ex-Henley in Arden Parcels Office. This typical GWR wooden building was formerly situated at Henley in Arden station. It was declared surplus to requirements by Railtrack in 2000 and transported to Kidderminster by lorry. [https://web.archive.org/web/20190923041105/http://www.kfriends.org.uk/projects/henley.htm Link]*Uffculme Building. This is a typical general purpose storage building which are frequently could be found on countless GWR stations. It is an accurate replica of one that stood on the platform at Uffculme in Devon. Much of the building was newly built but some components such as the sliding door and runners were recovered from other GWR sites. It is used by the Friends as a workshop. [https://web.archive.org/web/20190923041105/http://www.kfriends.org.uk/projects/uffculme.htm Link]*Ex-Shrewsbury Pagoda. The GWR introduced this style of building in the early 1900s at many of its smaller halts. A newly built example can be seen at [[Northwood Halt]]. This example was relocated from Allscott Sidings near Shrewsbury in 2001.*Ex-Henley in Arden Lamp Hut. The former lamp hut comprises corrugated sheeting covering an angle-iron inner frame. It was recovered from Henley in Arden in 2000 along with the Parcels Office. [https://web.archive.org/web/20190923041105/http://www.kfriends.org.uk/projects/lamphut.htm Link]*Covered Cycle Rack. The structure was newly built by the Friends in 1997, based on an original formerly at Droitwich Spa but now removed. The GWR racks themselves came from Claverdon station on the Stratford-on-Avon line. [https://web.archive.org/web/20190923041105/http://www.kfriends.org.uk/projects/cycleshed.htm Link]*The body of [[GWR 37150 Covered Goods Van (body only) | Goods Van 37150]]. Van bodies were often re-used for storage by the GWR and other railway companies of that era. [https://web.archive.org/web/20190923041105/http://www.kfriends.org.uk/projects/vanbody.htm Link] <gallery>File: Kidderminster_Parcels_Office_20150528.jpg | Ex-Henley in Arden Parcels Office File: Kidderminster_Uffculme_Building_20150528.jpg | Uffculme BuildingFile: Kidderminster_Pagoda_20150528.jpg | Ex-Shrewsbury PagodaFile: Kidderminster_Lamp_Hut_20150528.jpg | Ex-Henley in Arden Lamp HutFile: Kidderminster_Cycle_Rack_20150528.jpg | Cycle rackFile: GWR_37150_20150411.jpg | Body of van 37150</gallery> ===Infrastructure===The site at Kidderminster is also home to stable key parts of the preservation infrastructure of the railway. The main [[Carriage Repair Works]], aka North Star Works, is located near the Network Rail car park, and is where a considerable amount of restoration on the railway's inspection saloons heritage carriage fleet takes place. Visitors riding the railway towards Bewdley, after passing under the footbridge, will also notice the large railway yard on the right, which includes the [[Diesel Depot]] and dining the 1/5th Mile long [[Kidderminster Carriage Shed | Carriage Shed]], where the SVR's working rakes of carriages are stored when not in use on the regular services. Kidderminster is home to the SVR's largest [[Kidderminster signal box|signal box]]. Adjacent to this is the station's water tower, which provides a supply for locomotives taking water at the southern end of the line. Also adjacent to the signal box is a small brick platelayers' hut dating from the early 20th century.  Kidderminster is also the site of the SVR's [[Kidderminster Turntable | Turntable]], which is located near to the diesel depot and gives the railway valuable turning facilities for servicing locomotives and restocking between dining trainsstock. The [[GWR Bus Garage (Ex Bridgnorth)]] has been re-erected at Kidderminster. The frame is original, although the cladding is new.

Facilities for visitors at <gallery>File:Kidderminster_Signal_Box_20160218.jpg | Kidderminster Station are comprehensive; Under the covered concourse is the railway's Cafe, the gift shop, Signal Box and the heritage sweet shopWater TowerFile:Kidderminster_Platelayers_Hut_20160403. The "King & Castle" pub forms an integral part of the station building and serves a selection of real ales and alcoholic beveragesjpg | Early 20th century brick platelayers' hutFile:Bus_Garage_20160305. Also located on the site is the [[Kidderminster Railway Museum jpg | Kidderminster Railway Museum]], and the Coalyard miniature railway, which offers a short ride adjacent to the Kidderminster Station platforms for a small additional fee. GWR Bus Garage (Ex Bridgnorth)</gallery>

===Water columns===Two water columns were erected following the [[The station has development of Kidderminster Town Station|opening of Kidderminster in 1984]]. Adjacent to the platform 1 run round was a large car park for those arriving fixed column, an original Kidderminster GWR item (having been cast at [[Wolverhampton]] in 1892). This column was erected on 29 June 1985 and officially 'launched' on 7 July 1985 by car to Ursula Broadhurst, mother of then Station Master Malcolm. [[7819|7819 Hinton Manor]] took part in the railwayceremony, for which £3 a although Tyseley's 7029 Clun Castle and the SVR's [[4930|4930 Hagley Hall]] had already taken water earlier in the day is charged before departing on a token barrier systemmain line run. The Severn Valley Railway station <ref>SVR News 71</ref> Prior to the commissioning of this column, locomotives at Kidderminster is located within easy walking distance the southern end of the Kidderminster mainline station, for those arriving by London Midland or Chiltern Mainline servicesline could only take water at Bewdley.

== Points The original fixed column was retired to the custody of Interest ==[[Kidderminster Railway Museum]] for possible display.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/winter-works-2018 SVRLive 'Winter works 2018' 16 January 2018]</ref>

The site <gallery>File:7714 Water 20170422.jpg | 7714 takes water at Kidderminster is also home to key parts of the preservation infrastructure of the railwayold platform 1 GWR fixed water columnFile:7714 Water 20170325. The main [[Carriage Repair Works]], aka North Star Works, is located near the Network Rail Car park, and is where a considerable amount of restoration on jpg | 7714 stands in platform 2 with the railway's heritage carriage fleet takes place. Visitors riding the railway towards Bewdley will also notice the large railway yard on the right, where contractors arrived on site GWR swing arm column in February 2015 to begin construction of the railway's new [[Diesel Depot]]foregroundFile:Kidderminster Water Column 20170819. Likewise visitors will also notice the 1/5th Mile long [[Kidderminster Carriage Shed jpg | Carriage Shed]], where the SVR's working rakes of carriages are stored when not in use Inscription on the regular services.Platform 2 water column</gallery>

== Other attractions at Kidderminster ==Kidderminster is home to the SVR's largest [[Kidderminster signal box|signal boxCoalyard Miniature Railway]]. Kidderminster is also the site of the SVR's and [[Kidderminster Turntable | TurntableRailway Museum]], which is located near to the diesel depot and gives the railway valuable turning facilities for locomotives and stock.

The == See also ==*[[Kidderminster mainline station has a support group, the ]]*[[List of stations]]*[[Friends Kidderminster Shed | Kidderminster Engine Shed]]*[[The development of Kidderminster Town Station]].

[https://web.archive.org/web/20190923041105/http://www.kfriends.org.uk/ Friends of Kidderminster Town archived web site]<br>[https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2eAFhE-m0yhbXRxai1OVEVyTVE/edit Railings at Kidderminster Railway Station on the Kidderminster & District Archaeological & Historical Society web site]  {{#coordinates:52.384437|-2.239659|[primary|][dim:1000]}}{{StationNavbox}} [[Category:SVR fundraising lotteries]]