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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 The layout of the station offers the railway a variety of running options, and is often home to frequent simultaneous train movements during the busier timetable spells. The station has two platforms for passenger use, which both offer the ability to depart towards Bewdley. These platforms are each served by their own engine runaround lines, where watering facilities for the Southern terminus of steam locomotives are available. Both engine runaround lines also possess Dock platforms at the SVRstation building end, located within which are frequently used to stable the county of Worcestershirerailway's inspection saloons and dining carriages for servicing and restocking between dining trains.  The railway shares station has a support group, the [[Friends of Kidderminster Town Station]]. == Facilities == Facilities for visitors at Kidderminster Station are comprehensive; Under the covered concourse is the railway link at this location to 's Cafe, the Network rail mainline[[Kidderminster Station Emporium | gift shop]], and the [[Kidderminster Station Sweet Shop | heritage sweet shop]]. The "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 Worcester Shrub Hill site is the [[Kidderminster Railway Museum | Kidderminster Railway Museum]], and the [[Coalyard Miniature Railway]], which offers a short ride adjacent to Birmingham Snow Hill Linethe Kidderminster Station platforms for a small additional fee.  The next station along has a large car park for those arriving by car to the linerailway, in 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 Down direction towards Kidderminster mainline station, for those arriving by [[BridgnorthMainline 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, is 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 [[Bewdley:Category:SVR fundraising lotteries|organised by the SVRA Stourbridge Branch]]. The town <ref>SVR News 121</ref> This type of cresting was produced to a 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 famous based. Fragments of the originals recovered from Ross-on-Wye were used by the SVR's pattern shop to produce patterns for its Carpetscasting 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, for which it can be seen outside the station, was used to provide a reliable method of worldwide reknown 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 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 many years-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>

The station is the newest of the railway's stations, having been built by the railway on the site of the old <gallery>File: Kidderminster Mainline Goods Yard, which occupied Town Station - geograph.org.uk - 1477651.jpg | Canopy over the site before the railway was preservedstation entrance (Wikimedia Commons)File: Kidderminster_Crestings_20150528.jpg | Roof crestingsFile: Kidderminster_Bundy_Clock_20150214.jpg | Bundy ClockFile: Kidderminster_Trough_20150528. 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 visitorsjpg | Horse TroughFile: Coal_Yard_Offices_20170514. Please see [[The development of jpg | Coal yard offices File:Kidderminster Town Station]] for more details about the building of the stationstone.jpg | Commemorative stones</gallery>

=== Station concourse ===The layout 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 offers 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 railway W.H. Smith & Son bookstall, now used as a variety of running options[[Kidderminster Station Sweet Shop | sweet shop]], and is often home 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 for passenger use==Passenger services normally depart from platforms 1 and 2, which both offer accessed from the ability station concourse. A long term ambition remains to provide a canopy for these platforms, similar to depart towards that at Bewdley, when funds permit. These platforms are each served by their own engine runaround lines, where watering facilities for Also intended is an extension of the steam locomotives are availableplatform. Both engine runaround lines also possess Dock The platforms are gas lit and an impressive running in board is situated at the station building far end, which are frequently used to stable the railway's inspection saloons and dining carriages for servicing and restocking between dining trains.<gallery>File:Kidderminster_Running_In_Board_20160504.jpg | Running in board at KidderminsterFile:Geograph-4704277-by-Chris-Allen.jpg | Gaslights on Kidderminster platform at dusk. </gallery>

== Facilities =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, while others are newly built re-creations. Starting nearest the main station building, 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 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]

Facilities for visitors at Kidderminster Station are comprehensive; Under the covered concourse is the railway's Cafe, the gift shop, and the heritage sweet shop<gallery>File: Kidderminster_Parcels_Office_20150528. The "King & Castle" pub forms an integral part of the station building and serves a selection of real ales and alcoholic beveragesjpg | 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. 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 feeCycle rackFile: GWR_37150_20150411. jpg | Body of van 37150</gallery>

===Infrastructure===The station has a large car park for those arriving by car site at Kidderminster is also home to key parts of the preservation infrastructure of the railway, for which £3 a day is charged on a token barrier system. The Severn Valley Railway station at Kidderminster main [[Carriage Repair Works]], aka North Star Works, is located within easy walking distance near the Network Rail car park, and is where a considerable amount of restoration on the railway's 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 the 1/5th Mile long [[Kidderminster mainline stationCarriage Shed | Carriage Shed]], for those arriving by London Midland or Chiltern Mainline where the SVR's working rakes of carriages are stored when not in use on the regular services.

== Points Kidderminster is also the site of Interest ==the SVR's [[Kidderminster Turntable | Turntable]], which is located near to the diesel depot and gives the railway valuable turning facilities for locomotives and stock.

The site [[GWR Bus Garage (Ex Bridgnorth)]] has been re-erected at Kidderminster is also home to key parts of the preservation infrastructure of the railway. The main [[Carriage Repair Works]]frame is original, aka North Star Works, is located near although the Network Rail Car park, and cladding is where a considerable amount of restoration on 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 in February 2015 to begin construction of the railway's new [[Diesel Depot]]. Likewise visitors will also notice 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 coal yard offices, the main station building, the Railway Museum, the North Star Carriage Works, the SVR's largest [[Kidderminster signal box|signal box]]. Kidderminster is also the site of the SVR, water tower and platelayer's hut are all included on the[[Kidderminster Turntable | TurntableWyre Forest District Council Local Heritage List‎]], which is located near to the diesel depot and gives the railway valuable turning facilities for locomotives and stock.

The station has a support group, the [[Friends of <gallery>File:Kidderminster_Signal_Box_20160218.jpg | Kidderminster Town Station]]Signal Box and Water TowerFile:Kidderminster_Platelayers_Hut_20160403.jpg | Early 20th century brick platelayers' hutFile:Bus_Garage_20160305.jpg | GWR Bus Garage (Ex Bridgnorth)</gallery>

== History =Water columns===Two water columns were erected following the [[The development of Kidderminster Town Station|opening of Kidderminster in 1984]]. Adjacent to the platform 1 run round was a 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 Ursula Broadhurst, mother of then Station Master Malcolm. [[7819|7819 Hinton Manor]] took part in the ceremony, although Tyseley's 7029 Clun Castle and the SVR's [[4930|4930 Hagley Hall]] had already taken water earlier in the day before departing on a main line run.<ref>SVR News 71</ref> Prior to the commissioning of this column, locomotives at the southern end of the line could only take water at Bewdley.

[[File:Kidderminster stationOn platform two side is a standard GWR swing arm type, 1963 - 3387931also cast at Wolverhampton in 1905.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Kidderminster stationPlatform 2 was brought into use on 25 November 1990.<ref>SVR News 98</ref> SVR News did not record the exact date of installation of this water column, although it was first pictured in use in Autumn 1993.<ref>SVR News 108</ref> In January 2018 the fixed column was replaced by another swing arm type, a project that had been planned since the 1980s, as the replacement is better suited to the variety of locomotives the SVR sees. This was the last of three cranes dug out by SVR volunteers in 1968 from Stourbridge Junction loco shed, and cast in Swindon in 1899. The replacement was restored, with new components fabricated under the watchful eye of retired civil engineer Brian Jones who was heavily involved with the installation of the watering facilities in the 1980s.<ref>SVR News 203</ref> At the same time the tank was relined using a GRP liner, 1963 (Geograph)]]proactive maintenance which greatly extends its life for a relatively modest cost. At the same time the platform 2 swing arm was fitted with a new boom and swan neck.<ref>SVR News 203</ref>

The original station used by the GWR loop line is situated adjacent fixed column was retired to the SVR station, and is the current Network Rail station, having stayed in use on the Birmingham to Worcester linecustody of [[Kidderminster Railway Museum]] for possible display.<ref>[https://www.svrlive. The original 1852 GWR station building was of an unusual but attractive mockcom/winter-works-Tudor style which survived until 1968, when dry rot resulted in the replacement of the original building with the current BR brick buildings.2018 SVRLive 'Winter works 2018' 16 January 2018]</ref>

File:Kidderminster-Station-1959-11-297714 Water 20170422.jpg|Kidderminster station, 1959 ([[Sellick Collection]])7714 takes water at the old platform 1 GWR fixed water columnFile:Kidderminster station, with auto-train to Bewdley geograph-2571495-by-Ben-Brooksbank7714 Water 20170325.jpg|Ex-7714 stands in platform 2 with the GWR Pannier 6424 arrives with an auto train from Bewdley swing arm column in 1963 (Geograph)the foregroundFile:Kidderminster (Network Rail) Station - geograph.org.uk - 118927Water Column 20170819.jpg|The current Network Rail Kidderminster Station (Geograph)Inscription on Platform 2 water column

== See Also Other attractions at Kidderminster ==Kidderminster is home to the [[Coalyard Miniature Railway]] and [[Kidderminster Railway Museum]]

== See also ==*[[Kidderminster mainline station]]*[[List of stations]]*[[Kidderminster Shed | Kidderminster Engine Shed]]*[[The development of Kidderminster Town Station]]  ==References==<references />

[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]]