[[File:SVR train approaching Kidderminster - geograph.org.uk - 1710015.jpg|thumb|300px|right|GWR 5029 "Nunney Castle" approaches Kidderminster under the footbridge]]
[[File:Kidderminster_Footbridge_20150528.jpg|thumb|300px|right| Kidderminster footbridge, looking towards Kidderminster station]]
Trains approaching [[Kidderminster | Kidderminster station]] can be seen coming into view beneath '''Kidderminster Footbridge'''. The A footbridge carries has existed at this location since it replaced a public right level crossing in the 19th century. Earlier bridges were of way between Hoo Road (near Kidderminster Harriers Football Club) and Chester Road Southwooden construction, crossing over both hence the current bridge is still sometimes referred to locally as 'the wooden bridge'.<ref>SVR lines and the adjacent Souvenir Guide</ref> Peter Fursdon, a former footplateman at [[Kidderminster to Hartlebury main line. There is no direct access between Shed]] in the footbridge and 1950s, recalled it as being called the 'Black Bridge'.<ref>Fursdon, Peter, 'My Railway Journey', SVRNews 215, Autumn 2021, p. The bridge also carries a high voltage power cable.52</ref>
The Network Rail plaque identifies it as Bridge 104footbridge carries a public right of way between Hoo Road (near Kidderminster Harriers Football Club) and Chester Road South, situated at 135 miles 22 chains. It is also described by NR as 'OWW Footbridge 104', OWW being crossing over both the engineer's line reference SVR lines and the adjacent Kidderminster to Hartlebury main line's [[Oxford Worcester . There is no direct access between the footbridge and Wolverhampton Railway]] origin. It has not been allocated a number in the SVR's [[List of infrastructure]]. Similar plaques from the BR era can still be seen on [[Worcester Road Bridge]] (Bridge 2) and [[Falling Sands Viaduct]] (Bridge 3).<gallery>File:Bridge 104 20180408The bridge also carries a high voltage power cable.jpg|Network Rail Bridge Number</gallery>
A <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">Kidderminster_Footbridge_20150528.jpg | Kidderminster footbridge has existed at this location since it replaced a level crossing in 2015 </gallery>The 2015 photograph above shows the view approaching the station and looking north, with the bridge's west abutment on the 19th centuryleft. Earlier bridges were From left to right as see, the track next to the west abutment allows pedestrian and vehicle access to the [[Diesel Depot]] and [[Kidderminster Carriage Shed|Carriage Shed]] south of wooden construction, hence the current bridge . The two lines to the left lead to the platforms at [[Kidderminster]]. To the right is still sometimes referred the line leading to the [[Connection to Network Rail | connection to the main line]] and to the [[Carriage Repair Works]]. Beyond the fence is the Network Rail main line from Hartlebury to locally as 'Kidderminster, originally part of the wooden OW&W. The bridge'seen was demolished in early 2022 as part of a replacement project by Network Rail.<ref>SVR Souvenir Guide</ref>
Peter Fursdon, a former footplateman at [[Kidderminster Shed]] in the 1950s, recalled it as being called the 'Black Bridge'.<refgallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">Fursdon, Peter, 'My Railway Journey', SVR News 215, Autumn 2021, pBridge 104 20180408. 52jpg|Network Rail Bridge Number</refgallery>
In The plaque seen above was located on the second photographeast abutment, demolished during replacement of the two lines to bridge in 2022. The plaque identifies it as Bridge 104, situated at 135 miles 22 chains. It is also described by NR as 'OWW Footbridge 104', OWW being the left lead to engineer's line reference and the platforms at line's [[KidderminsterOxford Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway]]origin. To The footbridge has not been allocated a number in the right is the line leading to SVR's [[List of infrastructure]]. Similar plaques from the BR era can still be seen on [[Connection to Network Rail | connection to the main lineWorcester Road Bridge]] (Bridge 2) and to the [[Carriage Repair WorksFalling Sands Viaduct]](Bridge 3). Beyond ==Extension and replacement==When the SVR first extended to Kidderminster in [[The development of Kidderminster Town Station | July 1984]], [[SVR(H)]] bought from BR the fence is last section of the Network Rail main line from Hartlebury to Kidderminsterfrom the old boundary at [[Stourport Road Bridge]], originally part of but at that stage had only leased the former Comberton Hill Goods Yard on which the station was built. The footbridge marked the boundary between the areas that the OW&WSVR owned and leased.<ref>SVR News 72</ref>
When the SVR first extended to Kidderminster in [[The development of Kidderminster Town Station | July 1984]], [[SVR(H)]] bought from BR the last section of the line to Kidderminster from the old boundary at [[Stourport Road Bridge]], but at that stage had only leased the former Comberton Hill Goods Yard on which the station was built. The footbridge marked the boundary between the areas that the SVR owned and leased<ref>SVR News 72</ref>. ==Extension and replacement==Following the successful extension of the railway to Kidderminster, an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund was submitted on 30 April 1997, titled the ‘SVR Heritage Project’ for the [[Kidderminster Carriage Shed]] and other items. This included an a proposed extension to the footbridge to allow better road and pedestrian access to the site. The HLF requested a scaled-down application, and although the extension was still included it was ultimately dropped.<ref>SVR News 128-129</ref>
In 2000 the SVR raised further funds for that project, sufficient to allow SVR(H) to announce at the 2000 AGM that the extension to the footbridge would go ahead. However, the [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2000-2009#2000 | 2000 boiler crisis]] led to these plans being put on hold.<ref>SVR News 133, 134</ref>
Long-mooted plans by Network Rail to replace the footbridge received financial approval in 2021, with works programmed from December until May 2022. The proposed design will be a single-span constructed in ‘weathering steel’ with new abutments at each end. All traces of the existing bridge will disappear including the central brick pier.<ref name=blsep21>[https://www.svrlive.com/blsep21 Branch Lines, September 2021]</ref> The SVR's aspiration to extend the bridge to give access from the station to the [[Kidderminster Turntable | turntable]] will remain an aspiration, due to a lack of funds.
The old bridge spans were lifted out and demolition of the central pier were completed in the early morning of Sunday 13 February 2022. Demolition of the west abutment was completed on Monday 14 February 2022 the following day, with the footpath embankment being dug away to allow for the excavation of the pier base. ==References==<references />The east abutment was demolished over the weekend of 12-13 March.
==See also==
[[List of infrastructure]]<br>
[[Kidderminster Turntable | Towards Bridgnorth]]
==References==
<references />
