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The [[Bewdley Down Yard|yard]] at Bewdley is home to the [[Bewdley Carriage & Wagon Department | Carriage and Wagon department]] which supplements the [[Carriage Repair Works | Carriage Repair Department]] at Kidderminster and maintains the fleet of goods wagons. A considerable amount of [[The 4150 Fund:Category:Rolling stock in Bewdley Down Yard|rolling stock is stabled there]] are also restoring GWR locomotive including [[GWR Large Prairie 4150 Rolling stock currently under restoration| 4150rolling stock under restoration]] in Bewdley yard. Public access to the yard is available during the annual [[Open House Weekend]] (and was formerly available during the [[Peep Behind the Scenes]] event, organised by the 4150 Fund).
Two water towers at In October 2020 the [[Charitable Trust]] announced a project to improve wheelchair access to the island platform via the southern end of Platforms 2&3 and in barrow crossing next to the MPD area allow watering of locomotives. The announcement noted that "''The SVR also aim to remove the water tower on at the base of the island platform ramp as it is of GWR origin causing an obstruction and was recovered from Stow Heath yard, Bilston in 1969puddles on the access route. The This water tower next to the MPD is of LNWR origin and not an original feature, but was retrieved from Hadleya later addition, near Wellingtoninstalled during the preservation era, in October 1972that is no longer essential to operations. This will be relocated to [[Highley|Highley Station]]''."<ref>SVR News 29<[https://www.svrtrust.org.uk/ref>index. Both columns were installed during the winter of 1973-74<ref>SVR php?page=News Charitable Trust 2020 News 31page]</ref>. Unlike at Bridgnorth and Kidderminster, the water supply at Bewdley is not specially treated, and so the columns are only used on rare occasions such as galas.
File:Bewdley station clock.jpg|Bewdley station clock, installed in 1977 ex Stourbridge Junction Station
Update as of date
! Towards [[Hartlebury]] !! Towards [[Kidderminster]] !! Towards [[Shrewsbury]] !! Towards [[Wyre_Forest_Line#Tenbury_Wells | Tenbury Wells]]
|-
| [[Stourport]] (2½ miles) )<br>via [[Burlish Halt]] (from 1930) || [[Kidderminster]] (3¾ miles)<br>via [[Rifle Range Halt]] (1905-1920)<br>and [[Foley Park Halt]] (from 1905-1970) || [[Arley]] (3¾ miles)<br>via [[Northwood Halt]] (from 1935) || [[Wyre_Forest_Line#Wyre_Forest | Wyre Forest]]
|-
|}
==The station==
Bewdley station in Worcestershire has three platforms and was formerly the junction for both the [[Wyre Forest Line | Wyre Forest]] and [[Stourport Branch | Stourport]] lines, both of which are now used as sidings.
The station is controlled by two signal boxes, [[Bewdley South signal box | Bewdley South]] and [[Bewdley North signal box | Bewdley North]]. The section through platforms 1 and 2 is the only [[Double track | double track]] section of the present SVR. This is worked under [[Absolute Block]] regulations.
[[Bewdley MPD]] is home to the [[Class 108 DMU]]. Other operational locomotives are also stabled at Bewdley, running light engine to Kidderminster at the start and end of each day as required. On certain Gala days a DMU shuttle service is operated between [[Stourport Triangle]], Bewdley and the short remaining length of former [[Tenbury Branch]] track immediately north of Bewdley to recreate the feel of a country junction station.
Bewdley Platform 1 is home to the Volunteer Liaison Office.
==Legal Charge==
On 8 August 1988 [[Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC]] gave a Legal Charge in favour of the County Council of Hereford & Worcester in respect of "All that land at Bewdley containing six point seven acres or thereabouts together with the buildings erected thereon." The charge was given as security against "All monies due or to become due from the company to the chargee under the terms of agreement dated 10.5.88." {{As of|2021}} its status is shown as 'Outstanding'.<ref>[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01046274/charges] (Retrieved 13 December 2020)</ref> The Council itself was abolished in 1998 and reverted to the two separate historic counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
==Facilities==
Bewdley has limited public pay and display parking. There is a buffet adjacent to Platform 1. Three [[List of shops | sales coaches]] run by support groups are adjacent to the car park. In March 2018 the buffet adjacent to Platform 1 (but not the more recent toilet block and kitchen) was closed pending demolition of the buffet building, which took place from 16-19 July. [[BR 4593 Tourist Standard Open]] was moved to the dock in front of the buffet to be used as seating for staff and the public, with table service provided from the kitchen. In January 2020 a prefabricated timber buffet building was installed on the concrete plinth of the old buffet building, and 4593 was removed.
== Points of interest ==
====Booking hall====
The booking hall had been ‘modernised’ by BR with tall ticket windows and plywood facing. The plywood was removed in winter 1980-81 to reveal the original GWR panelling. At the same time the smaller windows were reinstated and fitted with brass wired grids acquired from the old Birmingham Snow Hill station. The balustrades in front of the windows also came from Snow Hill<ref>SVR News 59</ref>.
<Gallerygallery mode=packed heights=150px style="text-align:left">
File: Bewdley_Booking_Office_20151114.jpg | Ticket window and balustrade
</gallery>
====Phone box====
The phone box outside the station is an example of the K4 type, introduced in 1930. The K4, nicknamed the Vermillion Giant, was a combined telephone and post box. Only 50 were ever produced.<ref>[http://www.redphonebox.info/galleryK4.html RedPhoneBox.info]</ref>
The box is Grade II listed by Historic England and described as "Intact but not on original site".<ref> [https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1100700 Historic England listing entry for the phone box] </ref> It arrived on the SVR in winter 1981-82 on permanent loan from the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust<ref>SVR News 62</ref> and was originally situated on Platform 1.<ref>SVR News 66</ref>.
<gallerymode=packed heights=150px style="text-align:left">
File:Phone box at Bewdley Station - geograph.org.uk - 1454715.jpg | Phone box at Bewdley
File:Phone box rear.jpg | Rear view of phone box
==== Footbridge ====
A covered wooden [[Bewdley Station Footbridge|footbridge ]] at the northern end of the station allows access between Platform 1 and Platforms 2&3. It is [[List of infrastructure|numbered bridge 10]].<gallerymode=packed heights=150px style="text-align:left">
File:Bewdley station - north end - geograph.org.uk - 899053.jpg|Bewdley station footbridge
File:Bewdley footbridge interior.JPG|Bewdley footbridge interior
==== Water towers ====
Two water towers at the southern end of Platforms 2&3 and in the MPD area allow watering of locomotives. The tower on the island platform is of GWR origin and was recovered from Stow Heath yard, Bilston in 1969. The tower next to the MPD is of LNWR origin and was retrieved from Hadley, near Wellington, in October 1972<ref>SVR News 29</ref>. Both columns were installed during the winter of 1973-74<ref>SVR News 31</ref>. Unlike at Bridgnorth and Kidderminster, the water supply at Bewdley is not specially treated, and so the columns are only used on rare occasions such as galas.
<gallerymode=packed heights=150px style="text-align:left">
File:Bewdley railway station MMB 04 6024.jpg|Water towers at Bewdley station
File:Bewdley water towers.jpg|Water towers as viewed from the platform
==== Island platform canopy ====
Platforms 2&and 3 share a canopy, built in 1878, giving passengers protection from the weather. The canopy, featuring timber frames on cast iron pillars was extended around 1900 with the new section supported on steel frames.<gallerymode=packed heights=150px style="text-align:left">
File:Bewdley Station - geograph.org.uk - 1477635.jpg|Bewdley station from the footbridge, showing the island canopy
File:PGH Bewdley.jpg|An up train in platform 2 in April 1962 (PG Hindley)
File:Bewdley canopy 1.JPG | Underside view of the canopy showing the two different methods of construction
File:Bewdley canopy 2.JPG | Underside view of the canopy showing the two different methods of construction
File: Bewdley_Canopy_20150528.jpg | The canopy was refurbished using materials from the old Snow Hill station.
</gallery>
==== Platform clock ====
The double-faced clock under the island platform canopy was built for the GWR by Kays of Worcester in the late 19th or early 20th century. It was used at nearby Stourbridge Junction until 1977 when, no longer required by BR, it was acquired by staff from [[Arley]] station. It worked until 1998, but then underwent a year-long overhaul, being re-commissioned on 10 April 1999<ref>SVR News 130</ref>.
<gallery mode=packed heights=150px style="text-align:left">
File:Bewdley station clock.jpg|Bewdley station clock
</gallery>
==== Gent's urinal ====
An open roofed cast iron gentlemen's urinal is located on Platforms 2&and 3on the site of the original urinal which was built in 1896. This The replacement was relocated from Melrose in Scotland by SVR volunteers and formally opened in [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1970-1979#1977 | September 1977]]. See 'Links' below for two copyrighted images of the urinal at Melrose. <gallerymode=packed heights=150px style="text-align:left">
File:Bewdley gents urinal.jpg|Bewdley gents urinal
File:Bewdley gents urinal detail.jpg|Bewdley gents urinal detail
==== Portable water tank ====
A portable water tank with hand powered pump was used for the refilling of carriage water tanks.
<gallerymode=packed heights=150px style="text-align:left">
File:Water Carrier - geograph.org.uk - 1492157.jpg|Portable water tank
</gallery>
====Token catcher====
The token catcher opposite Bewdley North signal box was originally located opposite Bewdley South signal box, where it could be used by locomotives on the former [[Stourport Branch]]. It was moved to its present location during the 1974-75 close season<ref>SVR News 36</ref>. It is not currently in use, tokens instead being exchanged by hand.
<gallerymode=packed heights=150px style="text-align:left">
File: Token_Catcher_20110814.jpg | Token catcher opposite Bewdley North signal box
</gallery>
*1862 Bewdley has a population of 2900<ref>[[Bibliography | Handbook to the Severn Valley Railway, J. Randall, 1863]]</ref> (Population; 10869 in 2001)<ref>[http://www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/things-to-see-do-and-visit/tourism-and-travel/guide-to-bewdley.aspx 2001 census]</ref>
*1862: When the Severn Valley Line opened, Bewdley was a crossing point and was deemed a principal station, being provided with a goods shed and goods yard. Construction of the [[Wyre Forest Line | Tenbury and Bewdley Railway]] and the [[Kidderminster Loop Line]] had already been authorised, and the station was always planned to be a junction.
*Around 1864: The turntable is moved from Bewdley and re-erected in the goods yard at [[Wyre Forest Line#Tenbury_Wells|Tenbury]]
*1877: In preparation for the delayed opening of the Kidderminster Loop, authorisation was given to enlarge the island platform and provide a shelter and footbridge. New Bewdley North and Bewdley South signal boxes were also built.
*1878: The Kidderminster Loop opened on 1 June.
*1900: Authorisation was given for additional siding space including the [[Rock Siding]] at the back of Platform 3 and the siding along the far side of the yard.*1922: [[SVR staff in 1922#Severn Valley Railway (Kidderminster to Bridgnorth)|GWR staff records]] show the station had a staff of 19. *1962: Passenger services to Tenbury ceased on 29 31 July <ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Beddoes and Smith ((1995)]] p. 193.</ref> (services beyond Tenbury to Woofferton had ended a year earlier).
*1963: Passenger services towards Shrewsbury ceased on 9 September, with through freight services ending at the end of November. The Public Notice announcing closure of the line can be seen behind the ‘Platform 1’ sign in the photograph to the right (a copy of the closure notice is on display in [[The Engine House]]).
*1964: Goods services ended on the Tenbury Branch and the line was closed.
*1970: Passenger services to Kidderminster and Hartlebury ended on 5 January, ending the pre-preservation use of Bewdley Station.
A 1935 GWR plan of Bewdley shows an "Ambulance" in the Down Yard. This was a grounded M&SWJR coach body used as a First Aid training centre. <gallerymode=packed heights=150px style="text-align:left">File:PGH BewdleyGoods.jpg|An up goods passes Bewdley in April 1962 (PG Hindley)
File:Bewdley1898.jpg|Bewdley Station in 1898
File:Bewdley_1910.jpg|Bewdley Station circa 1910
File:Bewdley PW.jpg|Permanent Way gang at Bewdley
File:Bewdley Britain From Above 1930.jpg|Aerial view of Bewdley in 1930
File:Bewdley Britain From Above 1952.jpg|Aerial view of Bewdley in 1952
File:PrairieBewdleyNorth-1959-10-07.jpg|A train waits to depart Northbound from Platform 1 in October 1959 ([[Sellick Collection]])
File:PGH BewdleyGoods.jpg|An up goods passes Bewdley in April 1962 (PG Hindley)
File:Bewdley-Railcar-1962-10-06.jpg|An ex-GWR DMU arrives at Bewdley in October 1962 ([[Sellick Collection]])
File:Closure_Notice.jpg | Closure notice
File:Bewdley ambulance.jpg | Plan showing ambulance in Down Yard
</gallery>
{| class="wikitable
|+ Early Station Masters at Bewdley prior to 1939
|-
!Name!!Born !! data-sort-type="date" | From !! data-sort-type="date" | To !! Comments
|-
|Thomas Appleton||26 April 1826 Newton-Le-Willows, Lancashire|| data-sort-value="1/8/1863" | August 1863||data-sort-value="31/1/1897" | 31 January 1897||Joined West Midland Railway October 1854. Retired 1897. Died 17 April 1906, Worcester
|-
|George Smith||14 January 1867 Shipton Oxfordshire||data-sort-value="1/9/1898" | September 1898||data-sort-value="1/12/1909" | 1 December 1909||Started work 6 November 1882. Station Master at Bridgnorth circa 1917
|-
|Frederick William Augustus Hallett||12 August 1868 Batheaston, Somerset||data-sort-value="1/12/1910" | 1 December 1910||data-sort-value="23/7/1914" | 23 July 1914||Started work 9 January 1882. Died in 1914 in nursing home at Proud Cross, Kidderminster
|-
|Ernest James Neate Carter||21 September 1879 Slough, Buckinghamshire||data-sort-value="1/1/1914" | 1914?|| data-sort-value="1/1/1926" | 1926?||Started work 10 September 1894. Died 7 November 1959
|-
|George William Lane||31 May 1872 Hartlebury, Worcestershire||data-sort-value="1/1/1924" | After 1924|| ||Started work 31 May 1872. Employed at Bewdley as a passenger clerk between December 1896 and October 1899. Died 9 January 1961
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Traffic statistics for Bewdley (including Northwood Halt), selected years prior to 1939
|-
|}
==Historic maps of Bewdley Station==
* GWR plan of Bewdley station with the original lines in blue and the Rock Siding and alterations to the Down Yard as later amendments in red
* 1884 map showing scissors crossovers at both ends of the station and the short platform canopy
* 1903 map showing facing and trailing crossovers, the Rock siding and an additional siding in the goods yard
* 1927 map showing the longer platform canopy and changes to the southern access to the Back Road and Rock Siding
* 1938 map showing little had changed since 1927
* 1964 map showing showing changes to the southern access to the Back Road and the goods yard
<gallery mode=packed heights=150px style="text-align:left">
File:GWRplanBewdley.jpg
File:Bewdley1884map.jpg | 1884
File:Bewdley1903map.jpg | 1903
File:Bewdley1927map.jpg | 1927
File:Bewdley1938map.jpg | 1938
File:Bewdley1964map.jpg | 1964
</gallery>
== See also ==
[[Bewdley Down Yard]]<br>
[[List of stations]]<br>
[[List of shops]]<br>[[Wyre Forest Line|Tenbury & Bewdley Railway]]
==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.
==Links==
[https://canmore.org.uk/collection/427522/ Image of "Melrose, Railway Station, urinal View from W" 8/4/1974]<br>
[http://www.scran.ac.uk/database/record.php?usi=000-299-998-457-C/ Image of "Interior of cast-iron urinal at Melrose Railway Station, Melrose, Roxburghshire", n/d]
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