Stourport Triangle

The Stourport Triangle with the Stourport Line to the right in 2015

The "Stourport Triangle" (also known as the "Bewdley Triangle") is the name given to the small area of land between the Kidderminster and Stourport lines as they diverge to the southeast of Bewdley. The ground in the area of the triangle was excavated to rail level in 1986 to provide filling for the Bewdley Bypass[1].

Contents

Current use

  • Currently the remains of the Stourport Branch, the sidings which have been added since its closure and the ground around them are used for the storage of goods wagons and Permanent Way materials.
  • On certain Gala days a Class 108 DMU shuttle service is operated between the Triangle, Bewdley and the short remaining length of former Tenbury Branch track immediately north of Bewdley to recreate the feel of Bewdley as a country junction station.
  • In 2015, Rail Safety Solutions (RSS) entered an agreement with the SVR to lease the Stourport Branch.[2] A small section of relaid track can be seen on the site, along with a hoarding bearing the logos of RSS, Auctus Training Solutions and the SVR.
  • From time to time the area is substantially tidied up as resources allow, such as in 2008 when restricted services ran following the 2007 Storm Damage. This involved vegetation clearance and the disposal of scrap rail and other materials to raise funds. During 2020 the area was temporarily cleared of all stored rolling stock to again allow the area to be tidied.

Other proposals

From time to time proposals have been made to make use of this site.

  • In 1973 a report was put forward suggesting siting a loco running shed there.[3]
  • In 1979 plans were drawn up for a three road carriage shed.[4]
  • The triangle was also planned to be the location of the SVR’s turntable, acquired in 1980 but later installed at Kidderminster.
  • In December 2010 an attempt was made to build a two-road shed for the storage of up to 50 wagons on the course of the trackbed of the Stourport Branch, with access through the site[5].

See also

References

  1. Marshall (1989), p93
  2. SVR News 192, "General Manager's Notes", Nick Ralls
  3. SVR News 29
  4. SVR News 50
  5. Fathers, P., SVR Forum 10 December 2010 (Retrieved 4 January 2018

Links