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The Severn Valley Railway under GWR/BR ownership

8,221 bytes added, 10:37, 12 December 2021
→‎Other incidents: 1876
:North of Buildwas Junction, the line from Sutton Bridge Junction was kept open for the movement of boilers and other equipment to the new power station. This took place on Saturday 22 April 1966, after which the section to Berrington was closed and the track lifted. The section north of Berrington continued in use for the testing of Rolls Royce Sentinel diesel shunting engines until January 1968. From that time only a short spur of the old line remained open to serve the Shrewsbury Abbey sidings oil depot until that closed to rail traffic on 18 July 1988.<ref name=Magner32/>
:South of Alveley Colliery, the line southwards through Bewdley remained in use for moving coal to Stourport Power Station until the Colliery closed in , with the last coal lifted on 31 January 1969.For a short period following closure of the line from 6 February a class 25 diesel loco was rostered to take an 8T91 Thursday afternoons only light engine move from Kidderminster to Highley to carry the wage packets of the signalman and the shunter who were still stationed there, despite traffic having finished. A third man, a lengths man, was also stationed there but he had to travel on a platelayers trolley each week to Bewdley to collect his wages.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Maggs (2009)]]</ref>
:The line between Buildwas and Alveley Colliery Sidings was abandoned by BR. In 1964 they began to lift the track from Buildwas southwards for re-use in the enlargement of Bescot yard near Walsall. Fortunately sufficient material had been reclaimed by the time the north end of Bridgnorth Station was reached, so the workforce was redeployed to work on the Stourbridge Junction to Smethwick line.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Marshall (1989)]] p. 165.</ref>
==Locomotives used==
:''Main article: [[Locomotives used on the Severn Valley Branch in commercial service]]''
In the early days the West Midlands Railway used a number of locomotives inherited from the three constituent companies. 2-4-0 locomotives were generally used for passenger traffic up to World War 1, supplemented by 0-4-2s and 0-6-0s used on goods trains. Steam [[GWR Steam Railmotor | railmotors]] were also introduced in 1905.
==Timetables and services==
===Through passenger Passenger services===:''Main article: [[Timetables in commercial service]]''At opening in on 1 February 1862, four there were three trains per day ran between Shrewsbury and Worcester over the Severn Valley Line, with just one train a fourth which ran from Bridgnorth to Shrewsbury and back. This quickly became four through trains per day , while a single train on Sundayswas also added to the timetable running to Shrewsbury in the morning and returning in the late afternoon. Most stopped This pattern continued largely unchanged throughout the rest of the century. Following the opening of the Kidderminster Loop in 1878, trains from the Tenbury Branch ran to Kidderminster but passengers from Shrewsbury to Kidderminster still had to change at all stations and none were particularly fast<ref name="Morriss35">Rail Centres: Shrewsbury, Richard K. Morriss (1986) p35</ref>Bewdley.
Following By the opening beginning of the Kidderminster Loop 20th Century a fifth though service in 1878, some Shrewsbury departures would divert to Kidderminster instead each direction had started. In 1905 the GWR introduced local services at the south end of Worcesterthe line. Around These would operate throughout the day around the same timetriangle formed by Kidderminster, other Shrewsbury departures began to terminate at Bewdley and Hartlebury or Bewdley, occasionally going to connect to local servicesHighley (providing a service for miners working there) and as far as Bridgnorth.<ref name="Morriss35" >Rail Centres: Shrewsbury, Richard K. Morriss (1986) p35</ref>. Sometimes nicknamed 'The Bewdley Banjo',<ref>[[Bibliography | Turley (2005), p35]]</ref> the service was mainly provided by steam railmotors until around 1918, by auto-coaches until the early 1940s, and thereafter by diesel railcars.
By 1900 there were five With the introduction of the local service, some Shrewsbury departures on weekdays from Shrewsbury, two began to divert to Kidderminster instead of Worcester. Around the same time, two other Shrewsbury departures began to terminate at Hartlebury and one or Bewdley, to Kidderminsterconnect to local services. There was also one service to Bridgnorth<ref name="Morriss47Morriss35">Morriss, p47</ref>.
In the early 1930s, the The Sunday timetable included one service north of Bridgnorth to Shrewsbury service and one service nicknamed the “Fisherman’s Special”had ended by 1910. The latter left Birmingham Snow Hill traffic statistics suggest passenger numbers at 7most stations peaked in the 1920s before starting to fall again.22amThe GWR added a number of halts in the 1930s in an attempt to bring more local custom to the Branch, arriving at and there were there were still five trains per day to and from Shrewsbury via Kidderminster at 10in 1938.30am, with The first thirty years of the 20th Century could therefore perhaps be considered the heyday of the return departing at 8.00pm, arriving at Snow Hill at 10.47pm<ref name="Morriss47" />Branch.
By 1938 there were still five trains per day to and from Shrewsbury. However shortly after World War 2 saw the service was reduced back to [[Timetable: Severn Valley Branch 1942|four trains per day ]] with the no Sunday service ceased. The weekday service remained more or less unchanged until closure, although Although Sunday services south of Bridgnorth were re-introduced<ref name="Morriss47" />. Through passenger services from Kidderminster via in the Loop were mainly towards the Tenbury Branch. In addition to the one departure to Shrewsbury referred to abovelate 1940s, the October 1940 timetable showed four departures for all stations to Woofferton; by June 1947 this had increased to five<ref>[[Bibliography | Turley (2005), p18-21]]</ref>. ===Local passenger services===With just four weekday service remained more or five through trains per dayless unchanged, much of the passenger traffic on the line was for local services. At apart from briefly becoming even worse in the south endlate 1950s, the local service was sometimes nicknamed ‘The Bewdley Banjo’<ref>[[Bibliography | Turley (2005), p35]]</ref>. This was mainly provided by an auto-coach until the early 1940s, and thereafter by a diesel railcar. The service would operate throughout the day around the triangle formed by Kidderminster, Bewdley and Hartlebury, occasionally going through to Highley (providing a service for miners working there) and as far as Bridgnorthclosure in 1963.
===Goods services===
Other goods traffic involved sugar beet trains from Kidderminster to Foley Park. The processing season ran from mid-September to mid-January, during which time up to four complete trains per day would arrive at Kidderminster. Shunting of these loads from Kidderminster yard to the Foley Park factory required a shunting engine to be available 24 hours per day<ref>[[Bibliography | Turley (2005), p72.]]</ref>.
Coal trains from Alveley required use of a tender engine. Post-War these were usually operated by a GWR 4300 class 2-6-0.  ===Timetable extracts===This section provides links to individual pages showing detailed timetables in use during GWR / BR ownership. * [[Timetable: Shrewsbury to Worcester 1862 | Shrewsbury to Worcester 1862]]* [[Timetable: Severn Valley Branch 1876 | Severn Valley Branch 1876]] (WTT, includes goods trains, signalling instructions &c.)* [[Timetables: Severn Valley Branch, Bewdley, Tenbury and Woofferton 1902|Severn Valley Branch; Bewdley, Tenbury and Woofferton 1902]]* [[Timetable: Kidderminster to Woofferton 1936 | Kidderminster to Woofferton 1936]]* [[Timetable: Kidderminster to Woofferton 1948 | Kidderminster to Woofferton 1948]]* [[Timetable: Severn Valley Line 1948 | Severn Valley Line 1948]]* [[Media:Timetable Shrewsbury to Worcester 1953.jpg | Severn Valley Line 1953]]* [[Media:Timetable Kidderminster to Hartlebury via Bewdley.jpg | Kidderminster to Hartlebury via Bewdley 1953]]* [[Media:Timetable Woofferton to Kiddeminster 1953.jpg | Tenbury Line 1953]]* [[Timetable: Severn Valley and Tenbury Lines 1959 | Severn Valley and Tenbury Lines 1959]]
==Traffic statistics==
*On 13 February 1862, a similar mishap occurred near Broseley when, despite the driver sounding his whistle, the gatekeeper "was observed in deep conversation with another man" and failed to open both gates in time, resulting in one of the gates being "shattered to atoms".<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001308/18620219/119/0007 Shrewsbury Chronicle on The British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
 
*On 2 January 1864, two wagons and the guard's van of a luggage train derailed while it was being shunted clear of a following passenger train. The passenger train stopped safely, but was delayed by over two hours.<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000350/18640106/038/0004 Worcestershire Chronicle Wednesday 6 January 1864 on the British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
 
*On 20 February 1864, a Severn Valley goods train broke down within a mile of leaving Hartlebury for Kidderminster. Despite this happening three quarters of an hour before the 9:33pm express train from Worcester was due, the Hartlebury signalman was not alerted and the express train collided with the rear of the goods train.<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000033/18640223/006/0003 Birmingham Daily Post Tuesday 23 February 1864 on the British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
 
*On 10 October 1865, a goods train leaving Kidderminster for London at 8pm ran into a number of wagons which had earlier run away from Kidderminster and were obstructing, undetected, the main line near Hoobrook Viaduct.<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0001961/18651014/066/0005 Bridgnorth Journal and South Shropshire Advertiser Saturday 14 October 1865 on the British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
*On December 16 1865, late in the evening, a goods train arrived at Bewdley with the brake van having been left behind at Cleobury Mortimer due to a broken coupling, the driver being unaware of this loss until braking assistance was required at the junction with the SVR at Dowles. The driver set off back to Cleobury to collect the brake van, only to find that another coupling had broken and three wagons had been left near the junction, which he then collided with in the dark.<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000150/18651223/070/0003?browse=False Worcester Journal - Saturday 23 December 1865 on The British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
*On 20 June 1867, GWR 2-4-0 No 189 (ex OW&W) left the rails while departing Bridgnorth Station south-bound. The accident was attributed to the locomotive not having been properly balanced when leaving Worcester Works.<ref name="Beddoes">[[Bibliography|Beddoes & Smith (1995)]]</ref><ref>[https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=2843 Railways Archive accident summary] (Retrieved 8 November 2019)</ref>
 
*In March 1869 a horse drawn timber waggon became stuck while crossing the line near Hampton Loade. The waggon driver unhitched his horses and the driver and stoker of the train jumped clear before the collision and there were no injuries.<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000405/18690327/121/0006 Wellington Journal Saturday 27 March 1869 on the British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
*On 16 June 1869 staff error lead to a collision with plant at Bewdley. There were no casualties and no formal accident investigation took place.<ref>[https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=7342 Railways Archive accident summary] (Retrieved 8 November 2019)</ref>
*On 7 May 1870 a collision occurred at Bridgnorth when a porter set points incorrectly. The points were not interlocked with the signals<ref name="Marshall" />.
 
*On 10 January 1871 a "distance[sic] signal had not answered to the lever", causing a luggage train to run into some passenger carriages being shunted by horse from a siding at Kidderminster.<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000292/18710114/031/0004 Hastings and St Leonards Observer Saturday 14 January 1871 on the British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
*On 7 August 1880 "On Saturday a passenger train leaving Bridgnorth about 7.40 ran off the line between Hampton Lode and Highley, on the Severn Valley Railway, owing to a cow having strayed on to the line, which has a sharp curve at the spot. The passengers were severely shaken, and the traffic blocked for several hours."<ref>[https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3420560/3420567/156/ The Cardiff Times on the National Library of Wales archive]</ref>
*On 10 October 1888 the 6.30pm Stourbridge Goods from Tenbury ran into a passenger train from Shrewsbury at the north end of Bewdley Station. The passenger train had passed the home signal at danger and moved into the path of the goods. The report was published on 26 November 1888.<ref name="Beddoes" /><ref>[https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docsummary.php?docID=6984 Railways Archive accident report] (Retrieved 8 November 2019)</ref>
 
*On 6 January 1891 the driver of a goods train approaching Kidderminster from Bewdley mistook the signal for the main line as being the one for the Loop Line and collided with a passenger train approaching Kidderminster from Hartlebury.<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000033/18910108/014/0005 Birmingham Daily Post Thursday 8 January 1891 on the British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
*On 29 November 1898 a passenger train from Hartlebury was derailed at Arley after running through down home signal at danger just as the signalman was changing the points for the loop. The circumstances of the accident suggest that locking bars had not been installed at the time to prevent points being changed under a train.<ref name="Marshall" />
*On 13 January 1928, 4575 class small prairie No 5508 was derailed north of Bridgnorth Tunnel while traveling at 45-50mph when rotten sleepers gave way. Nobody was injured in the accident<ref name="Marshall" />.
 
*In December 1940, a member of a gang working on a slip at Sterns was struck and killed by a train while walking along the line to work from his home at Highley early in the morning.<ref>Bridgnorth Journal, December 14 1940</ref>
 
*In October 1944 [[Locomotives used on the Severn Valley Branch in commercial service|57xx 0-6-0PT]] No. 3609 was damaged in a shunting accident in [[Kidderminster mainline station#Goods yard|Kidderminster Goods Yard]].<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Turley (2005)]] p. 81.</ref>
*In August 1947 a car was struck by a goods train on [[Level crossing at Hill Farm, Northwood Lane | Northwood Lane level crossing]], resulting in fatalities to two of the passengers. <ref name="Nabarro">[[Bibliography | Nabarro (1971)]] p. 53.</ref>
===Other incidents===
*On 27 April 1876 George Bradley, a cattle drover from Worcester, attempted to alight from a goods train approaching Bewdley Station while it was still moving. Possibly mistaking the bridge parapet for the platform, he stepped off too soon and fell to the highway below and died in Kidderminster Infirmary the following morning.<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000150/18760401/005/0003?browse=true Worcester Journal on The British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
*On 18 June 1855, Frederick Powell, a labourer, was digging out a culvert between the two main lines at Kidderminster when he was struck by a coal train. He was knocked into the trench, but not seriously injured.<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000174/18550626/036/0006 Morning Post - Tuesday 26 June 1855 on the British Newspaper Archive]</ref> *In May 1861 an engine cleaner named Samuel Pugh was working in a pit underneath a locomotive at Bridgnorth.<ref group="note">The railway did not open until 1862, therefore this was presumably a Contractors' locomotive.</ref> The driver who was also in the pit asked the fireman to move the locomotive. He initially failed to do so but as Pugh attempted to climb out of the pit between the wheels, the locomotive moved, "almost literally cutting the poor fellow in two". He was taken to the Infirmary where both his legs were amputated.<ref>Western Daily Press, 14 May 1861, via the British Newspaper Archive</ref>  *On 19 November 1863, James Priddy of Worcester, the guard of a goods train from London, was crushed between two trains while shunting at Kidderminster.<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000398/18631121/018/0005 Hereford Journal - Saturday 21 November 1863 on the British Newspaper Archive]</ref> *On 22 January 1866 , Isiah Band, a labourer employed with another man to empty a coal wagon at Bewdley Station was crushed between two wagons and died at home the following day.<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000150/18660127/140/0008 Worcester Journal on The British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
*On 7 August 1868 the 'stoker' of a train approaching Bewdley from Hartlebury was attempting to grease a piston while the train was in motion when he slipped and seriously injured his foot, "the toes being completely cut off".<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000150/18680808/005/0003?browse=False Worcester Journal on The British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
 
*On 7 January 1869, Richard Newman, a platelayer, was struck and killed by a Down train approaching Kidderminster as he walked home from work.<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000350/18690113/030/0003 Worcestershire Chronicle Wednesday 13 January 1869 on the British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
 
*On 27 April 1876, George Bradley, a cattle drover from Worcester, attempted to alight from the guard's van of a goods train approaching Bewdley Station. Witnesses at the inquest stated that, mistaking the bridge parapet for the platform, he stepped off too soon. He fell to the highway below and died in Kidderminster Infirmary the following morning. One newspaper reported that he stepped off while the train was still moving, however, the guard stated at the inquest that the train was stationary and that he had cautioned Bradley not to get out.<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000150/18760401/005/0003?browse=true Worcester Journal on The British Newspaper Archive]</ref><ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002097/18760606/037/0004 Tenbury Wells Advertiser Tuesday 6 June 1876 on the British Newspaper Archive]</ref><ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000150/18760408/005/0003 Worcester Journal - Saturday 08 April 1876
on the British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
 
*In August 1877, a man named Edwards was sweeping the platform when he stepped in front of a luggage train. Fortunately, he fell between the rails and despite the locomotive and about eight wagons running over him, he suffered only minor bruising.<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000350/18770825/043/0008 Worcestershire Chronicle Saturday 25 August 1877 on the British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
 
*On 30 November 1880, George Newman, a yardman at Kidderminster, was knocked down by a luggage train while he was oiling points resulting in his left leg being amputated.<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000344/18801204/048/0007 Morpeth Herald Saturday 4 December 1880 on the British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
 
*On 27 November 1896, James Worral, a painter, was working on the new platform at Kidderminster when he was "drawn by the engine between the train and the metals and frightfully injured".<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000350/18961128/050/0005 Worcestershire Chronicle Saturday 28 November 1896 on the British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
 
*On 14 October 1901, John Hughes, a goods guard, was killed at Kidderminster. A coroners’ court jury’s verdict was accidental death, with the jury censuring the GWR and its servants. The trades union, Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants (now RMT), retained Wilcocks Taylor solicitor and obtained substantial compensation of £271.16.0. The solicitor’s fee amounted to £5.4.10.<ref>MSS.127/AS/7/3 Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, Record of accidents, inquests, Board of Trade enquiries, and legal cases, p. 12, Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick via [http://www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk/the-accidents/ the Railway Work, Life & Death project] (Retrieved 8 August 2021)</ref>
*In October 1902, Lewis Turner, a 56 year old engine driver at Highley Colliery, was travelling as a passenger when he overslept and missed his station. Upon being woken, he tried to leave the train while it was still moving and fell under the wheels and was killed.<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000405/19021101/152/0012 Wellington Journal on The British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
 
*On 17 April 1911, William Jones "while endeavouring to enter a train before it drew up, was flung under the train and killed" at Kidderminster.<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000576/19110419/006/0003 Aberdeen Press and Journal Wednesday 19 April 1911 on the British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
 
*At 2.32 pm on 3 November 1911, gas fitter D. Cartwright was injured whilst about the track at Kidderminster when he was struck by a rail motor as he stood up with his back to vehicle. He suffered cuts, lacerations and injuries to his collarbone, face and side. The whistle sounded twice and platelayer Andrews, five yards away, shouted to him, without effect. The cause was that no look-out had been posted, recently appointed leading fitter Griffiths was unaware of this responsibility under Rule 273 (f)<ref>‘Railway Accidents. Summary of Accidents and Casualties reported to the Board of Trade by the several railway companies in the United Kingdom during the three months ending 31 March 1911’, 31 March 1911, Appendix B pp. 33-34, Cd. 5808 via [http://www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk/the-accidents/ the Railway Work, Life & Death project] (Retrieved 8 August 2021)</ref>.
 
*On 15 April 1939, Police Constable A. R. Rudge was killed by being crushed between the buffers of two wagons at Kidderminster goods yard.<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000768/19390415/264/0006 Birmingham Mail - Saturday 15 April 1939 on the British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
==See also==
[http://www.railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php?lat=52.37057&lng=-2.26833 Rail Map Online] Map of railway lines around Bewdley, showing 'The Loop' (highlighted), the original Severn Valley line continuing to Hartlebury, and the Wyre Forest Line to Tenbury.<br>
[http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/17612 Handbook to the Severn Valley Railway, by J. Randall] 1863 book published as an illustrated eBook by www.gutenberg.org
 
[[Category:The Severn Valley Railway under GWR/BR ownership]]
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