Difference between revisions of "Eardington"

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== The Eardington Explorer ==
 
== The Eardington Explorer ==
  
On April 17th 2015 and April 22nd 2015, the [[The 82045 Steam Locomotive Trust|82045 Steam Locomotive Trust]] ran a special fundraising train, the [[The Eardington Explorer|Eardington Explorer]]<ref>[http://forum.svra.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=3298 SVR-Online forum]</ref>. This ran between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade, calling specially at Eardington. This was the first time that a stop had been timetabled at Eardington for several years.
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On April 17th 2015 and April 22nd 2016, the [[The 82045 Steam Locomotive Trust|82045 Steam Locomotive Trust]] ran a special fundraising train, the [[The Eardington Explorer|Eardington Explorer]]<ref>[http://forum.svra.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=3298 SVR-Online forum]</ref>. This ran between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade, calling specially at Eardington. This was the first time that a stop had been timetabled at Eardington for several years.
  
 
==History of Eardington before preservation==
 
==History of Eardington before preservation==

Revision as of 10:58, 28 September 2016

Eardington Halt (Wikimedia Commons)
Next stations
UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) (towards Kidderminster) DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) (towards Bridgnorth)
Hampton Loade (2¼ miles)
Bridgnorth (2¼ miles)

The station

Eardington is a disused station, located mid-way between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade at milepost 147¾. In the earliest days of the SVRSevern Valley Railway, when those two stations formed the limit of operations, it was used as an intermediate stopping point and watering place and became known as Eardington Halt (it was never deemed a Halt during GWRGreat Western Railway/BRBritish Rail or British Railways days). During the period of Sir Gerald Nabarro's chairmanship it was closed in connection with the possible rebuilding of Eardington as the northern terminus on the line. It later re-opened in March 1981, but last appeared in the timetable as a request stop in 1982[1], after which it was removed from regular use due to the steep gradient, short platform, and low passenger numbers[2]. The halt has since been cosmetically restored by the Friends of Eardington Station, and is occasionally opened to visitors on gala days. The southern end of the platform was cut back after it collapsed, however the Friends fundraising appeal to replace the missing part is ongoing[3].

A dead-end siding is situated at Eardington, usually used for storing Permanent Way rolling stock, accessed by a two-lever ground frame at the south end. This is released by the Highley-Bridgnorth long section token, and was commissioned in 1976[4]. The siding had been removed by BRBritish Rail or British Railways in 1964 after closure of the line, but was reinstated in the early days of the SVRSevern Valley Railway. In 1973 under Sir Gerald Nabarro's chairmanship, the siding was converted by contractors to a run-round loop at the then not insignificant cost of £8,000. This was seen as part of the plan to abandon Bridgnorth, which led to much unrest on the SVRSevern Valley Railway at the time. In fact the connection at the north end would have been too tight for most locomotives, and was soon removed[5].

Photos at Eardington, showing station building & yard area

The Eardington Explorer

On April 17th 2015 and April 22nd 2016, the 82045 Steam Locomotive Trust ran a special fundraising train, the Eardington Explorer[6]. This ran between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade, calling specially at Eardington. This was the first time that a stop had been timetabled at Eardington for several years.

History of Eardington before preservation

  • 1864: A siding connection to Lower Forge was proposed but never built. Upper Forge and Lower Forge were two local ironworks, located respectively west and east of the line and joined by a 750 yard long navigable canal tunnel.[1].
  • 1868: Eardington Station opened on 1 June 1868, some six years after the opening of the Severn Valley Railway[7].
  • 1893: The station platform was extended[1].
  • 1899: The ironworks closed[1].
  • 1949: BRBritish Rail or British Railways reduced the station to unstaffed status after 1 April 1949, though did not designate it as a Halt.[7].
  • 1959: The goods loop was reduced to a siding, accessed from the south end only[7].
  • 1963: The station closed when passenger traffic ceased on 9 September 1963[7].
  • 1964: The former goods loop siding was completely removed[7].

Points of Interest

Locomotive watering facility

The water tank at Eardington was acquired by the SVRSevern Valley Railway Society from Withymoor, Netherton (near Dudley) in the summer of 1967, and installed in time for the 1968 Steam Gala. The decision to install the SVRSevern Valley Railway’s first proper watering facility at Eardington rather than Bridgnorth was due to Eardington having naturally soft water compared with very hard water at Bridgnorth.

At opening in 1970, the timetable allowed a 5 minute stop southbound at Eardington for locomotive watering; passengers frequently took the opportunity to photograph the locomotive or buy pop and sweets which were sold at the station. Once watering facilities were installed at Bridgnorth, this was reduced to one minute, effectively ending this practice.


Gallery

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 The Severn Valley Railway, John Marshall (1989) p103
  2. Wikipedia
  3. SVRASevern Valley Railway Association Working Members Newsletter November 2014
  4. Severn Valley Railway S&T Department (unofficial) website.
  5. Marshall, p180.
  6. SVR-Online forum
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 SVRSevern Valley Railway Souvenir Guide, Ninth Edition