87. A wander around Worcestershire-30.09.24

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2024 > 87. A wander around Worcestershire-30.09.24

A return trip to Worcestershire with Andy travelling in his ageing Nissan Micra to once again experience the joys of GWR semaphore signalling at its finest, but for how much longer? Unfortunately, the weather was pretty dismal but this did not spoil the day too much!
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Images 1-20 of 20 displayed.

800005, GW 07.50 London Paddington-Great Malvern (1W15, RT), Moreton-in-Marsh station High up in the Cotswolds Moreton-in-Marsh is enveloped in a damp September mist. 800005 'Aneurin Bevan NHS 1948-2023' approaches the station working the 1w15 07.50 Paddington to Great Malvern service. The train is about to pass the extended platform and the superb 1883 Great Western signal box. It appears that the box's windows have been replaced again. When the box was modernised in the noughties the mullion windows were replaced by huge single-pane UPVC units which were crassly out of character. However, as can be seen here the more recent units appear to be attempting to replicate the original timber frame windows even if only with plastic divider bars. Keywords: 800005 07.50 London Paddington-Great Malvern 1W15 Moreton-in-Marsh station GWR IET Aneurin Bevan NHS 1948-2023
800005, GW 07.50 London Paddington-Great Malvern (1W15, RT), Moreton-in-Marsh station 800005 'Aneurin Bevan NHS 1948-2023' departs from Moreton-in-Marsh with the 07.50 Paddington to Great Malvern GWR service. It is passing the down starter signal behind which is the town's Co-op supermarket that sits on the site of a large woodyard. This woodyard is in evidence during a brief stop at Moreton-in-Marsh in February 1979, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/26146591404/x31256-31208-crewe-campaigner-relief Keywords: 800005 07.50 London Paddington-Great Malvern 1W15 Moreton-in-Marsh station Aneurin Bevan NHS 1948-2023
Evesham (WR) signal box (BR, 1957) Evesham's British Railways built 1957 signal box is seen taken over a fence from inside an industrial estate. The timber-clad structure is similar to a number of others built around the same time. Whilst not the most attractive structure at least it contains a proper frame that operates an array of local semaphores. Notice the nameboard of the box incorporates WR (Western Region) in its title. This differentiated it from the town's other box which was located at the Midland station that closed to traffic in 1964. Keywords: Evesham WR signal box
220021, XC 10.00 Bristol Temple Meads-Manchester Piccadilly (1M33, 12L), Worcestershire Parkway station My first photograph taken at Worcestershire Parkway station which was opened in February 2020. 220021 arrives working the 10.00 Bristol Temple Meads to Manchester CrossCountry service. The bridge above the second coach of the 1M33 carries the GWR Cotswold line over the Midland route. Keywords: 220021 10.00 Bristol Temple Meads-Manchester Piccadilly 1M33 Worcestershire Parkway station Cross Country Voyager
170109, XC 09.07 Nottingham-Cardiff Central (1V06, 8L) & 220021, XC 10.00 Bristol Temple Meads-Manchester Piccadilly (1M33, 12L), Worcestershire Parkway station 170109 comes to a halt at Worcestershire Parkway station working CrossCountry's 09.07 Nottingham to Cardiff train. To the left 220021 is waiting to depart working the 10.00 Bristol to Manchester train. Andy and I found the new Worcestershire Parkway station rather barren and open with limited facilities apart from a mobile coffee van near the entrance. However, the station appeared to be patronised as seen in this image In fact, the Class 170 was full and standing when it departed proving how inadequate a three-car DMU is for an inter-regional service such as this. Keywords: 170109 09.07 Nottingham-Cardiff Central 1V06 220021 10.00 Bristol Temple Meads-Manchester Piccadilly 1M33 Worcestershire Parkway station CrossCountry Voyager Turbo
800002, GW 09.38 Bristol Temple Meads-Worcester Foregate Street (2E55, 5L), Norton Junction GWR's 800002 passes Norton Junction signal box to the southeast of Worcester working the 2E55 09.38 Bristol to Worcester Foregate Street 'local' service. This may seem a rather mundane working for an IET but I suspect it acts as a positioning move and makes sense that it operates as a service train rather than just an empty stock run. Personally, if I was making this journey I would probably prefer a Class 165 (or the like) rather than be forced to sit on the ironing boards that profess to be seats on the Class 80os Keywords: 800002 09.38 Bristol Temple Meads-Worcester Foregate Street 2E55 Norton Junction GWR IET
Norton Junction signal box (GW, 1908) Norton Junction signal box is located where the spur from the Bristol to Birmingham Midland route joins the GWR Cotswold line just southeast of Worcester. Built in 1908 the GWR Type 7D box replaced an earlier structure. I know nothing about this earlier box so if anybody can furnish me with any information I would be very grateful. The survival of Norton Junction box (and the Worcester area) and its associated mechanical lower quadrants is remarkable so get your images whilst you still can! Keywords: Norton Junction signal box GW 1908 GW type 7D box
800005, GW 10.59 Great Malvern-London Paddington (1P26, 6L), Norton Junction Having seen 800005 'Aneurin Bevan NHS 1948-2023' earlier in the morning at Moreton-in-Marsh, here it is again returning to the capital working the 10.59 Great Malvern to Paddington service. This is a 'going away' shot as the train passes Norton Junction signal box as it slows for its stop at Worcestershire Parkway station which is located just around the curve to the left. Keywords: 800005 10.59 Great Malvern-London Paddington 1P26 Norton Junction Aneurin Bevan NHS 1948-2023
Newland East signal box (GW, 1900) The 1900-built Great Western Type 7A signal box, Newland East was named Stocks Lane between 1929 to 1943. Today, whilst it still stands and operates a small number of semaphores, its looks have been rather crassly altered by the installation of huge single-pane UPVC glazing units. Slightly further towards Great Malvern there was a Newland Weest signal box that was closed and demolished in the early 1960s. It was opposite the Newland gasworks and controlled a number of sidings that also saw use as PW sidings into the 1980s after the closure of the gasworks control of which changed to the East box Keywords: Newland East signal box
Henwick signal box (McK & H GW, 1875) Henwick signal box is located to the west of Worcester and is a McKenzie & Holland type 1 structure dating from 1875. It controls the busy level crossing in the foreground as well as a number of semaphores and the turnback sidings to the west. These sidings enable terminating Foregate services to be temporarily stabled and to return right line back to the station if required. There used to be a station at Henwick, the platforms of which would have started about where the relay boxes are sited. The station closed on 05.04.65. I have read somewhere that this box is scheduled for replacement in the distant futrure with a date of 2048 suggested; commets please! Keywords: Henwick signal box
800023, GW 11.57 Great Malvern-London Paddington (1P28, 9L), Henwick level crossing 800023 'Kathryn Osmond and Firefighter Fleur Lombard' passes Henwick signal box, taken from the level crossing, working GWR's 11.57 Great Malvern to Paddington service. The tracks are bi-directional through Worcester Foregate Street with the 1P28 appearing to be running 'wrong-line' on the approach to the station prior to it crossing the impressive viaduct that crosses the River Severn a short distance behind me, Keywords: 800023 11.57 Great Malvern-London Paddington 1P28 Henwick level crossing GWR IET Kathryn Osmond and Firefighter Fleur Lombard
166215, GW 12.53 Worcester Foregate Street-Bristol Temple Meads (2T45, 5L), Worcester Shrub Hill station The 12.53 Worcester Foregate Street to Bristol Temple Meads local sopper departs from Shrub Hill station worked by 166215. Since their move from the Thames Valley a few years ago they are now to be found all over the West Country and appearing to be doing a reasonable job. I photographed this particular unit seven years ago when it was still operating out of Paddington from Colthrop signal box, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/24848698404/x166215-1k46-colthrop-crossing-box Keywords: 166215 12.53 Worcester Foregate Street-Bristol Temple Meads (2T45, 5L), Worcester Shrub Hill station GWR Turbo
800028, GW 13.16 Worcester Shrub Hill-London Paddington (1P30, 20L) & 172221, LN 12.03 Dorridge-Worcester Foregate Street (2V52, RT), Worcester Shrub Hill station Fellow photographer Martin Loader (of Honda Wanderer fame) recently commented on the number of GWR IETs running around with their nose dorrs open, see... http://www.hondawanderer.com/800318_Little_Bedwyn_2024.htm Today all but one of those Andy and I observed also had their doors open doing nothing for aerodynamics and the protection of the mechanism inside. 800028 'Sir Peter Parker' and 'Oliver Lovell' will soon depart Worcester Shrub Hill for London with the 13.16 to Paddington, again, with its nose exposed. Meanwhile, 172221 has just arrived with the 12.03 from Dorridge. Within a few minutes, it will leave in the opposite direction but head off to the west to terminate at Foregate Street. Keywords: 800028 13.16 Worcester Shrub Hill-London Paddington 1P30 172221 12.03 Dorridge-Worcester Foregate Street 2V52 Worcester Shrub Hill station GWR IET West Midlands Trains
43094, 09.50 Laira TMD-Kidderminster SVR (5Z43, 32E), Worcester Shrub Hill station The unusual sight of an HST back at Worcester Shrub Hill got the photographers out with a number dotted around the station including some station staff. Formally named 'St. Mawes Castle' 43094 leads the 09.50 Laira to Kidderminster SVR empty stock move. The whole train was debranded and heading to the Severn Valley Railway to take part in their autumn diesel gala over the coming long weekend. After this event, I am not sure where it will be heading. Keywords: 43094 09.50 Laira TMD-Kidderminster SVR 5Z43 Worcester Shrub Hill GWR Castle HST . St. Mawes Castle
43122, 09.50 Laira TMD-Kidderminster SVR (5Z43, 32E) & 165136, GW 13.52 Worcester Foregate Street-Bristol Temple Meads (2T46, 10L), Worcester Shrub Hill A scene not seen at Worcester for some years finds an HST next to a Turbo unit. The 5Z63 09.50 Laira to Kidderminster SVR empty stock move passes through the station with 43122, formally named 'Dunster Castle' bringing up the rear. Devoid of all branding the off-lease HST is heading to the Severn Valley Railway for its upcoming autumn diesel gala captured ther by Martin Loader, see... http://www.hondawanderer.com/43122_Kidderminster_2024.htm. To the right, 165136 is ready to leave with the 13.52 Worcester Foregate Street to Bristol service. Keywords: 43122 09.50 Laira TMD-Kidderminster SVR 5Z43 165136 13.52 Worcester Foregate Street-Bristol Temple Meads 2T46 Worcester Shrub Hill GWR HST Dunster Castle
800012, GW 13.18 Hereford-London Paddington (1P04, RT), Worcester Shrub Hill station Passing a fine array of mechanical lower quadrant signalling, 800012 arrives at Worcester Shrub Hill working the 13.18 Hereford to Paddington GWR service. Apart from the three-doll splitting bracket signal dominating the scene of interest is the route describer attached to signal SH77 used for trains leaving the up platform. Keywords: 800012 13.18 Hereford-London Paddington 1P04 Worcester Shrub Hill station GWR IET
800318, GW 11.52 London Paddington-Hereford (1W02, 13L), Worcester SH station GWR IET 800318 leaves Worcester Shrub Hill station working the 1W02 11.52 Paddington to Hereford service. It is passing the superb three-way splitting bracket signal controlling departures from the down platform. I find it incredible that whilst on the East Coast route is testing and trialling European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) signalling here in Worcestershire trains are still being controlled by Victorian infrastructure! Keywords: 800318 11.52 London Paddington-Hereford 1W02 Worcester SH station GWR IET
66127, 14.15 Saltley EMR-Cardiff Tidal (6V27, 5E), Bromsgrove station Amidst a cloud of brake smoke haze following the train 66127 leads the 14.15 Saltley EMR to Cardiff Tidal reaches the bottom of Lickey Incline led by 66127. This is Andy's and my first visit to the 'new' Bromsgrove station which was opened, after many delays, in July 2016. Unfortunately, the framing of the train is poor in this image due to it being switched at the last minute from passing through platform three, where we had set ourselves up, to four. Notice the rusty step risers to the right, it's not good to see for a station that has only been open for eight years! Keywords: 66127 14.15 Saltley EMR-Cardiff Tidal 6V27 Bromsgrove station
196005, LN 14.40 Hereford-Birmingham New Street (1M89, 10L), Bromsgrove station Andy captures his image of 196005 as it comes to a halt at Bromsgrove station. As can be seen from the passenger information screen, the West Midlands Trains service will terminate at Birmingham New Street having left Hereford at 14.40. I still struggle to get used to seeing these sets with no yellow front ends with their new generation LED light packs considered sufficient for siting purposes. Keywords: 196005 14.40 Hereford-Birmingham New Street 1M89 Bromsgrove station West Midlands Trains
170103, XC 14.07 Nottingham-Cardiff Central (1V11, 1L), Bromsgrove station Having just descended Lickey Incline, the first part of which can be seen in the background, 170103 is seen passing Bromsgrove working the 14.07 Nottingham Cardiff service. The small 1969-built station (then a single platform) that was later given a second platform was located. just beyond the rear of the train just before the over bridge. This was closed in 2016 when the new and much grander four-platform affair was opened along with the electrification of this route. Keywords: 170103 14.07 Nottingham-Cardiff Central 1V11 Bromsgrove station Cross Country Turbo

Images 1-20 of 20 displayed.