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Claverdon Station
Claverdon was one of three intermediate stations on the
Stratford-on-Avon Railway (the other two being Bearley and Wilmcote). This
9¼ mile single track, mixed gauge railway was opened on 9th October 1860
as a nominally independent branch from the Birmingham and Oxford Junction
Railway at Hatton. It was operated by the Great Western with broad gauge stock
until a connection with the Strafford branch of the Oxford, Worcester and
Wolverhampton Railway allowed narrow gauge (4’8¼”) trains to
run through from Worcester via Honeybourne in 1863. Six years later on 1st
April 1869 the broad gauge rail was removed. In 1883 the Stratford-on-Avon
Railway Company was absorbed by the Great Western Railway and two years later
the track layout was modified to provide a loop line. At the same time a
loading bank or wharf was constructed. In 1891 a platform signal box was
constructed to interlock the loop line points and signals, but this was closed
again after fifteen years and replaced with two ground frames. By 1938, traffic
on the single track section between Bearley and Hatton was sufficiently heavy
to justify doubling the track. At the same time a new station was constructed
on the opposite side of the road overbridge, while the old station was
designated a goods lock-up. The new station official opened on 2nd July 1939.
As part of the reconstruction a new goods loop siding was provided on the site
of the old wharf and a new signal box constructed. The goods loop was converted
back to a siding in December 1953 and at the same time the signal box was
closed and replaced with a ground frame. This siding was subsequently removed
in July 1964. In January 1969 the line was singled between Bearley and Hatton,
but Claverdon station still remains open today.
Robert Ferris
Robert Ferris has also transcribed another article from the
Great Western Magazine focusing upon the widening of the Hatton to Bearley
line.
Extract from Great Western Magazine Volume. 51. No 8 August
1939
Doubling of the Line between Hatton and Bearley by R.
H. Cunningham.
The opening to all traffic, on July 2, of the
four-and-a-half miles of double line between Hatton and Bearley marks the
completion of a widening scheme which was commenced in March of last year. No
particular engineering difficulties were encountered on the work, the main
feature being the provision of extensive additional accommodation at Claverdon,
where a new station, comprising two platforms, each 450 feet long, with
waiting-room accommodation on each platform, has been constructed adjoining an
overbridge. There are short ramped approaches between the main road and the
platforms, and the station buildings, comprising booking and parcels offices,
are on the up side. A reinforced concrete footbridge connects the down platform
with the booking-office. The old station at Claverdon is being converted into a
goods lock-up, and the old station wharf has been replaced by a mileage yard. A
new signal box takes the place of two ground frames formerly in use.
At Bearley, the up and down platforms, originally 285 feet
and 375 feet long, have been lengthened to 450 feet and 550 feet, respectively,
the construction of the new platforms being of pre-cast reinforced concrete
trestles and decking, covered with fine tarmac. A steel footbridge now connects
the platforms, and the station master's office and waiting-room on the down
platform have been rebuilt. Very little additional land had to be acquired for
the doubling of this portion of railway. Some 30,000 cubic yards of excavation
were removed in widening the cuttings, and it was found possible to use most of
the excavated material in giving additional width to embankments. One of the
photographs (see 'gwrc1668') shows a mechanical
excavator at work on the 30 foot cutting near 14 mile post. The steel
superstructures of four small bridges were widened. For one bridge it was
necessary to demolish the old wing walls for extension of the abutments to
carry the additional superstructure. Advantage has been taken of the
opportunity afforded by the doubling to realign the curves throughout the
section for fast running. Electric lighting has been brought into use
throughout; new locking frames have been installed in the signal boxes at
Hatton and Bearley; and the well water supply at Claverdon has been replaced by
one taken from the Birmingham waterworks.
The works were carried out under the direction of the Chief
Engineer, the contract work being supervised by the writer. From the historical
point of view, it may be said that the conclusion of the Hatton – Bearley
widening here referred to, completes the doubling of the Hatton to Stratford
branch. This branch, nine-and-a-quarter miles long, was opened as a single
line, broad gauge, with a third rail to standard gauge in October, 1860, and in
1861 it was connected with the standard gauge Honeybourne to Stratford branch
of the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway, which had been opened two
years earlier. From January 1, 1863, all regular trains on the branch were run
on standard gauge. Doubling of the line between Stratford and Bearley was
carried out at the same time as the doubling of the Honeybourne to Stratford
branch and the construction of the Birmingham and North Warwickshire line,
which was opened to traffic on July 1, 1908.
Select an image below to view the larger version with
accompanying text:
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