Great Alne

GWR Route: Alcester to Bearley

Great Alne Station was originally the only intermediate station on the Alcester Railway. The railway and station were constructed by engineer William Clarke and opened on Monday 4th September 1876. The Alcester Railway was a 6 mile 69 chain single track standard gauge line running from the Stratford upon Avon Railway at Bearley to the Evesham & Redditch Railway at Alcester. Although nominally independent, the Alcester Railway Company entered into an operating agreement with the GWR, who also had a director on the Board and in 1878 the GWR arranged the purchase of the company.

Great Alne was a small country station served by six trains in each direction. It never created much railway traffic and the station’s history is intrinsically linked to that of the Alcester Branch. When the branch closed in 1917 and the track was removed to assist the War effort, the station also closed. It reopened again on 18th December 1922, when the track between Bearley and Great Alne was relaid. The remaining section between Great Alne and Alcester reopened the following year.

The start of WW2 caused the Alcester Branch line to be closed again on 25th September 1939, but this time the track was not removed and the relocation of the Maudslay Motor Company from Coventry to Great Alne in 1941 meant an unadvertised workman’s train from Leamington was required. Public goods services were also restored to Great Alne the following year, but the section between Alcester and Great Alne remained closed.

The special passenger service to Great Alne finished on 3rd July 1944, but the goods yard remained open with a regular twice weekly freight service. This ceased in 1947 and the Alcester Branch was officially closed on 1st March 1951. After closure Great Alne Station became the local Post Office and is now a domestic residence.

A major source of information for the photograph captions came from ‘The Alcester Branch’ by Stanley Jenkins and Roger Carpenter. This book is considered essential reading for anyone who wants to know more about the Alcester Branch and Great Alne Station in particular (see Bibliography).

Robert Ferris

Select an image below to view the larger version with accompanying text:

Ref: gwrga14 - Unknown The gentle curve of Great Alne Station platform viewed from the Level Crossing

Ref: gwrga14a - Unknown Close up showing Great Alne station

Ref: gwrga15 - Postcard An early picture of Great Alne Station shortly after the first corrugated iron goods shed was erected

Ref: gwrga15a - Postcard Close up showing station accommodation alongside the Station Masters House

Ref: gwrga15b - Postcard Close up showing the other station buildings on the platform

Ref: gwrga806 - PJ Garland The Down distance signal for Spencer’s Level Crossing - between Great Alne and Aston Cantlow

Ref: gwrga762 - Green-Jaques Collection Great Alne Station photographed in 1889 from the level crossing looking towards Bearley

Ref: gwrga762a - Green-Jaques Collection The goods yard, a single 300’ siding, which could accommodate approximately 14 wagons

Ref: gwrga768 - RK Cope The track on the Alcester Branch was removed during WW1 to assist with the war effort

Ref: gwrga778 - AT Locke/KRM The station was reopened in 1941 to enable workers from Coventry to get to the shadow factory

Ref: gwrga778a - AT Locke/KRM This close up shows the corrugated iron good sheds at the Bearley end of the platform

Ref: gwrga803 - RS Carpenter Auto trailer No.83 being hauled by an unidentified Collett 48xx class 0-4-2T

Ref: gwrga804 - AT Locke/KRM The view from the Level Crossing at Great Alne towards Alcester

Ref: gwrga800 - John Platt Collection The goods yard viewed from the end of the station ramp looking towards Bearley

Ref: gwrga800a - John Platt Collection Close up of the goods yard showing the wooden gangers hut and the standard GWR loading gauge

Ref: gwrga799 - John Platt Collection Great Alne Station viewed from the goods yard in 1947

Ref: gwrga799a - John Platt Collection Close up showing the station and platform in 1947 looking towards Alcester

Ref: gwrga798 - John Platt Collection The station buildings and entrance to the goods yard viewed from the Great Alne to Wootton Wawen road

Ref: gwrga797 - John Platt Collection The goods yard and station in 1949

Ref: gwrga801 - JH Moss The Level Crossing at the Alcester end of the platform in 1949

Ref: gwrga802 - JH Moss View from the Alcester side of the level crossing in 1949

Ref: gwrga796 - John Platt Collection The Bearley end of the goods yard

Ref: gwrga796a - John Platt Collection A close up of the gangers hut and the up distance signal protecting Spencer’s level crossing