Alcester
Alcester station was situated between Coughton and Wixford
and opened for goods traffic on 16th June 1866 and to passenger traffic two
months later on 17th September. Initially it was the terminus for the line from
Evesham as the extension to Redditch did not open until 4th May 1868. Later the
station became a block post on the MR line and a terminus to the Bearley branch
line operated by the GWR.
When first opened the station had just one platform and
single line through the station but very quickly received an up platform on the
newly built passing loop. The signalling at the station was revised several
times as the original signal box situated just to the south of the station was
moved to be on the southern portion of the down platform. The signal box built
to accommodate the junction with the GWR branch was replaced on 24th April when
the signal box on the down platform also closed both being replaced by the new
signal box to the north of the goods yard. The LMS replacing both to reduce
both maintenance and labour costs, the latter being required twenty-four hours
per day.
The station was provided with two sets of services, one
operated by the GWR the other by the MR. The former providing access to the
Birmingham to London line via Bearley and Hatton, the latter providing access
to the southwest and a more direct line to Birmingham. In Bob Essery's book 'An
Illustrated History of the Ashchurch to Barnt Green Line - The Evesham Route',
Bob uses the MR 1909 timetable to demonstrate that the GWR did not time their
trains to coincide with any MR connections. Clearly the GWR wished their
passengers to use their route to the southwest via Stratford upon Avon and
Cheltenham.
Goods traffic was principally agricultural with the large
cattle market offering business for both railway companies. Coal formed a major
part of inward traffic with several local merchants and the Alcester
Co-operative Society vying for trade. The GWR services were casualties during
the two World Wars, the first time seeing the line uplifted to provide
materials for the front on 1st January 1917 with the line reinstated on 29 July
1923. The second closure occurred on 25th September 1939 when passenger traffic
was ceased and whilst goods traffic did not officially cease until 1st March
1951, Bob Essery believes that goods traffic most likely ceased with passenger
traffic.
The GWR junction was taken out of use on 31st May 1953. The
MR line from Redditch to Ashchurch was closed to both passenger and goods
services in installments ending on 6th July 1964 with Alcester closing
officially on 17th September 1963 although the last train ran on 1 October 1962
being replaced by a bus service.
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