Bidford on Avon Station

LMS Route: The Shakespeare Route

Bidford was the first station out of Stratford on the 7½ mile extension built in 1879 to the Midland Railway's Broom Junction under the auspices of the Evesham, Redditch & Stratford upon Avon Junction Railway. The single-line route was operated on the 'staff and ticket' principle which limited the line to one train in occupation. In the early years however, Bidford and Binton both had ground frames and signals allowing trains to be held pending acceptance by the signalman at either Stratford upon Avon or Broom Junction. Prior to the development of rural bus services both Binton and Bidford on Avon stations handled daily commuters to Stratford upon Avon, Evesham and Redditch, whilst on Stratford's Annual Mop Fair day as many as three hundred extra passengers would be carried on the 6.15pm special train at a fare of 6½d (3p) return. During the plum season the station was very busy as was its neighbour Binton with as many as twenty wagons a day being used to carry the produce. Bidford even had a thriving business despatching large quantities of Hay to 'The Railway Provendor Co' at Manchester with each wagon taking one hundred trusses each. A single siding, later duplicated, had to serve the coal yard before running on into the 'Brick & Tile Company's' works.

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

Ref: smjboa1 Postcard Looking along the platform towards Stratford upon Avon with the station's booking office built into the second arch of the road overbridge

Ref: smjboa1a Postcard Close up showing the entrance to Bidford on Avon's innovative booking office which was formed inside the second arch of the bridge

Ref: smjboa1b Postcard Close up showing Bidford on Avon's single siding used for distributing the harvested plums and throughout the year by local coal merchants

Ref: smjboa2 LGRP A later view looking towards Stratford upon Avon through the road bridge and showing the huts used by the coal merchants

Ref: smjboa2a LGRP A 1933 close up showing more clearly the limited facilities of Bidford upon Avon station with the double plank doors and tiny windows

smjboa2b LGRP Close up showing the grounded six-wheel coach body used as a passenger waiting room on Bidford on Avon station's platform

smjboa3 P Hokins Ex-MR 3F 0-6-0 No 43520 is seen passing Bidford on a goods train made up of an ex-LMS 50' brake, fitted vans and sheeted open wagons