GWR Route: Hatton to Bearley and Alcester Branch

Great Alne Station: gwrga4028

At the end of the First World War, the citizens of Alcester partitioned the Great Western Railway to reopen the Branch Line from Bearley to Alcester. After several years the track was eventually relaid and the line was opened in two stages. The first section to reopen on Monday 18th December 1922 was between Bearley Junction and Great Alne. This included the new halt at Aston Cantlow. The attached Signalling Notice was issued to inform staff of the new signals and operational procedures, which were to be tested and brought in to operation at the end of the previous week.

At Bearley North Junction a new bracket Starting Signal was installed on the existing post to control access to the branch line from the main line. This signal was controlled by lever No 9 in Bearley North Junction Signal Box. Also controlled from the same Signal Box were two new Home signals installed beside the branch line. These Home Signals were there to protected the junction and control access from the branch to the main line; the Inner Home Signal adjacent to the junction was controlled by lever No 29 and the Home Signal on the other side of the aqueduct was controlled by lever No 33. A lineside telephone was provided at this Home signal. A fixed Distant Signal was also installed 795 yards further out from this Home Signal. All these three new branch signals were installed on concrete posts.

At Spenser’s Crossing a three lever Ground Frame controlled the locking and release of the bolts on the level crossing gates as well as Distant Signals on either side of the level crossing. An Indicator was provided to notify the gate-keeper when trains were on the line and a telephone was also installed here.

Robert Ferris

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