Bewdley to Hartlebury Junction Disused Railway

A journey to discover the southern end of the Severn Valley Railway. The SVR was built to join Shrewsbury to Worcester with the link to Kidderminster coming later providing an East/West link across the South Shropshire border. This journey takes us through Stourport on Severn where the lines history is preserved with a public footpath nearly all the way from the centre of Stourport to the junction with the main Worcester to Birmingham line at Hatlebury. The station at Stourport has sadly disappeared altogether into a modern housing development, but the large rail viaduct to the east of the town still remains intact to walk on.

[@daleywhaley]

Walked this stretch across Leapgate recently with my wife and dog, lived here all my life and it's taken me 47 years to walk it and appreciate how lucky we are to have this on our doorstep. Thank you for sharing this.

[@angelsone-five7912]

Refreshing to see a young person with a sense of history. Well done Luke.

[@chrisround941]

Hear hear well done. I love this stuff

[@davehodges6258]

We used to live very near to this old Power station line at Hartlebury, Remember very well Class 25s and the odd class 37 taking coal in from the Hartlebury end down to the Power station, This was mainly done late Afternoon / Evening" and the trains always travelled slow on the Line, We lived at Poolands farm until 1983 and it Overlooked the Line" so we always saw many coal trains back and forth, Thank you for the share, Happy times in that area.👍

[@BernieHollandMusic]

In the 1970s a Sherlock Holmes film was produced called "The Seven Percent Solution" which featured a dramatic railway chase for which a section of the old line to Hartlebury to Bewdley South Junction was temporarily relaid. Not a lot of people know that !

[@philclennell]

As a newcomer to the West Midlands this video is extremely informative - well done to both!

[@tommo1234]

You can get up to the tunnel - there is a footpath that runs along the old line.I have spent many an hour as a child playing in the tunnel with my friends - happy days Great video by the way

[@levacademy1337]

It ran down the bottoms of the gardens in Dorset Road. The home owners were given the opportunity to buy the land that was the track, to extend their gardens.

[@acampbell8614]

I lived in Bewdley 1978-82 as a teenager, worked on the SVR for a while. I visited Stourport station one evening in 1978. The building was still there but closed up. The track went right up to the level crossing gate, where a buffer stop had been fitted. Standing on the end of the platform looking south you could see trains of 16T coal wagons curving around to the right but they were off in the distance. A good ten minutes walk along the track.

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

Great to see Luke joining you mate

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

8:45 this is where the level crossing was located shame that the level crossing that used to bring traffic here to a grinding halt no longer here

[@alanwoodcock7321]

Great Video. I was born & bred not far from Burlish Crossing & we took the train at Burlish Halt to go & see my Grandmother via Ironbridge. Nostalgia! There was a siding behind Burlish Halt to supply the needs (coal I think) of Steatite & Porcelain Prducts Ltd, on the other side of the Bewdley Road. In olden times (before the 39-45 war?) the track continued over the Bewdley Road & into Steatite's premises.

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

Really Alan

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

I’ve been on the train on the seven valley railway and I’ve found the remains of bewdley junction to stourport and hartlebury

[@paullubliner6221]

Very enjoyable. Although I'd no idea, while I first visited the Severn Valley Railway (1993) the power station was still in use. Potential here for melancholy, but easily offset by the immediately adjacent Severn Valley Railway and its continuing existence. Not too much like that here in Southern California where I've been for the last half century. But while I was still a boy, I did get to see (and photograph) the famous Santa Fe "Warbonnet" F-3's just down the road, as well as LNER 4472 on a trip to visit with my sister in San Francisco on Fisherman's Wharf in 1972.

[@johnwoodhouse3369]

Love the way you show the old photos of what it used to look like and views of what it looks like now. Thanks for the tour!

[@neiledwards4923]

I walked this myself around this time. There was nothing to stop them walking right up to the tunnel portal and its also possible to walk right up to the other portal too, which is the best preserved section of the line. It has the signal post still in situ complete with its ladder. In both cases, there are no restrictions to access. The path where he meets Luke goes right up to the northern portal and also right up to the junction with the SVR at Bewdley, where there are even running lines still in situ!!!

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

I’ve been to hartlebury station once before and I’ve found the remains of the junction where the seven valley railway used to turn off towards stourport and then bewdley

[@JUSJAK]

we used to walk through the tunnel when we was kids we used to call it muddy tunnel cause beilieve me it one muddy tunnel lol great video i love the videos when its in my area i know this place like the back of my hand the whole area

[@gazthomas9213]

Very interesting and I've managed to follow some of this line myself very recently, I'm always watching these videos as they are well narrated 👍👍👍

[@MRHIRSTY999]

RIP

[@irvsstella]

I've just seen this video as a suggestion. I'm glad I watched it. I live in Stourport on Severn, just behind Great Western way, I knew about the line running to Bewdley and Hartlebury and have been on SVR many times. This would be a great opportunity to create a historic walk with more points of interest.

[@Sarge084]

At 15.22 that part of the trackbed was the sidings for the coal wagons. The power station had its own shunter that brought the wagons in over Worcester Road for tipping on the stockpile that was a huge black mountain.

[@Sarge084]

You missed the sidings at Burlish Halt for Steatite & Porcelain Products. As a young lad I remember the line crossing Bewdley Road an into the factory. The line across the road was lifted first and the wagons were unloaded onto trucks for shipping across the road into the factory. Eventually the sidings closed and Burlish Close housing development was built on the sidings.

[@brianjones2837]

Many people are probably unaware that the Bewdley to Kidderminster spur was an addition to the original SVR route from Bridgnorth to Hartlebury. Great shame it wasn't totally preserved.

[@mikeonlinebaby]

Where you were walking towards the power station after crossing the road there is one of the goods yard lamp posts still there, I have a picture of it somewhere in my collection.

[@Bugster42]

Nice Video. Something you missed - At 10.12 the OS map shows a canal basin, a rare canal/rail interchange. It was there when I holidayed in 2005, in fact we turned the boat at the viaduct because of lack of water in the Severn. Sadly you did not pan around much on the viaduct. There is now a private house where the north sidings were.

[@holdenwebs]

Thanks, the film didn't come out quite right at that point so it got edited down. Thanks again for the information.

[@philippankhurst6680]

The Railway basin is still there (2019) and in very good condition, as is the bridge over the canal. In the front garden of the first house North of the bridge is a tell-tale piece of broad gauge rail fencing. A good record of a fascinating stretch of railway - such a pity that it has been built over. It shows that the local authorities had no confidence that the Severn Valley Railway would be the colossal success that it has turned out to be. How wrong they were and how Stourport could do with the 100,000+ visitors that the railway could have brought to the town

[@ThePserafin100]

Holden very good video, forgot about this part of the SVR well done 👍

[@martinbradshaw7877]

Enjoyed video. I came to Worcestershire in 1983. I recall that the footbridge was still extant at that time. I believe it was demolished in the 80s. Locals will no doubt confirm this.

[@holdenwebs]

Thanks for watching and your comment.

[@beeurd]

If I know my local history as well as I hope I do, there were two footbridges. The one closest to the main road was demolished around the same time as the station, but I remember the longer footbridge closer to the canal that would have spanned the entire width of the line and goods yard. The second footbridge would have been removed in the very late 80s or early 90s, just before the housing estate was built, and there is an alleyway from Prospect Road across to the cemetery that gives away its position. Edit: Just did a little research and although the line closed to passenger traffic in 1970, the station and associated buildings were not demolished until 1980.

[@MrJackson0712]

I was born in Kidderminster and still walk the route around Mount Pleasant, If Interested I have some pictures of the tunnel from 2019 when I last walk the line.

[@beeurd]

As lifetime resident of Stourport I was interested to come across this video. I was born in 1983 and most of the changes to the structure of the old line have actually been quite "recent" developments. I don't remember the railways itself, but the housing estates that cover stretches of the line were all built since the 90s so I do have some recollection of the time between the railway leaving and the houses being built. The power station line closed in 1979 I believe, and in the photograph of Burlish Halt I can see the backs of the bungalows across the road from my childhood home. Those homeowners claimed the trackbed as extra garden space.

[@davidwilliamclose1848]

The land behind the houses from above Burlish Crossing nearly to the road just before Stourport station was offered to the house owners as extensions to there gardens. If people did not want to, it was offered to their neighbours, & a few have large L-shaped gardens because of this.

[@crasher303]

Nice one Holden. Very surprising to how much is left of the old track bed. I bet Stourport is regretting ripping up their rail heritage so quick. The SVR. could have run from Brignorth to Stourport, & who knows Worcester. My Grandad worked out of Stourbridge engine sheds. I have faint memory of the turntabe in the shed, & all the scrap tank engines lined up along side it.

[@davidwilliamclose1848]

My father W H Close took over as Station Manager at Kidderminster in 1965. He was also responsible for the branch lines & Hartlebury Junction, where he often got called out to because there was a problem affecting the trains. I believe the curve of the line for the Stourport branch was quite severe, & (partial) derailments happened several times a year, I think there was also a small private siding at Hartlebury. Concerning the Power Station loop, this was later intended to be part of the Stourport Bypass - which was eventually decided by Whitehall was unnecessary for such a small town - very short-sighted with the road congestion problems today. It would have crossed the river where the Power Station was, & linked up around where the Walshes turning from the Dunley Road is, as a roundabout. When the Power Station site was built on, the developer had to put in a wide road so that this could happen to link up to the Worcester Road - just where your video shows the end of the remaining embankment end. This would have allowed most of the traffic to avoid the River Severn bridge & one-way streets all around the town. Similarly, when the newer estate was built off the Hartlebury Road, since the road would have continued along where the embankment still is, & headed off to Kidderminster along the Stour valley - probably meaning that another section of the main embankment to Wilden/Hartlebury would have been removed to accommodate it.

[@davemarson7241]

Another great video from you. Very interesting walk.

[@neilewart4347]

During the Second World War there was a very large hospital at Burlish for American servicemen. Many trains would arrive in the area ferrying wounded for treatment. I am not sure if any off loaded at Burlish. I think they would have used larger stations in the area

[@Biggles-gm6tm]

love these videos, tastefully and thoughtfully done. keep em coming.

[@MRHIRSTY999]

Regrettably Malcolm died and will be missed by many

[@markjesic2691]

You nailed it again Holden, really enjoyable.

[@holdenwebs]

Thanks Mark

[@BRI535D]

I thought his name was Malcolm Webster?

[@scotth9764]

its nice to see people do this I find it really interesting and insightful , I do it myself with whats left of the north east NCB industry and commercial lines, much of which are long gone and turned into walks much like these. most fmaous one Iv done is the famous Stockton to Darlington railway which is completely lifted unfortunately.

[@Sarge084]

Another thing that you can't see any trace of is the sidings for RAF Hartlebury next to the station, and they were quite extensive, with lines running well into the RAF Main Site.

[@lmsproductions7400]

Be careful where you step you dont want to fall through the roof of a shed belonging to an old narrow gauge engine ( if anyone gets the reference your a legend )

[@rdownmakeITbetter]

The stourport power station was considerably further than you suggested - right on the river bank using, I believe, river water for cooling.

[@stephendines1936]

Exellent Video. Well done.

[@Sarge084]

The confluence of the Stour and the Severn is where the power station was. The power station used the water from the Stour for cooling, the warmer water entered the Stour next to the Severn where sheet piles separated the two rivers for about 100 metres.

[@kenh3344]

The burlish crossing gates with its house, was the stourport signal box mans house . And a gate man operated man operated crossing gates opening as and when train came. He sat in a hut by thegates . He had st vitas dance syndrome and he did not quite open the gates on time and a bubble car DMU. Eent through the closed gate knocking the gate man flying . But surved the incident . Luckily. Just before closure in 1960s. 😅

[@tonyburrows2881]

An American Army hospital was built in 1944 adjacent to Burlish Halt. After D Day ,Ambulance trains would off load their wounded patients here.

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

Did they Tony

[@petahertz5855]

mount pleasant tunnel is very walk-able as of January 2017, it appears that the svr? has cleared some trees and overgrowth.

[@holdenwebs]

Thanks, I must check that out.

[@holdenwebs]

Thanks, I must check that out.

[@DaveTibbetts]

dude you might aswell come to Halesowen and tell me what the bridge on Belle Vale was used for. Been dying to know.

[@tidalyt7872]

Can they ever open this part of the line back up?

[@andrewbaker7709]

Very good video and informative. Just a slight error on the Great Western Way section as the station was on the opposite side of the road and the superimposed picture would not have been on the Great Western Way side.

[@davidwilliamclose1848]

There was also a pub called the Station which kept going after the station itself was shut, until the new housing e was built over it as well in the 90s.

[@chriggle1]

@@davidwilliamclose1848 we had dinner there a few times in 1999. We lived in Dorsett Road, which is where the track bed backed on to. Some of the house owners bought the land when the line was taken up. I have a friend who lives in one of the houses that took advantage of it, her garden is so long.

[@nickthorne1442]

🚂🚂👍

[@DennosManCave]

I grew up in Stourport. Such a shame that the SVR couldn't have been extended thru SoS and connect onto the mainline at Hartlebury. The line and station was there when I was a kid in the late 1970's. Poor town planning and history lost. Tourism could have been generated for Stourport if the line had been maintained. Stourport council have never been one for forward planning nor thinking.

[@DaveTibbetts]

More vids please :D

[@andrewwhalley3775]

on it this yearr,my friend?

[@DaveTibbetts]

yay another video :D

[@likklej8]

Were these railways closed by the rcars and roads man Beeching or before?Great videos thanks.

[@Sarge084]

The Stourport, Bewdley, Kidderminster triangle was still operating when I was at Stourport Secondary Modern School. I used to cross the line on my walk to school from Lickhill to Burlish. That would have been around 1968/9, so the latter end of the implimentation of the Beeching cuts. The roads man was Beeching's boss Transport Minister Ernest Marples whose family had interests in a civil engineering company keen to get contracts on those new motorways.

[@likklej8]

Sarge084 thanks for that Earnest Marples needed that memory jog. Respect to you.

[@chriggle1]

Where did you get the image of Great Western Way and the station superimposed over it? I have been trying to get a copy for a while now.

[@danguinan7238]

Where did you find the picture of mount pleasant tunnel?

[@mikeonlinebaby]

You might like to check this out en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rifle_Range_Halt_railway_station

[@buffplums]

So were was Kiddilad?

[@adam8080]

you can reach the tunnel i have been myself

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

Did u

[@adam8080]

@@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329 yes

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

Oh right because the man from mr Phils channel got down there to see the tunnel entrance of mount pleasant tunnel

[@martinbell482]

You've got alot off your imfomation wrong mate i live in stourport by burlish and i also lived by stourport station

[@minnowpoo]

RIP

[@MRHIRSTY999]

Rip

[@johnapperley119]

M NJ

[@richiep7812]

Good video but it’s all private property

[@600joe]

Machete needed.