Severn Valley Railway Bewdley Station

[@jamesweekes6726]

Hi Ron. The winner for your best line this week has to be, "I think you'll have to come here to read that." Not very convenient, but certainly tempting! As always, it's great to be out and about with you, you certainly picked a perfect day for it. What a beautifully preserved collection of buildings, I wish we were as fortunate here. Have a good week Ron, I'll get the mutt to send you a message next week. James

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi James, do you have any plans for the remainder of the school holidays? Time to get the hiking boots on. I shall be interested to hear Sumacs take on it. Have fun. Ron

[@westcountrywanderings]

Hi Ron! You arrived at is probably my most favourite town in the whole of the wider Westcountry - I personally put it above places like St. Ives and Weymouth. It is steeped in character, and the people are friendly. Although inland, thanks to Sabrina, it has somewhat of a resort feel to it. If you have never been to the museum there, please do visit it next time you are in the area - it is one of the very best around! This was wonderful explore of a superb town station with a rural feel to it. The GWR at its very best! Thank you for a most excellent video. Apologises for being late this week - hopefully I'll be on time on Friday! Have a super week, Take care, Paul

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Don't worry Paul, I know the pressure you are under, I'm struggling to keep up myself. Sounds like I must visit Bewdley. Thanks for watching. Ron

[@marilynbalderstone696]

Good morning Ron. Another lovely station and you don’t appreciate the slope it is built on when you are on the train. The signal box must have as much construction underneath as it does at platform level. And you managed to film it on a lovely day. Haven’t had many of them up here in the far north. I mislaid my husband on Bewdley station once. I phoned his mobile as I was getting anxious and a few minutes later he sauntered nonchalantly back on to the platform having emerged from one of the vans that were open that day selling books etc. I asked him if he had heard his phone ringing in his rucksack which he always carried and he said “oh yes I heard it but I thought it was someone else’s! “. Thanks for the memories and one to watch again. 🌻

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Marylin, lovely to hear from you. I loved the story of your husband, when Pauline reads this, she will at least know it's not just me then. Thanks for putting a smile on my face. Ron

[@MoJohnson-xp6cc]

Hi Ron, another excellent and enjoyable video. Not only memories of the steam trains of the 1950's but, through the comments, memories of mom making a cup of Bovril on cold snowy days to warm us up after we trudged home from school. Can't wait for next in series. BEST wishes Mo J

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Mo, it is lovely when a film stirs the old memories, make it all worthwhile. Take care. Ron

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

Wonderfully atmospheric portrait of Bewdley Station, full of details to delight the eyes and ears. A mecca for steam enthusiasts and an excellent starting point for exploring the rest of the magnificent SVR and of course, the delightful riverside town of Bewdley itself. Thank you.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Malcolm glad you enjoyed the visit. Still more to come on the SVR. Look after yourself. Ron

[@michaelmiller641]

Bewdley was the end of the line, when I first visited in the mid 70s. Of course there is the magnificent station at Kidderminster now! Great video, Ron! I look forward to the other stations you visit!

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Michael, Kidderminster is on its way. You are right it is the jewel in the crown and so different to the rest. Take care. Ron

[@michaelpilling9659]

Hello Ron - a very good morning from Poland Superb video. A very different station from the other country/village stops on the line. So much to see. I found looking at the stored goods trucks fascinating. So many different types from all of the Big Four railway operaters of days gone by. Some I knew, some I've never seen before,

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Michael, I hope you Mags and the kittens are well, I think the SVR is as diverse as it gets, and still more coming. Take care of everybody. Ron

[@lionelmarytravels6003]

Superbly done, Ron. What lovely setting for a station! Village in the background sets the scene perfectly too. I liked the covered footbridge. That was a bit on the posh side. Most bridges around my area were open to the elements. Nice to see three platforms. Was it a junction in the distant past.? All in all a beautifully restored station, complete with goods shed and an extensive array of wagons. I was just thinking to myself, there must be something in steam, but then not one, but two came along. That was beautiful Ron and I look forward to seeing more in the future.

[@Sharron-Idol]

There was once a junction between Bewdley and Kidderminster. That line is now pulled up and largely built upon, although the junction remains, and there is a track maintenance training area on the line's stub.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Lionel, I like to just look and ponder when I visit these places, I'm sure you do too. Nice of Sharron to respond to your junction query, I didn't have a clue. Take care of you and Mary. Ron

[@railwaychristina3192]

Thank you for this. I have a lovely watercolour of the station, now I know what the interior looks like.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Nice to be of service mam. Ron

[@Sharron-Idol]

10:52 Looking along the platform there, you can see the one-of-a-kind cast-iron Gents toilet. The high banks at the back of Bewdley station have collapsed more than once in the station's history. Not only is Bewdley one of the prettiest towns in England, with one of the nicest non-terminus heritage railway stations; it is also the hometown of pop star Becky Hill, whose parents still live on the other side of town.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Sharron, lovely to hear from you. What is happening about the book? Ron

[@Sharron-Idol]

@@ParkinsonsWalks I'm going to start querying agents again in the near future. It appears that the thirty plus or so agents that I've already queried aren't interested. 48 ephisodes over three series is a rather large work. - Maybe its size can be a little off-putting? - Anyway, onwards and upwards. I hope all is well with you this excuse for a summer lol.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

@@Sharron-Idol Hi Sharron, you sound in good spirits, well done. No doubt you listen to interviews with authors, I'm always surprise how difficult they found it getting started but then went on to great things. There is hope yet. Go gently. Ron

[@barryc1968]

Professor Ron, The signs say a lot about that generation, grandiosity such as Station Master, Booking Hall, and Great Western Railways. Politeness, in that passengers are requested to conform. Health and safety, only cross the line using the bridge and fire buckets to be kept full of water. Of that time, such as passengers should not alight here, walk forward, I wonder whether the young generation today would truly understand and the no trespassing notice is far too long for the tick tockers of today to read all the way through.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Well observed Barry, I agree with all that I've never thought of it before. Well Done. Ron

[@paulsingletonis65]

Kia Ora Hi Ron thanks for this your latest gem. It is always nice to revisit those walks and places of yesteryear. Lovely to sit here with a glass of NZ wine in front of a roaring log fire. To be fair Ron along with your video life does not get any better than this. We have not dropped a line for a while, so be assured we don't miss our weekly virtual walk with our mate Ron. Every blessing from Paul and Gill Singleton Aotearoa NZ 🇳🇿

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hello both, great to hear from you. Bit warm here at the moment so the thought of a roaring fire made me go all hot! Take care of yourselves. Ron

[@757trev]

Good morning Ron and, as always, many thanks for today's video. The creation of Bewdley station must have been a mammoth task for the navvies of the day. I guess the formation was cut as a ledge on the hillside or, alternatively, a deep cutting was hewn out which, presumably, provided the spoil for the high embankment? The need for a bridge at each end of the station would have made the excavation even more challenging. Going back to my last post it seems that someone was listening when I commented on the immaculate condition of locomotives on heritage railways versus something a little more "shabby". I though the condition of the Ivatt Class 4 2-6-0 Mogul no 43106 looked much more in keeping with the steam locomotives I remember as a child. Not too shabby but just work worn enough to look the part. Coupled to the rake of coaches that were also looking rather tired gave a much more genuine appearance of how that train would have looked back in the day. What do others think? Best wishes to you Ron, and to Pauline and all the PW family. Trev

[@davidberlanny3308]

Hi Trev, yes I noticed that too, the engines looked well used and well maintained. All the best!!

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Trev, I have never thought of the problems building that station, you are right, it was a very technical undertaking not for the faint hearted. Quite a number of folk responded to your last post. Paul ( Westcountry Wanderings) said one of his films featured a train not in the best of condition and it received quite a few negative comments. You can't please everybody. Look after yourself. Pauline & Ron

[@donniblanco5239]

Hi Ron - Love it here and your so right, there is so much to see and many an Hour can disappear on a Wet Winter Wednesday when there’s Nobody about, with a great Selection of Rolling Stock to Photograph for modelling reference, and that’s apart from the Awesome Infrastructure! You’re so Right about the Station Building which I hadn’t Twigged before, I’ve read somewhere that the Bewdley to Tenbury Line back in The day, was a LNWR project and perhaps the Station building was typical of their design 🤔 There is an Amazingly Accurate Model of the Station and Viaduct out on the Exhibition Circuit Somewhere which is an Absolute Vision to Behold. Many thanks 🙏🏻

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Donni, like you I could spend hours at these locations, looking at the details and pondering the sights that they have born witness to. Great stuff. Ron

[@JimNicholls]

So much rolling stock mouldering away there, Ron. I wonder how much of it will ever be restored? There's clearly a limit to what the railway needs or has space to store properly once fixed up.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

I think now and then someone has to get ruthless Jim, and move some of it on, otherwise as you say they become clogged up. Keep flying. Ron

[@davidberlanny3308]

Afternoon Ron, This one just got better as you went on and that from a great start too. That tree on the left of the gate was enormous. I enjoyed seeing all the rolling stock there but, like Jim, you have to wonder if it will ever get used. I enjoyed seeing the class 20 pulling the first train, I have one of those ....... mine is slightly smaller!! The railcar in the station was a great sight too. You found a great vantage point for the gran finale and were rewarded by the arrival and departure of two steam trains👌👌 I didn't know Bovril was spread I think I only remember it from football grounds. Talking of which we have an interesting evening to look forward to down here Sunday night. I'm trying to convince everyone that the youngster Yamal won't be allowed out so late as Monday is a school day, problem is school finished here about three weeks ago!! Have a great weekend!!

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi David, I expect some of the rolling stock will be privately owned, further complicating matters. Fancy you not knowing about Bovril, mother used to add it to gravy and stews to spice it up a bit instead of Oxo. (There's another one for you.) Good luck with your Sunday quest. Take care of yourself. Ron

[@davidberlanny3308]

@@ParkinsonsWalks Well I remember drinking Bovril but not spreading it on anything, maybe it was marmite in our house!!. Yes, OXO cubes, many a gravy used them as a base. I have a picture in my head now of a bowl of dripping that was saved after a roast and used for the next weekend. If it was a chicken then I seem to remember using that for fried bread!! Happy memories!!

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

@@davidberlanny3308 Happy days David, happy days. Ron

[@petepaine5331]

Hi Ron. Lovely ! Such a great station and so much to see. Makes me want to jump in the car and take a look. I think there is a film somewhere about when the line was first taken over for preservation . Pete

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Pete, looking at your avatar it's time you had your hair cut. I think most stops on the SVR are worth a visit, give it a go. Take care of you and Syd. Ron

[@ngaugeonashelf4417]

Ron, I don't know where you find the sunshine from but I'd like some! My 4 day weekend and 1 dry day. Anyhow........what a lovely 4MT coming into the station. I guessed it was my favourite 2MT until you showed us the number. The standard class locos all have a very familiar look to them. I could not guess what the second loco was but it looked to be pulling a rake of Teaks. I must get there. One day.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

It's a super place to spend a day Simon, good for ideas for the nguage layout too. Keep smiling. Ron

[@ngaugeonashelf4417]

@@ParkinsonsWalks I love the way they have preserved everything and the items on the platforms. I really do need to see these things in person.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Simon, finding the sun is easy, find out where you are going and go somewhere else. Stay dry. Ron

[@ngaugeonashelf4417]

@@ParkinsonsWalks I'm in Pontypool on Sunday - you have been warned! 😂😂

[@757trev]

@@ngaugeonashelf4417 Hi Simon. I'm at Blaenavon on Sunday as I volunteer for the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway. Might see you around! Trev

[@norriskiddle3434]

Green Southern van was a PMV parcels and general purposes

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Thanks Norris. Ron

[@charlespaterson9714]

12:00 What is Bovril that is being advertised on the side of the Station Building? The advertisement is slightly larger than the Bewdley sign.

[@JimNicholls]

When I was a child, in the 1940s, Bovril would have been found in almost every British home. It's a beef extract in paste form, sold in jars and eaten spread on toast, or drunk mixed in hot water. It was regarded as a health food and mothers insisted that their children had it, whether they liked it or not! It was one of the most well-known food products available, and heavily advertised, as at the station. Everyone knew what it was, so just the name was enough to promote it.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Jim says it better than me Charles. Ron

[@westcountrywanderings]

@@JimNicholls What a fabulous explanation Jim!

[@michaelpilling9659]

Good Morning Ron - Friday, 19th July 08.11 (Poland) There;s no vlog this morning. Is everything OK?

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Michael, thanks for checking. I don't know what happened but it seems ok now. Ron