Alcester Station (MR) - GWR facilities and branchline visitors

GWR Route: Alcester to Bearley

The Alcester company originally intended to erect a two-road loco shed to house two locomotives, and a turntable, but in the event the company was persuaded by their Engineer, William Clarke, to opt for a single-road shed and defer the options of a turntable until after the line was opened. The line's contractors, Scott & Edwards, erected the shed during July and August 1876 for £733 19s 4d. Some dispute also arose about access to the shed between the Alcester and MR companies, but this was duly sorted out and the necessary point-work, etc, locked with the MR junction signal box during October 1876. It appears that the loco shed was the only building erected by the Alcester Railway Company. It was constructed in red brick with a gable style slated roof, measuring 38ft by 16ft. An adjoining water pump house was also constructed in red brick and bore a tank and water crane. The supply is believed to have come from the nearby River Arrow, water being pumped up into the tank utilizing the branch engine. An inspection pit was provided inside the shed, as was a bench and basic facilities for the footplate crew. The shed road extended through the building for 400ft towards the station and was served by a 20ft x 9ft coaling platform constructed in brick, in front of which was another inspection pit, 26ft in length, both being provided in April 1900. Alcester was a sub-shed of Birmingham Bordesley (later Tyseley). The Alcester branch never really lived up to expectations, and quickly fell victim to the First World War economies, the locomotive shed at Alcester closing on 1st November 1915, when the branch engine transferred to neighbouring Stratford-on-Avon, itself a sub-shed of Tyseley.

Ref: gwra133a Anon Close up showing a GWR Auto Trailer standing in the throat of the station's goods yard

Ref: gwra466 Anon GWR Brake Van No. 35860 (diagram AA3) seen on the Alcester Branch for use on the mixed trains

Ref: mra474 Anon The GWR Bearley Branch curving off the MR line to Redditch behind the engine shed

Ref: mra473 Anon The Midland Railway Home Signal located opposite the end of the engine shed head shunt

Ref: gwra476 Anon The Alcester Branch viewed from the Alcester Rd Bridge looking towards Alcester Junction

Ref: gwra137 RK Cope/RS Carpenter Post World War One view of the junction with the Midland Railway's Evesham to Birmingham line showing the lifted track

Ref: gwra137a RK Cope/RS Carpenter Close up showing the Midland Signal Box sited opposite the Bearley branch and the truncated track at the start of the branch

Ref: gwra472 Anon Looking from the junction of the Midland Railway's Evesham to Birmingham line showing the head shunt on the right used by GWR locomotives

Ref: gwra461 Anon View taken during the closure period showing the branch track bed and Alcester Road bridge