·  LMS  ·  GWR  ·  LNER  ·  Misc  ·  Stations  ·  What's New  ·  Video  ·  Guestbook  ·  About

Alvechurch Station (Worcestershire)

LMS Route: Evesham to Birmingham

The line from Barnt Green to Redditch was opened for passengers on 19th September 1859 and for goods traffic on 1st October 1859. Alvechurch Station was opened a few weeks later on 1st November 1859. The station was built on a 1 in 74 falling gradient which should have meant that access to the single siding, which accommodated ten wagons, was from the opposite end to that constructed. The reason being that the Board of Trade (the government department responsible for railways) normally insists that the locomotive is at the lower end to prevent break away wagons. Bob Essery suggests that it is likely the railway was built prior to this ruling becoming a statutory requirement. This led to the primitive method of shunting with a tow rope being employed for trains travelling in the up direction. Wagons required to be placed in the siding from up trains were attached to a tow rope sufficiently long to allow the locomotive to pass through the points and stop so the points could be reset to allow the wagons to enter the siding. The locomotive pulling the wagons forward on the parallel siding. As Bob Essery comments 'It was a dangerous practice and men could be injured if the rope broke under the strain. During Bob Essery's time on the line the simple practice of taking wagons to Redditch for traffic destined north of Barnt Green was employed whilst traffic required to go south was taken to Barnt Green.

The station became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway during the 1923 railway grouping. Under the 1948 transport nationalisation it became part of the London Midland Region of British Railways. Passenger services beyond Redditch ended in October 1962 and the line closed completely in July 1964 - the remainder of the route (including the station here) was threatened with closure following the publication of the Beeching Report in 1963 but subsequently reprieved (albeit with a much reduced level of service - just four trains per day each way from the mid-1960s onwards) to serve the planned Redditch New town development announced in 1964.

Views of Alvechurch Station

Edwardian view of the station showing a young porter ready to load luggage on to the incoming train
Ref: mralv608
Postcard
Edwardian view of the station showing a young porter ready to load luggage on to the incoming train
Looking along the station with the siding's buffer stops to the left and the ground frame structure to the right
Ref: mralv607
RM Casserley
Looking along the station with the siding's buffer stops to the left and the ground frame structure to the right
Looking along the platform towards Redditch showing the lampposts have had the lamps removed
Ref: mralv609
Anon
Looking along the platform towards Redditch showing the lampposts have had the lamps removed
Looking along the station with the siding's buffer stops to the left and the ground frame structure to the right
Ref: mralv607a
RM Casserley
Close up of the three structures forming Alvechurch station and the style at the end of the ramp on the right
Looking north towards Barnt Green with the station in similar condition to when it was opened some ninety five years earlier
Ref: mralv1404
DJ Norton
Looking north with the station in similar condition to when it was opened some ninety five years earlier

Looking along Alvechurch station platform towards Barnt Green with the good side on the right
Ref: mralv612
D Tee Collection
Looking along Alvechurch station platform towards Barnt Green with the good side on the right
Looking south towards Evesham with on the left coal wagons being unloaded on the single line siding
Ref: mralv606
JM Tolson
Looking south towards Evesham with on the left coal wagons being unloaded on the single line siding
Close up showing  the sacks being filled direct from the wagon into the coal lorry
Ref: mralv606a
JM Tolson
Close up showing the coal merchants lorry has been reversed at an angle to butt against the wagon
A 1954 view of Alvechurch station looking towards Redditch with several coal wagons stabled on the siding
Ref: mralv1403
DJ Norton
A 1954 view of Alvechurch station looking towards Redditch with several coal wagons stabled on the siding
Close up showing the timber buildings which housed A Foster's offices, thought to be a coal merchant
Ref: mralv607b
RM Casserley
Close up showing the timber buildings which housed A Foster's offices, thought to be a coal merchant

Alvechurch station's road side nameboard sited at the entrance to the station by the overbridge
Ref: mralv1406
HC Casserley
Alvechurch station's road side nameboard sited at the entrance to the station by the overbridge
A MR sign on an overbridge warning the owners of steam tractors that they would be liable to any damage
Ref: mralv613
M Mensing
A MR sign on an overbridge warning the owners of steam tractors that they would be liable to any damage

Locomotives and trains seen at or near Alvechurch Station

Ivatt 4MT2-6-0 No 43047 approaches Alvechurch station on the 5 10pm Birmingham New Street to Ashchurch service
Ref: mralv610
M Mensing
Ivatt 4MT2-6-0 No 43047 approaches Alvechurch station on the 5 10pm New Street to Ashchurch service
BR 4MT 4-6-0 No 75060 is seen arriving at Alvechurch on 5.32pm Birmingham New Street to Redditch on 23rd April 1960
Ref: mralv611
M Mensing
BR 4MT 4-6-0 No 75060 is seen arriving at Alvechurch on 5.32pm Birmingham New Street to Redditch
Ex-LMS 4F 0-6-0 No 44601 passes through the station on an up goods service on 20th April 1954
Ref: mralv1402
DJ Norton
Ex-LMS 4F 0-6-0 No 44601 passes through the station on an up goods service on 20th April 1954

Ordnance Survey and Rating maps of Alvechurch Station

An undated Ordnance Survey map showing the layout of the station and its single siding goods yard
Ref: mralv1407
DJ Norton
An undated Ordnance Survey map showing the layout of the station and its single siding goods yard
Part of the LMS 1925 Rating Plan showing the layout of Alvechurch station's goods yard
Ref: mralv1405a
RJ Essery
Part of the LMS 1925 Rating Plan showing the layout of Alvechurch station's goods yard
Part of the LMS 1925 Rating Plan showing the rooms associated with Alvechurch station's platform buildings
Ref: mralv1405a
RJ Essery
Part of the LMS 1925 Rating Plan showing the rooms associated with Alvechurch station's platform buildings
MR Distance diagram showing the line between Northfield and Bromsgrove and part of branche to Redditch
Ref: mralv779
Midland Railway
MR Distance diagram showing the line between Northfield and Bromsgrove and part of branche to Redditch