LMS Route: Evesham to Birmingham

Alcester Station: mra131

Looking towards Redditch as a Midland Railway goods train is seen passing through the station on a Birmingham to Evesham freight service circa 1910. The signal box seen on the right was the second signal box to be situated at the southern end of the station and was opened on 17th December 1905. The locomotive is thought to be a Kirtley 0-6-0 tender engine probably allocated to Bournville shed. According to Bob Essery in his book on the line 'the three lamps across the bufferbeam denotes it either a through goods or mineral train'. The water butt being fed by the signal box's drainpipe was obviously in great demand if judged by the extensive floral display along the platform as well as along the walkway fitted to the sides of the signal box. The cleanliness of signal boxes was extremely important to the safe operation of the railway and therefore facilities had to be provided to allow the windows to be cleaned. In many cases this would be provided by a walkway fitted around the signal box as seen at Alcester, in other instances the windows were designed to be slid so that they could be cleaned from the inside.

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