DMU special service between Kidderminster & Bewdley 1979 – 1983
or
How British Rail DMU's filled an important gap
By Paul Jackson
(Paul originally submitted this information to produce a special board for Railcar50, but printing problems meant it couldn't be displayed)
After the regular BR Kidderminster / Bewdley / Stourport passenger service had ceased in January 1970 the line between Foley Park and Kidderminster remained open to freight traffic, serving the sugar factory.
The SVR section of line to Foley Park remained intact, directly
connected to the BR freight line from Kidderminster and thus permitted through
train movements from one system to the other. The physical barrier was a pair of
catch points to prevent illegal train movements from one section to the
other. On the BR DMU special service days these points were 'clipped' and hand
signalled by a BR signal man residing in a solitary positioned brake van in a
siding adjacent to the single running line.
This was also the era when SVR passenger trains occasionally ventured
along the same line, albeit from the Bewdley direction and going through the
tunnel to the Foley Park boundary limit. Normally only happened during special
events or galas, often 'topped and tailed' by steam locomotives due
to a lack of run around facility.
Initially, the special days only DMU service
into Bewdley was introduced as an experimental short shuttle from
Kidderminster commencing during a 1979 Bank Holiday. Proving successful
the natural progression was to eventually extend the operation through to
Birmingham New Street by the then termed BR ‘Provincial’ sector.
Services eventually became linked to steam railway gala events due to
the DMU’s suitability to efficiently transport large masses of people.
Running dates were advertised in the monthly West Midlands charter
programme leaflets.
Trains were driven by a BR driver and accompanied by a SVR pilot man
who joined the set at Kidderminster.
Arrival at Bewdley was normally into platform one. The set then ran onto Wribbenhall viaduct to reverse into the island platform to pick up passengers for the return to BR metals. It provided a useful cross platform interchange for steam services arriving from Bridgnorth
Eventually the business proved to be very popular and ticket sales were extended to include many stations within the West Midlands. Often the first DMU train of the morning out of New Street was strengthened with a further 3 cars by local BR staff due to heavy seating demand - a practice almost unheard of today.
After 1983 freight traffic ceased to the sugar factory and the DMU link was stopped after the September 1983 Autumn gala. The Severn Valley Railway then acquired the remainder of the route, and by 30th July 1984 the SVR had extended steam operations into Kidderminster thereby ending the need for a DMU connecting service.