Hampton Loade Railway Station - Preservation

Preservation

From 1970 to 1974, Hampton Loade was the southern terminus of the SVR, just 4½ miles from Bridgnorth. Although at the time the SVR was said to go from "somewhere" to "nowhere" the terminus was a quaint and peaceful place to end services.

When preservationists first arrived at Hampton Loade from Bridgnorth, signalling was reinstated as a priority during the early days. A legacy of Hampton Loade's former guise as the SVR's southern terminus is the now rarely used down starting signal No. 13 at the north end of the up loop. The platforms at Hampton Loade can only accommodate four coaches at one time, as the SVR's trains are now regularly longer than this plans have been mooted to extend them.

At present, Mr.S. Dockerty is station master (appointed in 1999), he is assisted by Mr. L. Whittaker and Mr. C. Watson (both appointed in 2010). There are three Station Foremen at Hampton Loade: Mr D. Shorto, Mr S. Hall, both appointed 2010 & Mr P Brookes, appointed in 2012. Mr F. Hughes is the Chief Booking Clerk. The station is operated entirely by a volunteer workforce.

During the railway's B timetable the Severn Valley Limited dining service does not stop at the station in either direction.

Resident in the station's siding is ex-GWR Churchward third coach 2426 built in 1910. Presently being used for staff accommodation, the long term aim is to restore it to its original condition. It is the oldest carriage on the line and in continually deteriorating condition. There are possible plans for this to be replaced by Hawksworth sleeping car No. 9084 in the future, although this proposal has been dropped as that carriage is now in use at Kidderminster Town Station.

Also resident in the station siding opposite the up platform is British Railways built no. 3467; a 'fruit D' goods van designed by the GWR and built at Swindon in 1955. It is owned by the Hampton Loade Station Fund Committee and is in use as the station fund shop, known on the SVR as a 'treasure trove' for railwayana and books. It is currently painted in GWR freight grey and lettered with the words 'return to Helston'. It later had a number of W3467W and was preserved in 1973.

In 2012, the station joined in for the first time properly with the SVR's 1940s weekends, held on June 23/24/30 and July 1. For this event the station hosted a Dig for Victory allotment, Bren gun, an ARP warden's post, unexploded bombs, R.T.O. Office and several period vehicles along with a standard 'blast tape and sandbags' appearance. It is hoped to repeat this effort in 2013.

In post-preservation years the station has also become home to several relocated corrugated huts of typical GWR design. These being a lamp room from Cleobury Mortimer, 'Telegraph Lineman's Hut' from Bearley and another from Kingham. All are painted in the GWR Stone colours. Also on the down platform is a larger hut currently used as a parcel office, it is believed this is original to the station being installed sometime in the 1920s.