GWSR to SELL BROADWAY GOODS SHED.

Thanks for the link. As has been noted by Ghost this page appears to not have been updated for over two weeks so hardly breaking news. If this is wrong then apologies.

 

URL="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180642794664&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT"]Slight change of subject and this is not a rumour, but the GWSR are losing five mainline diesels this week, all in a good cause.[[/URL]

 

A year later and, as I surmised, it is all too true. No major public announcement (so far as I am aware) but the Goods Shed has been sold to the Camping Site, next door. They have, in truth, really looked after this shed well, whilst renting it as their clubhouse. They really are supporters of the GWSR and I look forward to maintaining excellent relationship. If you visit a certain blog site, you will see the efforts made by BAG....Basically, removing a wagon and trailer and putting them on static display. Excellent job guys!

Unfortunately, I guess this may be the end for any Goods Yard at Broadway - just a passing station, en-route, to Honeybourne......

 

That was never a possibilty. The land that had once been sidings, upon which the shed stands, has long since been in the ownership of the Caravan Club.

It's not as though there was even (GWSR owned) pedestrian access to it, being sited 'over the bridge' on the other side of Evesham Road to where the Station will stand. Although saying that, the relationship with the Club, whose staff actively raise funds for the BAG, is such that they are unlikely to deny access to genuine enthusiasts.

It was only ever going to be, and still remains, with no known intentions to the contrary, a 'visual' bonus when passing on the GWR line. The current occupiers have always used the building as an integral part of their operation in a sympathetic manner and, apart from some further internal alterations, have no intention to do otherwise.

 

Its sad that the goods shed at broadway has been sold. but at the end of the day, its money in the bank for the slip fund. now that work has started at chicken curve, the last thing that the gwsr want to happen is that funds run out, and the work stops. if the sale of this goods shed goes towards securing the long term future of the railway, then fair enough. lets get the slip sorted and then on to broadway!

 

I totally agree, Ken, that there was never going to be a "goods yard", as such. Certainly not of the original size (and with those 1 in 50 gradients!). However, if you can get a look at one of the initial track layout proposals for the station, a loop had been included from the main line, to run through the "shed", thus allowing some shunting to add to the visitor interest, rather than just a "visual bonus" when passing on the train. It would also have served as a wonderful visitor centre...

Oh, well! Done and dusted now......

 

"Pragmatism" - now there's a word to conjure with! I would still call the decision hasty, as I believe your reply to be. Think about it. Does anyone know how much the sale contributed to the "chicken curve" appeal?
And, I think you missed my final point. Not only a visitor centre but one with "live" interest. Not just "passing through", because Broadway will be the Northern terminus for quite some years to come. We don't own the trackbed beyond there (as yet)!

 

So the village of Broadway itself is not an attraction and will bring less visitors than a shunting demonstration? Or do you think that they will all hang around buying pork pies while the shunting goes on? [/QUOTE]

That, of course, depends on the passengers, and their reason for travelling on the Railway in the first place. Railway buffs, or tourists? Broadway village is 20mins walk (for the able) from the station - a dedicated, connecting, bus service will be required. How many people, for instance, are attracted to walk to Winchcombe town centre, which is equally interesting.

 

That, of course, depends on the passengers, and their reason for travelling on the Railway in the first place. Railway buffs, or tourists? Broadway village is 20mins walk (for the able) from the station - a dedicated, connecting, bus service will be required. How many people, for instance, are attracted to walk to Winchcombe town centre, which is equally interesting, with it's own historical background?

 

Not sure Broadway and Winchcombe/Greet are entirely comparable - Broadway is a flat walk (less than 20mins) whilst Winchcombe is 30 minutes plus and seriously uphill on the way back from/to the station which is actually in the village of Greet.

 

Thanks, Michael for your comments. I think we're beginning to "off topic" with the last few threads! However, I would like the opportunity to reply to your remarks. I know both the locations extremely well, I was more referring to the "visitor attractions" nearby, not necessarily the ease of getting to where you want to be: i.e: the town centre, the historical architecture and, yes, the shops!

However, as a Broadway resident, I am also very aware that it is NOT FLAT! I have walked to the station and back on numerous occasions, so I DO know. Station Road is on a rising gradient from the station to the village centre, the steepest slope being from the junction with the Cheltenham Road to the Village green. As a youngish 60+ year old, who likes to think himself fairly fit, I do, unfortunately, suffer from lung problems and, by the time I get to the 'green, am very much in need of a breather! As for shoppers? Well,the village high street continues to rise, to the slopes of Fish Hill, if they really want to go that far!

But, unlike Winchcombe, it is downhill all the way back!!

 

I'm a bit younger than you, but I tend to think of Broadway as flat - though I certainly agree that it slopes upwards towards Fish Hill - I've never really noticed much of a gradient from the station to that end of the village, but perhaps my wife who walks rather less frequently and certainly more slowly than me might notice it!

 

Most Heritage railway customers, outside of "Gala" events, tend to be ordinary folk on a day out, and not enthusiasts as such. It is therefore important to try and market the fact that your railway goes from "somewhere" to "somewhere", rather than just an out and back trip, given the quite high cost of Heritage line travel nowadays. ( not a criticism, just a fact of life).No doubt the Bluebell are working on "selling" a visit to East Grinstead once they are open to that town. As an example of using a Heritage line to go "somewhere",I must admit I have only relatively recently found that by travelling from Kiddermister to Bridgnorth I can walk across the connecting bridge and up the hill into Bridgnorth on a Saturday for an excellent street market. Parking in Bridgnorth can be difficult, whereas the SVR have a large car park at Kidderminster, and as a member I travel at half-fare. (noted that the GWSR have a large car park at Toddington, a great asset for those wanting to start their journey from there).
I respectfully think the GWSR will need to develop the "visit Broadway village" scenario as the "somewhere" at the end of their line for the time being. Not in the same league as Bridgnorth though, its' a bit posh!!
I must admit I thought the road into Broadway from the station looked quite level, at least from the viewpoint of the junction with the road from Toddington. I will however defer to the previous poster who lives there.
I appreciate the GWSR are not operating as yet to Broadway, but I suspect they will already be pondering how best to "market" their new destination. Vintage bus connection?

 

Total agreement!

 

Out of curiosity, what was the extent of the old goods yard? From the gradients you mention did it extend down to road level where the original caravan park was (before the big extension some years back)?

For what it's worth, the gradient along Station Road is deceptive, seemingly flat in a car but more obvious on foot/bike.

 

Sir Handel, thankyou for your query and comments! Yes, there were three sidings descending to road level, quite apart from the "loop" siding through the Goods Shed, which also had cattle pens, on the old signal box side of the shed.

There was a crane in the "lower" yard, capable of handling 6 tons, as well as the usual weighbridge/office and associated coal merchants buildings.

The "one in fifty gradient" was well known to the original GWR, who issued the following notice:

"The entrance from the down main line at the Toddington end of the yard to the three sidings on the low level is on a gradient of 1 in 50 and the greatest care must be exercised by all concerned, in shunting wagons into these sidings. The engines are to remain attached to the wagons until brought to a stand"

This did not, however, prevent, (on more than one occasion), wagons breaking through the buffer stops and ending up in Station Road!

I give credit, wherever credit is due, to my source of information - in this case, it's Audie Baker's amazing book "Stratford upon Avon to Cheltenham Railway". Audie was a founder member of the GWSR and, sadly passed away, at a very young age. This book is now out of print but you may be able to obtain it through your local library service. Plans are afoot, however, by Audie's family, to release a Volume 2!

The original book, (1994), from which I have drawn the above information, as I say, is now "out of print". I have contacted the original publishers (Irwell Press), who confirm that, due to a fire at their premises, they no longer have the prints, films, plates, etc., and neither, does it seem, do Audie's family, so, unless anyone out there, in the printing trade, knows how a reconstruction of the book could be made then it is lost forever....

 

I was very privileged to have known Audie Baker; what a sad loss. I would love a copy of his book on the GWSR but, as Jim Bob says, it is now out of print.
I can just remember Broadway Goods yard in BR days, it remained open for a while after passenger services (the station is the other side of the Evesham Road) ceased in 1960. I had gone with a neighbour to collect some day-old chicks delivered by rail. The yard wasn't completely flat I remember!
Broadway in Worcestershire, but virtually surrounded by Gloucestershire, is one of the top ten most visited places in England or something pretty staggering like that. My parents lived in Station Road for a while and whilst the station is not close to the village centre its "doable" on foot. I know that the local Broadway tourist organisation is most supportive of the GWSR with good reason!

 

KinghamBranch: Mr Baker's book (Irwell Press) is available secondhand (but classed as "like new") on Amazon books, but it must have been a limited original print run because they start at £25 plus postage, so has some rarety value.

If you do search on Amazon (other secondhand book sites are available....) then you need the correct title: "An illustrated history of the Stratford on Avon to Cheltenham railway".