Oddities on a long-gone line
Bromyard to Leominster
14 September 2002
The Great Western line
from Worcester to
Leominster traversed
delightfully rural area -
real "back of beyond"
country, which perhaps
explains why it is no longer
with us. The remotest
part, from Bromyard to Leominster, closed 50 years ago, on
15th September 1952, the remainder surviving until 1964
when it, too, was swept away. That was not the end of the
story. In 1958, the last train (a special) ran from Bromyard to
Leominster - the track had been used for storing wagons, but
now lifting was imminent. More recently there have been
other developments - and to mark the 50th anniversary, they
were opened to the public over the weekend.
The Bromyard and Linton Railway is a 2ft gauge line, built on the
first mile or so from Bromyard towards Worcester, the property
of one man, Bob Palmer. It is not open to the public, but Bob and
friends have "rail fun" from time to time. Sadly, for insurance
reasons, nothing could be run while the site was open to the
public, but various locomotives were posed for inspection.
Mostly Motor-Rails and Rustons, there is also a steam locomotive
(in bits, and not on display) - "Mesozoic", Peckett 0-6-0ST 1327 of
1913.
Geoff’s Rail Diaries
It was a similar story at Rowden Mill station, first stop on the
line to Leominster. Here, John Wilkinson has made a superb job
of station restoration, and has laid a reasonable amount of track
- so that, again, at private gatherings, preserved "03" D2371 can
shunt up and down. Also present here is a fine collection of
Wickham self-propelled trolleys - I believe they are known as
"Speeders" across the Atlantic, for perhaps contradictory
reasons.
Today's last call, one station nearer to Leominster, is Fencote
station. Here, once again, a fine job of restoration has been
done by owner Mr K Matthews, with track relaid, and another
Wickham for good measure. And, in the waiting room opposite
the main station building, a sales stand, where I was able to
stock up on a substantial number of ancient railway magazines,
for a most reasonable sum. An excellent day's entertainment!
Remember, all these sites are private. Please don't abuse the
owners' privacy - keep an eye on the railway press in case there's
another such event.
