Railway yard in Kidderminster

[Owencr905]

This is probably a long shot but I figured this is the best place to ask. I’m interested in what this old railway yard was used for, just south of Kidderminster. I know that Stourport regularly had coal trains for the old power plant but I don’t know if this has any relation to that.

Any info would be much appreciated.

 

[APT618S]

According to the National Library of Scotland side by side maps there was a sugar beet factory located there. Would they be due to that ?

Side by side georeferenced maps viewer - Map images - National Library of Scotland

maps.nls.uk

The sidings do not appear on the early maps pre WWI.

 

[gg1]

They were sidings for the old British Sugar factory, the SVR have a brief wiki page:

https://www.svrwiki.com/Foley_Park_sidings

 

[Owencr905]

According to the National Library of Scotland side by side maps there was a sugar beet factory located there. Would they be due to that ?

Side by side georeferenced maps viewer - Map images - National Library of Scotland

maps.nls.uk

The sidings do not appear on the early maps pre WWI.

Thanks a lot

They were sidings for the old British Sugar factory, the SVR have a brief wiki page:

https://www.svrwiki.com/Foley_Park_sidings

 

[Magdalia]

Until the 1970s the sugar beet processing industry relied on rail to move sugar beet around the country to ensure continuity of supply to the sugar beet factories. The sugar beet harvest and processing is a huge logistical exercise and is referred to as the campaign. Now there are only 4 factories, Bury St Edmunds, Cantley, Wissington and Newark. But at one time there were 18 factories. Kidderminster was one of the more recent closures, in 2002, but I don't know when was the last time rail transport was used there. The site remained derelict for many years, and was visible from SVR trains. Demolition of concrete silos is a particular challenge when clearing sugar beet factory sites.

 

[Owencr905]

Until the 1970s the sugar beet processing industry relied on rail to move sugar beet around the country to ensure continuity of supply to the sugar beet factories. The sugar beet harvest and processing is a huge logistical exercise and is referred to as the campaign. Now there are only 4 factories, Bury St Edmunds, Cantley, Wissington and Newark. But at one time there were 18 factories. Kidderminster was one of the more recent closures, in 2002, but I don't know when was the last time rail transport was used there. The site remained derelict for many years, and was visible from SVR trains. Demolition of concrete silos is a particular challenge when clearing sugar beet factory sites.

Thanks for that info

 

[D6968]

I vaguely remember the remains of the sidings at Foley Park in the early 1990’s whilst travelling on the SVR as a kid there was an LMS BG body there as well, whatever happened to that? Is it the same one that appears outside North Star Works now and again?

 

[Owencr905]

I vaguely remember the remains of the sidings at Foley Park in the early 1990’s whilst travelling on the SVR as a kid there was an LMS BG body there as well, whatever happened to that? Is it the same one that appears outside North Star Works now and again?

Not sure, I wasn’t around Kidderminster at that time.

 

[6Gman]

And in addition to moving the beet itself there were trains of "sugar stone" from Wirksworth to East Anglia - a certain grade of limestone used in the refining process.

For a few weeks each year we issued a weekly notice for said traffic.

 

[Magdalia]

And in addition to moving the beet itself there were trains of "sugar stone" from Wirksworth to East Anglia - a certain grade of limestone used in the refining process.

I think this has happened in recent times, but with the sugar stone unloaded at Brandon and completing its journey by road.

 

[P Binnersley]

I vaguely remember the remains of the sidings at Foley Park in the early 1990’s whilst travelling on the SVR as a kid there was an LMS BG body there as well, whatever happened to that? Is it the same one that appears outside North Star Works now and again?

The "LMS" BG (built 1950) used as carriage works stores came from Stonebridge Park

LMS 31420 Gangwayed Full Brake - SVR Wiki

www.svrwiki.com

 

[satisnek]

I vaguely remember the remains of the sidings at Foley Park in the early 1990’s whilst travelling on the SVR as a kid there was an LMS BG body there as well, whatever happened to that? Is it the same one that appears outside North Star Works now and again?

I was certainly in Kidderminster at that time but couldn't say for sure whether I remember or don't remember an old carriage/van body at Foley Park. I can recall the overgrown sidings but the running line connection had long been removed by then.

Demolition of concrete silos is a particular challenge when clearing sugar beet factory sites.

Indeed, I understand that the residual lining of sugar on the inside prevents these silos from being blown down. I was told that in the case of the Kidderminster silos such an action would have taken out most of the Foley Park area if attempted. Instead, a specialist long-reach nibbler was used, as shown in the photo. This is dated 2012 and was taken with my first camera phone which wasn't very good, so apologies for the quality.

 

[Owencr905]

I was certainly in Kidderminster at that time but couldn't say for sure whether I remember or don't remember an old carriage/van body at Foley Park. I can recall the overgrown sidings but the running line connection had long been removed by then.

Indeed, I understand that the residual lining of sugar on the inside prevents these silos from being blown down. I was told that in the case of the Kidderminster silos such an action would have taken out most of the Foley Park area if attempted. Instead, a specialist long-reach nibbler was used, as shown in the photo. This is dated 2012 and was taken with my first camera phone which wasn't very good, so apologies for the quality.
View attachment 114672

Such a shame it’s all gone now. You’d never know it used to be there.

 

[D6968]

The "LMS" BG (built 1950) used as carriage works stores came from Stonebridge Park

LMS 31420 Gangwayed Full Brake - SVR Wiki

www.svrwiki.com

I don’t think this is the same one, but thanks for the info.

 

[Magdalia]

Indeed, I understand that the residual lining of sugar on the inside prevents these silos from being blown down. I was told that in the case of the Kidderminster silos such an action would have taken out most of the Foley Park area if attempted.

Thanks. I hadn't thought of that!

 

[RichA]

I took this picture at Kidderminster in 1984. Some of the last traffic i recall was wagon loads of steel being unloaded as an overflow from Brierly Hill, this would be circa 1982. I realise this isn't Foley Park but maybe of interest?