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This line (known locally as The Bromyard Branch) left the Worcester to Hereford railway shortly before it reached Bransford Road Station.
The line opened as far as Yearsett on 2nd May 1874 and all the way to Bromyard on 22nd October 1877 and closed on 5th September 1964. The following day the late Bill Morris sponsored a special train from Bromyard to Blackpool. This was steam worked throughout and the Bromyard to Worcester section was handled by Collett 0-6-0 tender engines Nos. 2222 and 2232.
From the junction to Bromyard the line was single track. There were intermediate stations in Worcestershire at Leigh Court, Knightwick and Suckley.
At the moment this photograph of W32W at Bromyard on 3/11/1959 is the only one we have to illustrate this line. (Photograph from the MIAC Collection; Photographer unknown)
This extract from the Western Region passenger timetable for the period from 15th June 1964 shows the rather sparse level of service that existed in the final period that Bromyard appeared in the timetable as a railway destination (click here for text version). The first train of the day (07:40 from Bromyard) was an unbalanced working travelling as empty stock from Worcester. This was a well loaded train usually consisting of three carriages with an 0-6-0 pannier tank locomotive in charge. A similar combination worked the 17:45 from Worcester and 18:50 return train. The 16:10 from Worcester and 18:50 return was usually a class 122 single car diesel train.
The 1957-8 winter passenger timetable can be found here
This is the scheduled freight timetable for the period 13th June to 11th September 1960 and it shows the rather unusual pattern of services. There was a daily service at 06:00 from Worcester Yard to Bromyard where shunting duties were performed. On Monday, Wednesday and Fridays only there was a service at 09:55 from Worcester Yard which also conveyed parcels from Worcester Foregate Street. Finally there was a 14:10 conditional Thursdays and Saturdays excepted service, although the Thursdays only service was actually a mixed train if there was any freight traffic to be conveyed.
In the return direction there were workings at 15:00 (Monday, Wednesday and Fridays only and at 17:35 (Saturdays excepted conditional).
If there were only a few wagons in the consist these would often be attached to a passenger train.
Ex-GWR 0-6-0 'Pannier' tank locomotive No.8793 taking water at Worcester prior to working the 17:45 Worcester Shrub Hill to Bromyard on which Mick Rock was to be the fireman. Photograph taken by Mick Rock.
In the latter years some passenger services were operated by BR class 122 single car railcars (and before these by GWR built single car railcars as seen above) or by an ex-GWR 0-6-0 'Pannier' Tank engine and up to five carriages. Freight trains were operated by ex-GWR 0-6-0 'Pannier' Tank engines, '2251 class' 0-6-0 tender engines or 78xxx BR Standard types.
We would highly recommend the following publication for anyone who wants more information:
'The Bromyard Branch' by William H. Smith, ISBN 0 953477 50.
This book is available from all good booksellers or from the publishers, The Kidderminster Railway Museum (Severn Valley Railway).
Click here to go to a model railway site about the Bromyard Branch (external site link)