The Butts branch (authorised in 1859) was a short single track line that left the Worcester to Hereford line on a descending viaduct that started just to the west of Foregate Street station. The line descended steeply to the level of the river and curved north to a headshunt behind the stands side of Worcester Racecourse. From here it went at river level in a southerly direction, through a gap in the Bridge Street road bridge to terminate a hundred yards or so further along the river front.
The Butts branch is clearly visible on the right hand side of this old postcard. The road bridge (complete with tram tracks) is in the foreground and the railway can be seen passing through the road bridge towards the railway bridge in the background. The chimney on the left bank of the river is part of the original Worcester power station before rebuilding. When the road bridge was rebuilt in 1931 the branch was truncated to finish north of the bridge and the branch closed completely in 1957. There are substantial parts of the branch still remaining as these are in use as under-arch storage units.
This photograph taken by Andrew Smith on 26th April 2006 shows the remains of the Butts Branch descending to ground level. The Worcester to Hereford Railway is at the higher level.
This photograph taken from Worcester Racecourse on 26th April 2006 shows a Class 180 dmu on a train from London with the remains of the Butts Branch visible behind the cars.
McKenzie, Clunes & Holland Connection
These three photographs were taken by Andrew Smith on 22nd August 2006 and show the one surviving bridge on the former Butts Branch. There seems no obvious reason why this bridge (which has a clearance of only 11 feet) should not have been demolished after the line had closed. Close examination of the bridge reveals that the ironwork carries the plates of McKenzie, Clunes & Holland of the Vulcan Iron Works which indicated that the bridge dates from the construction of the branch c1861.
This interesting notice appears on the river bank wall near to the road bridge at Worcester .