The Bredon Pick Up Goods

In April 1953, I was taken by an uncle (the same uncle that took me to Blackpool) to Bredon in South Worcestershire. We stayed at the Railway Inn which adjoined the station. He stayed for one night, I stayed for three. He had words with Frank Fairbrother, the station porter, and Monty the Signalman. It was explained that I would be seen around the station for the next day or two. My uncle didn't tell me that certain arrangements had been made with Monty. I found what they were the next morning when the Gloucester to Worcester pick up goods arrived, and I was called up on to the footplate to help them shunt the yard. There was a fair bit of shunting to do, and they had to wait for the road, so I was on the footplate for almost an hour. The loco was an ex GW 45xx class tank.

In the afternoon I travelled down to Gloucester Eastgate on Jubilee class no 45609 Gilbert & Ellis Islands, and returned in the early evening on Black 5 no 44848. The following day I went to Bristol Temple Meads for a day's train spotting, getting 40917 (Compound 4-4-0) both ways.

Almost exactly a year later, and now 15 years old, I went to Bredon again. This time my father took me, which resulted in a 2 hour evening spell in the Box with Monty, after which father returned home. And the following morning, another shunt on the pick up goods, which this time was a 57xx 0-6-0 pannier.

Then another day at Bristol Temple Meads, Black 5 no 44661 out, and Compound 4-4-0 no 41156 back.

On each of these visits, Jack Turner, the landlord, who was a keen horse racing fan, looked after me and fed me well, though I did get some funny looks from the regulars when I sat in the Public Bar to eat my evening meal. My bedroom overlooked the station, and the building shook when the night trains went through.

And in between all this, Frank the porter would come and have a chat when I turned up on Bredon station, though I was warned to keep out of the way of the station master, who didn't like train spotters.

How sad that such a way of life and community spirit had to finish for ever when the station closed in 1965.



		The above diagram is traced from an original drawn in 1953

		Note: This page was updated 26th March 2005, following some most interesting feedback concerning Frank Fairbrother (not Jack) and the Railway Inn landlord, whose surname was Turner.