Broom Junction railway station
Encyclopedia
Broom Junction was a railway station and interchange between the Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway
and the Barnt Green to Ashchurch line. Although initially only an exchange station, it was opened to the public from 1880 and remained in service until 1963. Other than passengers changing trains, passenger traffic was low as the station was situated in a sparsely populated area near Broom
in Warwickshire
. The line to Stratford was the first to close in 1960, followed by the Barnt Green line in 1962.
to join with the Evesham & Redditch Railway's (E&R) Barnt Green to Ashchurch line which had opened six years previously. The new line joined at the Warwickshire
village of Broom
where it formed a northward facing junction with the E&R's line. In completing the line to Broom, the length of the Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway
(SMJR) was increased to 45 miles (72.4 km), rising to 55.5 miles (89.3 km) in 1882 with the completion of a further extension south to . The completed line also provided a connection between two lines worked by the Midland Railway which absorbed the E&R in 1882.
The new line opened to traffic on 2 June 1879 and an island platform
was provided at Broom to allow passengers to change trains en route. Trains from the E&WJ worked into a single north-facing platform by an awkward west to north movement, across the
main lines. The return journey required a reversal south to the engine turntable situated at the end of a siding
on the other side of the road bridge. The Midland allowed the E&WJ to use the station subject to the sharing of costs, and the E&WJ were given running rights over the Midland's line although it only ever exercised use of the 5 chains (100.6 m) into the station.
Broom first appeared in public timetables in November 1880. Meagre passenger facilities were provided in the shape of two old coach bodies and a small brick booking office; a sectional concrete shed was added later. At first two north and south signal box
es were provided, but this arrangement was rationalised in 1934 by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
, which concentrated the junction's workings into one box known as Broom Junction. The advent of the Second World War led to the installation of a south-to-east curve between the SMJR and Barnt Green line to allow through running of Gloucester
to London
services. This required two new signal boxes: one on the curve entrance from Stratford known as Broom West, and another on the original connecting line known as Broom East. All three later closed on 5 July 1962.
As a passenger station, Broom was not particularly successful: it served a small rural community and was very susceptible to road competition. Passenger services to Stratford were temporarily withdrawn on 16 June 1947 and permanently from 23 May 1949, at which point the station was only seeing two daily workings. Its ghost lingered on in the Barnt Green to Ashchurch timetables until 1962, as the 1pm service from to continued to wait at Broom for 20 minutes for a connection which had long ceased. Goods services between Stratford and Broom continued until 13 June 1960, the freight being diverted via a new south curve at Stratford between the SMJR and Honeybourne line
. The Barnt Green line itself closed between and from 1 October 1962 due to the unsafe condition of the track; British Railways
provided a replacement bus service using hired Midland Red
buses, but this was found to be similarly uneconomical and was withdrawn from 17 June 1963.
.
Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway
The Stratford Upon Avon & Midland Junction Railway was a small independent railway company which ran a line across the empty, untouched centre of England. It visited the counties of Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and a little of Buckinghamshire, only existing as the SMJR from 1909 to...
and the Barnt Green to Ashchurch line. Although initially only an exchange station, it was opened to the public from 1880 and remained in service until 1963. Other than passengers changing trains, passenger traffic was low as the station was situated in a sparsely populated area near Broom
Broom, Warwickshire
Broom is a village located in the parish of Bidford-On-Avon and features two pubs, Broom Hall and Broom Tavern, with Broom Hall being larger in size. The village lies relatively close to it's sister village, Wixford and Broom features a population of 97. Broom was created in the 1800's as a farm...
in Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
. The line to Stratford was the first to close in 1960, followed by the Barnt Green line in 1962.
History
In 1873, the East and West Junction Railway (E&WJ) received Parliamentary authorisation to construct a 7.75 miles (12.5 km) eastwards extension of its Stratford to Blisworth lineStratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway
The Stratford Upon Avon & Midland Junction Railway was a small independent railway company which ran a line across the empty, untouched centre of England. It visited the counties of Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and a little of Buckinghamshire, only existing as the SMJR from 1909 to...
to join with the Evesham & Redditch Railway's (E&R) Barnt Green to Ashchurch line which had opened six years previously. The new line joined at the Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
village of Broom
Broom, Warwickshire
Broom is a village located in the parish of Bidford-On-Avon and features two pubs, Broom Hall and Broom Tavern, with Broom Hall being larger in size. The village lies relatively close to it's sister village, Wixford and Broom features a population of 97. Broom was created in the 1800's as a farm...
where it formed a northward facing junction with the E&R's line. In completing the line to Broom, the length of the Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway
Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway
The Stratford Upon Avon & Midland Junction Railway was a small independent railway company which ran a line across the empty, untouched centre of England. It visited the counties of Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and a little of Buckinghamshire, only existing as the SMJR from 1909 to...
(SMJR) was increased to 45 miles (72.4 km), rising to 55.5 miles (89.3 km) in 1882 with the completion of a further extension south to . The completed line also provided a connection between two lines worked by the Midland Railway which absorbed the E&R in 1882.
The new line opened to traffic on 2 June 1879 and an island platform
Island platform
An island platform is a station layout arrangement where a single platform is positioned between two tracks within a railway station, tram stop or transitway interchange...
was provided at Broom to allow passengers to change trains en route. Trains from the E&WJ worked into a single north-facing platform by an awkward west to north movement, across the
main lines. The return journey required a reversal south to the engine turntable situated at the end of a siding
Rail siding
A siding, in rail terminology, is a low-speed track section distinct from a running line or through route such as a main line or branch line or spur. It may connect to through track or to other sidings at either end...
on the other side of the road bridge. The Midland allowed the E&WJ to use the station subject to the sharing of costs, and the E&WJ were given running rights over the Midland's line although it only ever exercised use of the 5 chains (100.6 m) into the station.
Broom first appeared in public timetables in November 1880. Meagre passenger facilities were provided in the shape of two old coach bodies and a small brick booking office; a sectional concrete shed was added later. At first two north and south signal box
Signal box
On a rail transport system, signalling control is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of railway signals and block systems to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper timetable...
es were provided, but this arrangement was rationalised in 1934 by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
, which concentrated the junction's workings into one box known as Broom Junction. The advent of the Second World War led to the installation of a south-to-east curve between the SMJR and Barnt Green line to allow through running of Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
services. This required two new signal boxes: one on the curve entrance from Stratford known as Broom West, and another on the original connecting line known as Broom East. All three later closed on 5 July 1962.
As a passenger station, Broom was not particularly successful: it served a small rural community and was very susceptible to road competition. Passenger services to Stratford were temporarily withdrawn on 16 June 1947 and permanently from 23 May 1949, at which point the station was only seeing two daily workings. Its ghost lingered on in the Barnt Green to Ashchurch timetables until 1962, as the 1pm service from to continued to wait at Broom for 20 minutes for a connection which had long ceased. Goods services between Stratford and Broom continued until 13 June 1960, the freight being diverted via a new south curve at Stratford between the SMJR and Honeybourne line
Birmingham to Stratford Line
The Birmingham to Stratford Line, also known as the North Warwickshire Line is a commuter railway line predominantly in the West Midlands region of the United Kingdom...
. The Barnt Green line itself closed between and from 1 October 1962 due to the unsafe condition of the track; British Railways
London Midland Region of British Railways
The London Midland Region was one of the six regions created on the formation of the nationalised British Railways and consisted of ex-London, Midland and Scottish Railway lines in England and Wales. The region was managed first from buildings adjacent to Euston Station and later from Stanier...
provided a replacement bus service using hired Midland Red
Midland Red
Midland Red was a bus company which operated in the English Midlands from 1905 to 1981. It was the trading name used by the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company , which was renamed Midland Red Omnibus Company in 1974...
buses, but this was found to be similarly uneconomical and was withdrawn from 17 June 1963.
Present day
Although the station buildings have been cleared away, remnants of the platform still remain. The trackbed running through the site has been incorporated into a north-south footpath. The site was used for some time as a depot for Warwickshire County Council's Highways Department. A replica of Broom's station building has been constructed at Swanwick Junction stationSwanwick Junction railway station
Swanwick Junction railway station is a heritage railway station situated on the former Ambergate to Pye Bridge Line which closed in 1968, but has been partially reopened by the Midland Railway - Butterley. Despite the station's name it is some distance from Swanwick.There was originally no station...
.