The Kidderminster Railway Museum

David Postle gave us an exceptionally interesting and informative presentation on 15th November entitled “The Kidderminster Railway Museum”.

David told us that his interest in railways started with the footplate rides he was given at Stockport on Fowler 2-6-4T no 42343 and, after joining the Severn Valley Railway, he ultimately became Station Master at Highley.

Through a group of SVR members a number of artefacts had been obtained during the 1980s and a decision was made to attempt to create a museum. After successful protracted negotiations over a two year period to lease the ex-GWR warehouse at Kidderminster the project finally got off the ground in 1990.

He explained and showed the audience the large amount of work which was necessary to renovate the building including replacing the lintels and re-roofing the building. Much of the work in making the building suitable was done by volunteers and the building is now both a museum and a research centre. Since its opening it has been extended and plans are underfoot to expand the site even further.

David advised that amongst its collection are 80,000 slides, 5,000 glass plate slides, 300,000 photographs, 8,500 books and a total of 46,000 railway artefacts, from pen nibs to re-sited operational signal boxes.

He concluded with a selection of the museum’s photographs including some obscure ones which dated back to the 19th century.