Description
The history of railway development in the town began indirectly with the Grand Junction Railway, which, although not directly serving the town initially, played a crucial role in connecting it to the wider rail network. In 1837, the Grand Junction Railway’s Birmingham-to-Warrington line passed to the south of the town, and a station was built at Bescot Bridge, near the present-day Bescot Stadium the period we use for our reproduction station clock. From this station, travelers were able to take a stagecoach to reach the town, marking the town’s first access to rail transport.
However, it wasn’t until 1849 that the town received a more direct rail service. The Grand Junction Railway laid a branch line from Bescot Bridge to a temporary depot at Bridgeman Place in the town, which marked the beginnings of direct rail access. On April 9, 1849, the South Staffordshire Railway (SSR), which had taken over the line, officially opened a permanent station on the site, as part of their new route from Wichnor Junction (located south of Burton-upon-Trent) to Dudley. This was a pivotal moment, as it marked the beginning of a more integrated and permanent rail service for the town.
In the years that followed, the railway network in the area grew significantly. In 1858, the SSR extended its line northwards to Cannock, and by the following autumn, it had reached Rugeley, further expanding the town’s rail connections. Additionally, in 1872, the Wolverhampton and Walsall Railway (W&WR) completed a line that linked the town to Wolverhampton via North Walsall, which provided another important regional connection, bringing the town closer to the industrial heart of the West Midlands.
The network was further expanded in 1879 when the Midland Railway, one of the major railway companies at the time, completed its line from Castle Bromwich via Aldridge, connecting the town to Birmingham and the south. This also included the acquisition of the W&WR, which had been operated by the rival London and North Western Railway (LNWR), though LNWR services continued on the line until the 1923 Grouping, which consolidated various railway companies.
As passenger demand grew, the station underwent significant improvements. In 1883, the station was rebuilt to accommodate increasing traffic, with five platforms and separate booking offices for the two main railway companies operating from there, the SSR and Midland Railway. However, in 1916, a fire severely damaged the main booking hall. Reconstruction was delayed due to the outbreak of World War I, but the station’s rebuild was finally completed in 1923, marking the end of a difficult period and the return of a modernized station with a new, larger booking hall.
Under the management of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS), the station saw some changes in the interwar years. The Midland Railway’s less direct line to Wolverhampton via Wednesfield and Willenhall Stafford Street closed to passengers in 1931, as the older Grand Junction Railway route via Darlaston proved to be a more efficient and direct option for travelers.
In the post-war period, the railway network underwent further modernization. As part of the London Midland Region’s ambitious electrification program, the line from Birmingham to Walsall was electrified in 1966. The electrification project was completed on August 15, 1966, when the line from Coventry to Walsall, passing through Aston, was energized, marking a new era in the town’s rail history.
Overall, the railway’s evolution in the town reflects the broader trends in British railway history, including network expansion, technological innovation, and the shifting ownership of railway companies. The station’s development, from a modest stop with stagecoach connections to a key player in the regional network, played a significant role in the town’s industrial and economic growth.
