Market gardening produce grown in Badsey, Aldington and Wickhamford, was sent by freight train from either Littleton & Badsey Station or Aldington Station.
Every year, British Railways issued special traffic arrangements in connection with freight trains. The booklet pictured below was issued in July 1955 for the 1955 season, and gave the special arrangements in connection with the working of fruit and vegetable traffic at freight train rates, Worcester Operating District. A footnote at the bottom said:
SPECIAL NOTE – The train arrangements and Marshalling Instructions shewn in this Notice will operate as required during the Season, as advised by Manuscript Notice issued by the District Operating Superintendents concerned. Until instructions are received to operate these arrangements the Standard Marshalling Instructions and Service Time Table Schedules to apply.
Extracts from the booklet show the pages where both Littleton & Badsey and Aldington Siding stations are mentioned. It can be seen that produce was being sent to Nottingham, Sheffield, Doncaster and Loughborough from these stations. At Worcester, the produce would then connect with the LMR (London Midland Region) freight Worcester to Birmingham train.
Acknowledgement
With thanks to Phil Drake for providing a copy of the booklet.
