page updated
4 March 2018

These pages are inspired by the Friends of Malvern Railways, a special interest group of Malvern Civic Society.

The various locations can be viewed on a current OS Map. The map centres on Great Malvern. Feel free to scroll around and change the scale.

Early Days

Date	Event	Source
By 1825	Three coaches daily between Malvern and Cheltenham.	Hembry.
By 1841	Three coaches daily between Malvern and Hereford. Seven coaches daily between Malvern and Worcester, five of which called at Spetchley station on the Birmingham & Gloucester Railway.	Hembry.
8^th July 1844	Cheltenham & Great Western Union Railway opened to Gloucester with “Great Western” coach connections to Unicorn Inn at Malvern.	Gale (for date), Smith2.
8^th May 1845	Royal assent given to Railway Clauses Consolidation Act 1845 requiring all future railway acts to include, by reference to this Act, the provisions of this Act. View Act	Act of Parliament.
1^stNovember 1845	Notice of application by the Birmingham & Bristol Railway to construct branches to Malvern. View Notice Check for a book of reference in Worcester. The notice was repeated in the issue of 22^nd November and again in the issue of 28^th November and yet again in the issue of 29^th November.	London Gazette, 15^th November, pages 4310-4311.
5^thNovember 1845	Notice of application by the Gloucester & Hereford Canal & Worcester Railway in connection with the Welch Midland to construct various railways. View Notice Check for a book of reference in Worcester. The notice was repeated in the issue of 20^th November and again in the issue of 24^th November.	London Gazette, 15^th November, pages 4533-4535.
5^thNovember 1845	Notice of application by the Welch Midland Railway to construct various railways. View Notice Check for a book of reference in Worcester.	London Gazette, 24^th November, pages 6055-6062.
6^th November 1845	Notice of application to construct the Worcester and South Wales Junction Railway. View Notice Check for a book of reference in Worcester. The notice was repeated in the issue of 19^th November and again in the issue of 26^th November.	London Gazette, 13^th November, pages 3978-3979.
November 1845	Notice of application to construct the Worcester, Hereford, Ross and Gloucester Railway. View Notice Check for a book of reference in Worcester. The notice was repeated in the issue of 20^th November and again in the issue of 26^th November.	London Gazette, 13^th November, pages 4008-4010.
November 1845	Notice of application to construct various railways. View Notice Check for a book of reference in Worcester. The notice was repeated in the issue of 21^st November and again in the issue of 28^th November.	London Gazette, 15^th November, pages 4738-4740.
1845	Proposed railway from Gloucester to Malvern (broad gauge). Smith quotes Worcester Record Office f161/132 as his source. Plan abandoned 1847.	Smith2.
6^th November 1846	Notice by Midland Railway of an application to construct the Worcester, Hereford, Malvern and Cheltenham Lines. View Notice Check for a book of reference in Worcester. The notice was repeated in the issue of 18^th November and again in the issue of 25^th November.	London Gazette, 14^th November, pages 4282-4284.
1846	Midland Railway proposed lines from Worcester to Lower Howsell, thence tunnel to Netherley in Mathon, Coddington and on to Hereford; with branch from Lower Howsell to Cheltenham. Plan abandoned 1847.	Smith2.
12^th November 1851	Notice of application to incorporate and construct the Worcester and Hereford Junction Railway. View Notice Check for a book of reference in Worcester.	London Gazette, 28^th November, pages 3301-3303.
1851	London & North Western Railway proposed a link from Worcester via Newland, Lower Howsell, Upper Howsell (branch to Link Top), Halfkey, Storridge, Cradley, Bosbury (branch to Ledbury) and on to Hereford. Rejected by House of Lords in 1852.	Smith2.
1^st November 1852	Notice of application to incorporate and construct the Worcester and Hereford Junction Railway. Would have passed to the north of the Malvern Hills with a branch from Bosbury to Ledbury. View Notice Note: No Act resulted from this.	London Gazette, 26^th November, pages 3420-3422.
3^rd November 1852	Notice of application to incorporate and construct the Worcester and Hereford Railway. To start from Worcester Shrub Hill and go via Diglis. View Notice Note: No Act resulted from this.	London Gazette, 26^th November, pages 3409-3411.
3^rd November 1852	Notice of application to incorporate and construct the Worcester and Hereford Railway. View Notice Note: This was the Bill that Parliament amended and approved in 1853.	London Gazette, 26^th November, pages 3422-3424.
1853	Proposal for Worcester & Hereford Railway was to have had financial support from LNWR but House of Lords removed this provision.	Boynton, Wood.

Worcester & Hereford Railway

Date	Event	Source
5^th June 1853	Deed of Covenant with Lady Foley that all passenger trains, except special trains or express trains are to stop at Stoke Edith station, and express trains are to be stopped on notice being given by Lady Foley, her appointees, heirs and assigns or other persons authorised by "her, him or them"	Commons Hansard 26^th February 1963.
15^th August 1853	Royal assent given to Worcester and Hereford Railway Act 1853 Authorising construction of a railway from Worcester to Hereford having two junctions with the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway (Shrub Hill Junction and Tunnel Junction) to form the eastern end and a single junction at Shelwick with the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway at the western end. Were running powers for LNWR or MR included in this Act?	Gale.
1^st December 1853	Oxford, Worcester & Wolverhampton Railway opened throughout between Oxford & Worcester and the “Hereford Mail” and other coaches met every train to provide connections to Malvern.	Smith2 Gale (for date).
1854	Construction of Worcester and Hereford Railway commenced. Note: doesn't say where these first works were.	Simpson.
February 1854	Press reports that Ballard had sunk shafts to depth of 24 yards (Colwall side) and 28 yards (Malvern side) of Colwall Tunnel. Note: Smith2 says they struck springs which drained the Wyche reservoir.	Wood.
June 1854	Construction of Colwall Tunnel halted.	Wood.
1^st November 1854	Notice of application by the Worcester and Hereford Railway to allow any or all of the London & North Western Railway, Midland Railway, Oxford, Worcester & Wolverhampton Railway, Newport, Abergavenny & Hereford Railway to subscribe to the Worcester & Hereford Railway; working arrangements with those companies; use of railways and stations of the Newport, Abergavenny & Hereford Railway at Hereford; extension of time to complete the Worcester & Hereford Railway. View Notice Note: Wood states rejected by Parliament.	London Gazette, 28^th November, page 3827.
1854	Hereford Barrs Court to Barton opened 1854 having been built by Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford as agents for Worcester and Hereford Railway who then lacked funds to pay for it. Ceded to NA&H in exchange for running rights when Worcester and Hereford opened.	Boynton.
1855	Proposal to only build the Worcester to Malvern section.	Wood.
6^th November 1855	Notice of application to incorporate and construct the Malvern Railway. View Notice Deposited plans?	London Gazette, 27^th November, pages 4472-4473.
10^th November 1855	Two notices of applications by the Worcester and Hereford Railway to extend the period allowed for compulsory purchases and completion of the railway, also to alter the capital and share arrangements. The second notice additionally included provision to abandon construction of the section of line south of the present day Woodshears Road through to Shelwick Junction. View Notice	London Gazette, 27^th November, pages 4455-4456.
1856	Construction of remainder of line commenced.	Wood.
1856	Construction of Colwall Tunnel commenced. Note: G W Magazine quotes 7 years to build which puts start in 1854.	Simpson.
December 1856	Construction of Colwall Tunnel resumed.	Wood.
1856	Captain Prentice's patent steam tunnelling machine tried in Colwall Tunnel, only succeeded in filling the bore with smoke. Note: Wood says this was in 1857, contact signed October 1857 and first part of machine delivered June 1858. Machine not operative until February 1859.	Smith1 Simpson.
1856	Contractor's locomotive Gipsy Lass put to work on the Worcester and Hereford construction works.	IRS
	Herefordshire House Inn, Wyche Cutting, built to serve needs of navvies building the tunnel and approach cuttings. (Note, renamed Wyche Inn in latter part of 20th century).	Simpson.
12^th November 1857	Notice of application by the Worcester and Hereford Railway to extend the period allowed for compulsory purchases and completion of the railway, also to alter the capital and share arrangements and allow the Midland, Newport, Abergavenny & Hereford and Oxford, Worcester & Wolverhampton Railways to subscribe. View Notice	London Gazette, 27^th November, pages 4162-4163.
1858	Construction of Worcester to Malvern section of line commenced.	Hembry.
2^nd August 1858	Royal assent given to Worcester and Hereford Railway Act 1858 authorising an extension of time and other changes. View Act	Act of Parliament.
12^th November 1858	Notice of application by the Worcester and Hereford Railway to construct the Butts Branch in Worcester, also additional sidings at Hereford. View Notice	London Gazette, 26^th November, page 5117.
17^th March 1859	Captain Prentice's contract terminated by railway company.	Wood.
21^st July 1859	Royal assent given to Worcester and Hereford Railway Act 1859 authorising construction of the Butts Branch in Worcester. View Act	Act of Parliament.
25^th July 1859	Henwick to Malvern Link opened as single line worked on the 'one engine in steam' system. Malvern Link station opened (temporary buildings). Initial service 9 trains each way per day. Check Inspection Report. Note: Boynton refers to just one locomotive being delivered which would have allowed 'one engine in steam' working as an alternative to train staff and ticket. Note: Hembry states Worcester to Henwick not opened at this time as BoT Inspector considered the bridge over the River Severn unsafe.	Gale. Quick. Smith2.
29^th October 1859	Worcester Bridge inspected by Colonel Yolland. Permission to open the line refused as the bridge was not complete. View Inspection Report.	BoT (TNA MT6/20/28).
10^th November 1859	Notice of application by the Oxford, Worcester & Wolverhampton, Newport, Abergavenny & Hereford and Worcester and Hereford Railways to amalgamate and to make agreements with the Midland Railway. View Notice	London Gazette, 22^nd November, pages 4237-4238.
22^nd November 1859	Worcester Bridge inspected by Colonel Yolland. Permission to open the line refused as he considered that the bridge was too weak in some respects. View Inspection Report.	BoT (TNA MT6/20/34).
14^th December 1859	Recorded by Colonel Yolland that the required remedial work to Worcester Bridge had yet to be carried out. Permission to open the line again refused. View Report.	BoT (TNA MT6/20/40).
1859	Omnibus service between Great Malvern Town and Malvern Link station advertised in Malvern Advertiser.	Dray.
by January 1860	Train service between Henwick and Malvern Link: six trains each way weekdays and four on Sundays.	Hembry.
3^rd March 1860	John Archer of Royal Foley Arms announces that an omnibus service from the hotel would meet every train at Malvern Link.	Hembry.
March 1860	Improvement Commissioners petition railway to carry coal more cheaply from Worcester to Malvern Link.	Hembry.
1860	Third shaft sunk for Colwall Tunnel works.	Wood.
16^th May 1860	Worcester Shrub Hill to Henwick opened.	Hembry.
23^rd May 1860	Letter from Worcester & Hereford Railway acknowledging receipt of letter of 16^th May regarding Board of Trade inspection of section from the Oxford, Worcester & Wolverhampton Junction to Henwick by Colonel Yolland on 15^th May. View Letter.	BoT (TNA MT6/21/18).
24^th May 1860	Malvern Link to Malvern Wells inspected by Colonel Yolland. Single line with 4 over and 7 under bridges. Second line of rails in course of being laid. Permission given to open the line, provided that no more than one engine in steam (or two coupled together) is permitted between Malvern Link and Malvern Wells stations at the same time. Undertaking from OW&W in this respect. View Inspection Report. Note 1: The undertaking from the OW&W clearly relates to the amalgamation bill having passed through parliament and was just awaiting royal assent. Note 2: The number of under bridges matches later records if one omits Woodshears Road - this no road or footpath shown at this location on the deposited plans. Note 3: There are currently 6 over bridges on this section. Presumably Moorland Road and Avenue Road not yet built.	BoT (TNA MT6/21/19).
25^th May 1860	Malvern Link to Malvern Wells opened. Great Malvern station opened. Malvern Wells station (GW) opened. Temporary wooden station buildings at Great Malvern.	Gale. Quick. Quick. Simpson.
26^th May 1860	Letter from Worcester & Hereford Railway acknowledging receipt of letter of 25^th May regarding Board of Trade inspection of Malvern Link to Malvern Wells section by Colonel Yolland. Approval given to open as single line, noting that laying of second line of rails under way but not complete, "provided that not more than one engine in steam, or two coupled togather and forming part of the same train, be permitted to be on the portion of line in question at one and the same time."e; View Letter.	BoT (TNA MT6/21/23).
14^th June 1860	Royal assent given to West Midland Railway Act 1860 authorising amalgamation of the Newport, Abergavenny & Hereford Railway and the Worcester & Hereford Railway companies with the Oxford, Worcester & Wolverhampton Railway under the name of the West Midland Railway. The act included a requirement for the new company to convey traffic originating on the Midland Railway at the same rates as applied to its own traffic; with the proviso that in default by the West Midland company the Midland Railway would be able to run its own trains from Worcester to Hereford and Newport. Running powers for the West Midland company over the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway (and vice versa) were granted.View Act	Act of Parliament.
Mid June 1860	Walter Pratt announced commencement of a new four-horse coach service between Malvern and Worcester.	Hembry.
May-July 1860	Various excursions by railway to Malvern.	Hembry pp190-191.
Initial station buildings seem to have been to a prefabricated wooden design favoured by Stephen Ballard. A picture of the first station at Great Malvern appears in “The Day The Trains Came” by Helen Simpson, plate 13. The contractor's locomotive Gypsy Lass hides much of the station building. The picture is attributed to Hereford County Record Office. Also appears in Dray. A better picture, sans loco, appears in Dray, attributed to Worcester Country Record Office. A clear picture of the building at Withington appears in “Herefordshire Railways” by W H Smith, Sutton's Photographic History of Railways, published 1998 (page 31). Source of picture attributed to Ballard Collection, Hereford County Record Office. A picture of Colwall Tunnel works at west end also appears in the book (page 42) attributed to Hereford County Record Office.

West Midland Railway

Date	Event	Source
10^th November 1859	Notice of application by the Oxford, Worcester & Wolverhampton, Newport, Abergavenny & Hereford and Worcester and Hereford Railways to amalgamate and to make agreements with the Midland Railway. View Notice	London Gazette, 22^nd November, pages 4237-4238.
14^th June 1860	Royal assent given to West Midland Railway Act 1860 authorising amalgamation of the Oxford, Worcester & Wolverhampton Railway with the Worcester & Hereford Railway and the Newport, Abergavenny & Hereford Railway as the West Midland Railway.	Gale.
1^st July 1860	West Midland Railway Act 1860 implemented.	Gale.
7^th July 1860	John Archer's omnibus service withdrawn but continued to provde flys and carriages to order.	Hembry.
19^th July 1860	Meeting of West Midland Railway Board of Directors - Minute 13 - Resolved that tender for £3,970 from Messrs McCann & Co be accepted for construction of station buildings at Malvern Link subject to them signing the schedule of prices to the satisfaction of the Engineer, Mr Liddell.	TNA Rail 734/1.
19^th July 1860	Meeting of West Midland Railway Board of Directors - Minute 14 - Plans for Great Malvern station to be repired (sic) to Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Dr Gully and Mr Sherriff.	TNA Rail 734/1.
19^th July 1860	Board of Trade inspection of South Fork section at Worcester by Colonel Yolland. View Report.	BoT (TNA MT6/21/46).
21^st July 1860	The two faces of the Colwall Tunnel works finally broke though (met in middle of tunnel). (Report in Berrow's Journal, 28th July 1860).	Boynton.
23^rd July 1860	Shrub Hill Station Junction to Rainbow Hill Junction (South Fork) section at Worcester opened, double line. Comparison between the deposited plans and the Ordnance Survey of 1883-1884 indicates that Rainbow Hill Junction was further south than intended although within the authorised limits of deviation. Hence the comment about the curve being tight - as it still is. View Report.	BoT (TNA MT6/21/46).
6^th October 1860	Board of Trade inspection of Malvern Link to Malvern Wells section by Colonel Yolland. Approval given to open second line of rails. View Report.	BoT (TNA MT6/22/41).
19^th January 1861	Malvern Wells station (GW) closed due to fire damage. Reported in Malvern Advertiser 26th January.	Quick. Dray.
21^st March 1861	West Midland Railway Board referred matter of an alteration to a road at Malvern to the Chairman and Deputy Chairman.	TNA Rail 734/1.
17^th April 1861	Letter from Mr Liddell to West Midland Railway Board drawing attention to problems in Malvern tunnel and asking for funding to carry out remedial measures. Board agreed to arch the tunnel with bricks throughout. [Minute 406, 18^th April.]	TNA Rail 734/1.
29^th April 1861	West Midland Railway Board ratified a Heads of Agreement for the leasing of the company to the Great Western Railway for a period of 999 years. Included a requirement for the narrow* gauge to be extended from Reading to Paddington before the end of July so that through trains could be run. [Minute 411]. Note: * today referred to as standard gauge.	TNA Rail 734/1.
16^th May 1861	West Midland Railway Board considered plans for the Malvern station produced by Mr Elmsley. Resolved that the plans be revised so that the cost shall not exceed £5,000 and that Mr Elmsley confer with Mr Sherriff thereon. [Minute 415].	TNA Rail 734/1.
1^st July 1861	Great Western Railway commence leasing the West Midland Railway.	1863 Act of Parliament.
18^th July 1861	West Midland Railway Board agreed to subscribe £100 for the Royal Agricultural Society meeting to be held at Worcester or Hereford in 1863 with a further £50 if the ploughing match to be held at Malvern or elsewhere goes ahead.	TNA Rail 734/1.
21^st July 1861	Malvern Advertiser reported need to re-brick about 100 yards of Colwall Tunnel. Note: Malvern Gazette for 24/7/2009 claims that a rockfall occurred 'a year after opening' in 1860 and closed the tunnel for 'several days'.	Dray Wood.
8^th August 1861	West Midland Railway Board agreed to accept the tender from the Malvern Hotel Group to take the refreshment rooms at Hereford station from the opening of the line throughout.	TNA Rail 734/1.
8^th August 1861	West Midland Railway Board resolved that the tender to erect the bridge at Malvern for £1,695 from Mr Perkins be accepted on condition that he will agree to finish the work in two months from the date of acceptance with a penalty of £50 per week for every week beyond the term of two months; the works to be subject to the inspection by the Engineer of the Company. Avenue Road bridge.	TNA Rail 734/1.
8^th August 1861	West Midland Railway Board agreed to sell 1 acre of ground at Howsell to Mr Holland for £200 for the erection of Malvern Link Gas Works and that the gas company be allowed to lay down their pipes along the banks of the railway on payment of a nominal sum of £1 per annum, the position of the pipes to be from time to time altered as the Company may direct. Note: The gas works is shown on the Ordnance Survey of 1884 but was not rail connected until 1901. MIAC do not quote a date of opening here.	TNA Rail 734/1.
8^th August 1861	West Midland Railway Board considered an estimate of costs for refreshment rooms at Malvern Link and Worcester Foregate Street. Matter referred to Mr Sherriff.	TNA Rail 734/1.
15^th August 1861	West Midland Railway Board resolved that the tender to erect the bridge at Malvern for £1,695 from Mr Perkins be accepted on condition that he will agree to finish the work in three months from the date of acceptance with a penalty of £50 per week for every week beyond the term of two months; the works to be subject to the inspection by the Engineer of the Company. Note: The minute says that the work is to be finished within three months and that the penalty applies after two months! Someone wasn't paying attention!	TNA Rail 734/1.
1861	Two hotels under construction by a limited liability company composed of chiefly of persons connected with the railway. One at Malvern Link and the other at Great Malvern station.	Lamb.
1861	Stone for the Worcester & Hereford Railway being quarried in a stone quarry owned by G McCann. The directions given hints at the quarry being one of those at Whitman's Hill.	Lamb.
12^th September 1861	Malvern Wells to Shelwick Junction inspected by Col Yolland. Single line throughout with sidings at the various stations at Colwall, Ledbury, Leominster Road, Stoke Edith and Withington also at Shelwick Junction. Land purchased and bridges constructed for double line. Tunnels constructed for single line only. No level crossings of public roads. One temporary building at each station. Authority to open was subject to certain undertakings being first given regarding working arrangements and precautions through tunnels. Worked by Train Staff and Ticket system. View Inspection Report Note: status of Stoke Edith crossing needs investigating.	TNA MT6/24/12.
13^th September 1861	Malvern Wells to Shelwick Junction opened 13^th September without authority from BoT. View BoT Report Note - Quick gives 13^th September as the opening date of Ledbury, Ashperton, Stoke Edith and Withington stations, citing report in the Hereford Times of 14th September. Note: IRS quote 13th September as opening day for the Malvern Wells to Ledbury section and 19th June 1861 for the Ledbury to Shelwick section.	BoT(1)
14^th September 1861	Report in Malvern Advertiser that an announcement had been made about the opening of the line.	Dray.
14^th September 1861	Public notice in Hereford Times that on and after 16th September the line would be open from conveyance of passenger and mineral traffic. Simpson also states that the new line was worked by the Great Western Railway.	Simpson.
15^th September 1861	Malvern Wells to Shelwick Junction opened. Temporary wooden station buildings at Colwall.	Gale. Simpson.
19^th September 1861	West Midland Railway Board meet at The Link Hotel, Malvern.	TNA Rail 734/1.
19^th September 1861	West Midland Railway Board agreed to work the Tewksbury & Malvern Railway from the junction at Malvern to their Malvern Wells station for 60% of the gross receipts.	TNA Rail 734/1.
19^th September 1861	West Midland Railway Board agreed to defer consideration of the tenders submitted for the erection of Great Malvern station.	TNA Rail 734/1.
19^th September 1861	West Midland Railway Board resolved that the system of working the line from Malvern Wells to Shelwick Junction be worked by Staff and Ticket and that the necessary undertaking that the line will be so worked be given to the Board of Trade. Also that the telegraph be laid along the line as early as possible.	TNA Rail 734/1.
17^th October 1861	West Midland Railway Board considered a letter from Mr Liddell concerning a short length of Malvern Tunnel that had been left unbricked and was showing signs of giving way. The section was one of this affected by power blasting. Ordered that a report should be made to the Board by Mr Wilson.	TNA Rail 734/1.
17^th October 1861	West Midland Railway Board agreed to accept the tender of £5,450 for construction of the station at Malvern be accepted and that the works be proceeded with without delay. Note: Great Malvern station.	TNA Rail 734/1.
17^th October 1861	West Midland Railway Board directed Mr Wilson to discuss conveyance of water from Malvern Tunnel to Great Malvern with Mr Elmslie.	TNA Rail 734/1.
20^th November 1861	Undertaking given by West Midland Railway to BoT confirming operation between Malvern Wells and Shelwick Junction would be by Train Staff and Ticket, and that telegraph instruments devoted to the working through the tunnels would be placed at the stations either side of the tunnels. View BoT Report	BoT(1)
29^th November 1861	West Midland Railway Board noted an agreement reached by Mr Sherriff that traffic from West Midland stations south of Hereford to London & North Western stations south of Bletchley would be routed via Hereford, Worcester and Yarnton Junction.	TNA Rail 734/1.
29^th November 1861	West Midland Railway Board resolved that a new copy of the Bye Laws and Rules and Regulations approved by the Board of Trade be adopted.	TNA Rail 734/1.
29^th November 1861	West Midland Railway Board resolved that Mr Whithorne, the present Clerk of Works at Malvern Link station be appointed to the same office for Malvern station.	TNA Rail 734/1.
4^th December 1861	Formal authority given for opening Malvern Wells to Shelwick Junction. View BoT Report	BoT(1)
19^th December 1861	West Midland Railway Board resolved that as a proposal to amalgamate with the South Wales Railway had been delayed they would prepare a Bill for the 1863 Parliamentary session based on the Heads of Agreement already reached with a view to amalgamation by 1^st January 1864.	TNA Rail 734/1.
1861	Permanent buildings at Great Malvern station replaced temporary wooden ones. Note: Dray says 1863 (page 10) and 1862 (page 23). Clark says 'ready 1863'. Smith2 says designed in 1861. Parissien says 1862.	Simpson.
c1861	Picture published of Malvern Link station attributed to circa 1861 showing the permanent station buildings and, seemingly, a 'station signal' on the up platform. View Malvern Gazette Report	Malvern Gazette (24/7/2009)
1861	Horse omnibus service commenced from Great Malvern station to Belle Vue Terrace to connect with trains.	Davis.
1861	Malvern Link Hotel opened. Cost £6,000.	Hembry.
17^th April 1862	West Midland Railway Board ordered that the repairs to a failed bridge near Bransford station should be charged to the Capital account.	TNA Rail 734/1.
17^th April 1862	West Midland Railway Board considered a memorial from the inhabitants of Colwall asking for midday trains to stop at Colwall, Ashperton & Stoke Edith. A similar request came from Stoke Edith asking for more trains to stop there. Resolved to decline the requests.	TNA Rail 734/1.
14^th May 1862	West Midland Railway Board meet at The Link Hotel, Malvern.	TNA Rail 734/1.
14^th May 1862	West Midland Railway Board ordered that the road approaches to stations be repaired and the cost charged to Capital.	TNA Rail 734/1.
14^th May 1862	West Midland Railway Board ordered that an account from Mr Graham for "seanting slopes" at Malvern station be paid.	TNA Rail 734/1.
26^th June 1862	West Midland Railway Board considered a letter from Mr Hornyold's Land Agent seeking assurance that Malvern Wells station would be opened as soon as possible. The Board resolved to acknowledge receipt of the letter.	TNA Rail 734/1.
26^th June 1862	West Midland Railway Board ordered that £300 be paid to Mr Perkins on account of the construction of bridge at Great Malvern station as requested by certificate from Mr Elmsly.	TNA Rail 734/1.
26^th June 1862	West Midland Railway Board ratified the lease for the laying of pipes along the railway from Malvern Link Gas Works.	TNA Rail 734/1.
17^th July 1862	Royal assent given to West Midland Railway Act 1862. Reference in it of mortgages &c relating to Worcester & Hereford Railway. View Act	Act of Parliament.
31^st July 1862	West Midland Railway Board meet at Great Malvern.	TNA Rail 734/1.
11^th August 1862	Imperial Hotel opened. View Report and illustration from Illustrated London News of Friday 22^nd August.	Hembry.
22^nd August 1862	West Midland Railway Board meet at Great Malvern.	TNA Rail 734/1.
22^nd August 1862	West Midland Railway Board considered a report from Mr Sherriff that passenger trains were being delayed daily in consequence of the shortness of the platforms. Ordered that a report be made stating which stations must require additional length of platform.	TNA Rail 734/1.
22^nd August 1862	West Midland Railway Board considered a further approach from Mr Hornyold regarding re-erection of Malvern Wells station and left it to Mr Sherriff to treat the matter as may appear to be necessary.	TNA Rail 734/1.
September 1862	Collapse of one of the Colwall Tunnel shafts. Tunnel closed for four days.	Wood.
c1863	First design of GWR interlocking lever frame introduced, designed by Michael Lane. One was installed at Malvern Wells, date not quoted.	Vaughan.
13^th July 1863	Royal assent given to West Midland Railway Act 1863 authorising the raising of additional capital.	Act of Parliament.
13^th July 1863	Royal assent given to Great Western Railway (West Midland Amalgamation) Act 1863 authorising the amalgamation of the Great Western and West Midland Railway Companies under the name of the Great Western Railway. Confimed running powers for Midland Railway from Worcester to South Wales and that Midland Railway could have their own carting agents at stations. Running powers not allowed until lines doubled (except tunnels) which was required to happen within 5 years. View Act Need a copy of the Act with a date of Royal assent included.	Act of Parliament. Gale (date). Warren (date).
21^st July 1863	Royal assent given to Great Western Railway (South Wales Amalgamation) Act 1863 authorising the amalgamation of the Great Western, West Midland and South Wales Railway Companies under the name of the Great Western Railway. View Act Note - Gale and Warren give date as 13th July.	Act of Parliament.

Great Western Railway

Date	Event	Source
1^st August 1863	Great Western Railway (South Wales Amalgamation) Act 1863 implemented. Great Western Railway (West Midland Amalgamation) Act 1863 implemented.	Acts of Parliament. Warren.
1^st February 1864	Malvern Wells station (GW) reopened.	Quick.
5^th July 1865	Royal assent given to Great Western Railway (Additional Powers) Act 1865 including authorising purchase of lands either side of the line north of Malvern Wells station. View Act Deposited plans to check.	Act of Parliament.
1865	Great Western Railway rule book reminds Railway Policemen to ensure that when their main signal is showing 'danger' their distant signal is also showing 'danger'. Note: interlocking probably only between points and 'home' signals at this time.	Vaughan
c1865 ?	Colwall Tunnel closed for a period due to fault in ventilation shaft.	Simpson.
5^th March 1866	GWR Police Department, detail of Constables. Collar number 623 James Grant. Beat: Malvern Wells signal cabin with all signals and switches working from the cabin and the telegraph instruments. To be relieved by the night switchman at 7pm and work alternate weeks 7 till 7 days and nights. To change from day to night duty at 1pm Sunday. Relief to be provided for this. (original in TNA).	Vaughan.
30^th July 1866	Royal assent given to Great Western Railway (Further Powers) Act 1866 including an agreement dated 20^th April 1866 whereby the Commoners were to receive rent for the sections of the Malvern and Link Commons traversed by the railway. View Act	Act of Parliament.
9^th July 1868	Second line of rails between Malvern Wells to Shelwick Junction inspected by Col Rich. Passing loops to be taken out when second line opens. Two signals (Ashperton & Withington) to be altered. Undertakings in respect of the working through the tunnels required before opening; these were given on 23^rd July. View Inspection Report and correspondence. Note: the file also contains considerable correspondence regarding a bridge in south Wales and discussion on provision of assisting engines. The latter concluded with agreement that assisting engines on passenger trains would be coupled at the front but may be attached at the back of goods trains. This correspondence lasted until 10^th October 1868.	BoT (TNA MT6/53/12)
1^st August 1870	Royal assent given to Great Western Railway Act 1870 which included the power to sell surplus land at Powick, Great Malvern, Colwall, Ledbury, Ashperton and Withington. View Act	Act of Parliament.
1871	T R Franklin appointed Stationmaster at Great Malvern, remaining in post for 38 years. View Report	Malvern Gazette (14/05/2010).
by 1873	Bransford Road signal box opened.	SRS GW Register.
1873	A Stourbridge firm offered 100 tons of canal coal to the Gas Committee, delivered to Malvern Link station at 25s per ton.	Hembry.
1873	Malvern Link Hotel offered for sale with four acres of land at a price of £5,000.	Hembry.
13^th December 1873	Collision at Malvern Link.
by 1875	Malvern & Tewksbury Junction signal box opened.	SRS GW Register.
21^st February 1877	Malvern Wells Sidings signal box opened. Malvern Junction Sidings opened.	SRS MR Register. Cooke (supp 4), Gough.
1877	Lady Foley extracted a promise from the Great Western Railway's Chairman to stop excursion trains to Malvern.	Hembry.
6^th August 1880	Royal assent given to Great Western Railway Act 1880 including authorising the sale of superfluous lands in the parish of Great Malvern. View Act	Act of Parliament.
by 1881	Signal box opened at Bromyard Junction in vee of junction. Signal box opened at Great Malvern. Signal box opened at Malvern Tunnel Junction. Signal box opened at Cummings Crossing.	SRS GW Register.
1882	Lever frame in Malvern Wells signal box extended. (Box is McKenzie & Holland type MK1 cabin).	SRS GW Register.
c 1882	Malvern Link Gas Co Ltd opened their gas works at Newland.	IRS.
1883	Jenny Lind made her last public appearance, at the newly opened Assembly Hall near the Wyche, in aid of the Railway Servants Benevolent Fund.	Smith2.
10^th March 1889	Bromyard Junction signal box replaced by type 5 cabin.	SRS GW Register.
1889	Malvern Link Hotel becomes a boy's preparatory school.	Hembry.
13^th September 1892	Reading S&T Pattern Shop ordered moulds for “Gas Siding Ground Frame” nameplate.	Dunn.
c November 1892	Cummings Crossing signal box replaced.	SRS GW Register.
1892 (?)	Imperial Hotel taken over by Malvern Girls' College.	Hembry.
c 1897	Bromyard Junction renamed Leominster Junction.	SRS GW Register.
15^th September 1897	Reading S&T Pattern Shop ordered moulds for 2 “Leominster Junction Signal Box” nameplates.	Dunn.
c 1897	Malvern Urban District Council took over operation of Malvern Link Gas Works.	IRS.
11^th November 1897	Reading S&T Pattern Shop ordered moulds for “Bransford Road Signal Box” and “Malvern Link Signal Box” and “Stocks Lane Crossing Signal Box” nameplates.	Dunn.
14th May 1899	Colwall signal box replaced by brick cabin of type unknown.	SRS GW Register.
6^th June 1899	Reading S&T Pattern Shop ordered moulds for “Colwall Signal Box” nameplate.	Dunn.
c April 1900	Stocks Lane Crossing signal box replaced by type 7A cabin.	SRS GW Register.
25th May 1900	Reading S&T Pattern Shop ordered moulds for “Malvern & Tewksbury Junction Signal Box” and “Malvern Tunnel Junction Signal Box” and “Malvern Wells Signal Box” nameplates plus 2 for “Great Malvern Signal Box”.	Dunn.
February 1901	Up Loop provided between Colwall Tunnel and Malvern Wells.	Cooke.
April 1901	Down Loop provided at Malvern Wells.	Cooke.
June 1901	Worcester end crossover at Malvern Wells moved. Inspected and passed by Col Von Donop, Board of Trade, 15^th October 1901. View Inspection Report.	TNA MT6/1049/8.
1901	Sidings provided for Malvern Link Gas Works and Gas Works Siding signal box opened, type 28 cabin, 17 levers.	SRS GW Register. TNA MT6/1142/6.
10 June 1901	Reading S&T Pattern Shop ordered moulds for “Malvern Link Gas Works Siding Signal Box” nameplate.	Dunn.
c June 1901	Malvern Link signal box replaced.	SRS GW Register.
23^rd January 1902	Malvern Wells engine shed (GW) replaced.	Clark.
19^th November 1903	Henry John Gunter appointed Midland Railway Agent and Booking Clerk at Great Malvern.	Ancestry.
28th May 1905	Malvern & Tewksbury Junction signal box replaced by type 7B cabin on up side of line.	SRS GW Register.
4^th August 1905	Royal assent given to Great Western Railway (General Powers) Act 1905 including authorising changes in the level of the road leading from Colwall Green to Colwall Stone (Colwall Green Road) affecting access to Walwyn Free School and Brockbury Hall. View Act	Act of Parliament.
1905	Great Malvern up side loading bank extended at a cost of £50.	Clark.
8^th November 1907	Colwall Tunnel closed for a period due to roof fall. Alternative bus service provided. Brakes supplied by Wooyatts and Warner. GWR buses arrived the following day (Saturday) and into service on the Monday running between Malvern Wells and Colwall assisted by two of Woodyatt's vehicles. Average on 9 journeys each way per day between 0800 and 2200 taking about half an hour each. Tunnel reopened after about a week. Note: Malvern Gazette for 23 November 2007 carried an account of a charabanc engaged on these duties wakening the town of Great Malvern at 17 minutes past 12 midnight precisely. View Malvern Gazette Report	Simpson. Davis.
1908	ASLEF took up complaint by Midland Railway goods train footplatemen about poor ventilation in Colwall Tunnel.
1908	Midland Railway staff at Great Malvern recorded as: Agent & Booking Clerk; Booking Clerk; Assistant Porter; Parcels Porter & Porter Guard; Parcels Vanman; Parcels Vanboy.	Waite.
16^th August 1909	Royal assent given to Great Western Railway (General Powers) Act 1909 including authorising reconstruction of the Worcester Road bridge at Malvern Link. View Act Picture published by the Malvern Gazette in 1914 shows the main road through Malvern Link to still be narrow.	Act of Parliament. Malvern Museum (1).
December 1909	Derailment at Great Malvern station up siding. View Malvern Gazette Report	Dray, Malvern Gazette (18/12/2009).
1910	Notice in London Gazette proposing introduction of trackless trams (trolley buses). Much opposition locally. Need to check the London Gazette for full details.	Davis.
1911	Bransford Road signal box replaced by type 7D cabin located on down side of line.	SRS GW Register.
March 1912	Coal strike caused reduction in passenger and goods services. View Malvern Gazette Report	Malvern Gazette (23/5/2012).
May 1913	Malvern Wells (GW) turntable removed.	Clark.
November 1913	Double line extended from 130m40c to 130m45c at Malvern Wells.	Cooke.
30th November 1913	Malvern Link signal box replaced by type 27C cabin.	SRS GW Register.
1913	Henry John Gunter, Midland Railway Agent and Booking Clerk at Great Malvern, retired.	Ancestry.
15^th February 1914	Malvern Tunnel Junction signal box replaced by type 7D cabin.	SRS GW Register.
1914	Great Malvern: ramped entrance to down platform built.	Clark.
5^th August 1914	Government took control of Great Western Railway and Midland Railway (from midnight 4^th-5^th August) using powers contained in the Regulation of Forces Act 1871.	Warren.
15^th November 1914	Great Malvern signal box replaced by type 7D cabin.	SRS GW Register.
1914	Hospital trains from Birmingham arrive in Malvern.	Malvern Museum (1).
1^st July 1915	Midland Railway commercial functions at Great Malvern taken over by Great Western Railway. Ticket office activity concentrated in the GWR office including transfer of telephones and telegraph instruments. One national telephne dispensed with. Midland Railway staff removed: Agent F.Porter, Clerk G.E.Houghton, and Junior Porter H.C.Wingfield. Separate Parcels Delivery agents not altered.	Waite.
1^st July 1915	Midland Railway cartage functions at Malvern Link taken over by Great Western Railway.	Waite.
12^th July 1915	Drawings signed off for reconstruction of subway at 129m70c on Malvern Wells Common.	Yates.
22^nd October 1915	Private Ernest Woolley, formerly Porter at Great Malvern, wrote regarding a writing pad sent to him and which saved his life.	Malvern Museum (2).
1915	Vera George, living in Malvern Link, became the Great Western Railway's first female ticket collector. She was based in Malvern.	Malvern Museum (2).
1^st January 1917	Midland Railway passenger service from Birmingham to Malvern via Worcester Foregate Street withdrawn.	Waite.
Easter 1919	Newspaper advertisement for Motor Tours from Malvern.	Press Cutting.
1919	Newspaper report of Railway Strike by National Union of Railwaymen (NUR) which ran from midnight 26-27 September to 5 October. The strike was precipitated when the government announced plans to reduce rates of pay which had been negotiated by ASLEF and NUR during the First World War. After nine days of strike action, the government agreed to maintain wages for another year. Subsequent negotiations resulted in the standardisation of wages across the railway companies and the introduction of a maximum eight hour day.	Press Cutting.
29^th November 1919	Malvern Wells signal box replaced by type 7D cabin located down side, Hereford end of station.	SRS GW Register, Cooke.
16^th August 1921	Government control of Great Western Railway and Midland Railway relinquished from midnight 15^th-16^th August.	Warren.
19^th August 1921	Royal assent given to Railways Act 1921 which ordered the grouping of principle railway companies into four Groups. View Act	Act of Parliament.
1922	Malvern Wells (GW) Engine shed closed.	Cooke.
1922	Station Master appointed at Malvern Wells was Mr Higgs. Also responsible for Colwall.	Malvern Voices (1)(2).
18^th July 1923	Royal assent given to Great Western Railway (Additional Powers) Act 1923 authorising construction of the second Colwall tunnel and associated line realignments. Note: Colwall station and footbridge are at 131m72c. This gives the authorised length of new railway as running from 130m33c to 131m64c or thereabouts. The subway is at 130m36c. View Act	Act of Parliament.
1924	Work commenced on constructing second Colwall Tunnel.	GWM.
by 1925	Malvern Link additional down dock and siding provided behind down platform.	Cooke.
July 1925	Headings of new tunnel met in middle.	GWM.
1^st December 1925	Local bus services start looping past Great Malvern station entrance rather than just up and down Avenue Road.	Davis.
1926	Colwall station and goods yard remodelled as part of works for new tunnel.	GWM.
18^th July 1926	Colwall signal box replaced by type 7D cabin located at Worcester end of down platform.	SRS GW Register.
2^nd August 1926	Second Colwall Tunnel opened and traffic transferred from old tunnel. Old tunnel remained in situ. Double line end shortened back to 130m41c at Malvern Wells. Proposal to use both tunnels abandoned?	Cooke.
4^th November 1926	The railway company now undertakes delivery in West Malvern along the main road as far as St James' Vicarage subject to a cartage surcharge of 1s8d per ton, minimum 3d.	GWR Goods Circular R 1534/207.
1928	Great Malvern up side canopy partially reconstructed.	Clark.
1929	Stocks Lane signal box renamed Newland. Probably on opening of the halt.	SRS GW Register.
18th March 1929	Newland Halt opened (referred to as Stocks Lane pre-opening).	Quick.
19^th March 1929	Reading S&T Pattern Shop ordered moulds for “Newland Signal Box” nameplate on 19th March.	Dunn.
August 1929	2140 Birmingham to Newport over ran signals at Ledbury North End, fortunately without disastrous results.	Signalling Record 167.
September 1929	Instructions for Signalling Trains during Fog or Falling Snow states that the distant signals at Worcester Foregate Street (down only), Malvern Gas Works Sidings (both) and Ledbury North End (down only) are not fogsignalled. It also stated that the following stop signals will be fogsignalled: Malvern link Down Home, Colwall Up Home, Ledbury N E Tunnel Down Home, Ledbury Station Up Main Home and Down Branch Home. In the case of Lebury Station, they would only be fogsignalled when passenger trains are running.	GWR Booklet.
22^nd September 1930	LMSR timetable indexed Malvern Wells GW station as Malvern Wales.	Quick.
1935	First use of diesel railcar in the area with a service from Hereford to Oxford.	Smith1.
1936	Donald Wilden appointed Station Master, Malvern Wells.	Putley.
1937	Malvern Link Up Bay Platform converted to siding.	Cooke.
1939	Bransford Road signal box closed. Note Cooke quotes 4th November 1956 and shows Up Loop accessed by ground frames.	SRS GW Register.
24^th August 1939	Royal assent given to Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939 which authorised under regulation 69 Government taking control of railways subject to ministerial order.	Warren.
1^st September 1939	Ministerial order 1197 brought railways under Government control. (Note - this remained in force until 31st December 1947).	Warren.
Autumn 1939	Repairs to Colwall (old) Tunnel commenced. Concrete barracks erected on down side by Colwall station for the soldiers guarding the tunnel. Barracks converted to bungalows after the war.	Boynton.
c 1941-1945	Colwall (old) Tunnel (Old Colwall Naval Armaments Store) used as munitions store under control of HMS Duke, St Andrews Road, Malvern. (Naval training establishment). Sailors from HMS Duke guarded the store and were billeted in a camp at Malvern Wells (GW) station. Narrow gauge railway (18 inch) installed in the tunnel.	Boynton, Malvern Voices (2 page 41).
26th March 1943	Great Malvern: Great Western Railway took over running of refreshment rooms on expiry of F W Hughes & Co agreement. Would Malvern Link have been involved as well?	Clark.
1943	Newland signal box renamed Newland East. Gas Works Siding signal box provided with new lever frame (larger) and renamed Newland West.	SRS GW Register.
18th June 1943	Newland (East) Up Refuge Siding closed and replaced by Newland Up Loop and Marshalling Yard.	Cooke, IRS.
c 1943-1944	Malvern Wells Hospital Platform installed in Goods Yard.	Cooke (Supp 4).
1945	John Lisseman transferred to Porter at Malvern Link.
20^th November 1946	Malvern Wells: connection to engine shed taken out of use.	Signal H93.
19^th March 1947	Malvern & Tewksbury Junction down main to down goods running loop home signal taken out of use.	Signal H39.
6^th August 1947	Royal assent given to Transport Act 1947 which authorised creation of the British Transport Commission and nationalisation of the railways. View Act	Act of Parliament.

British Railways

Date	Event	Source
1^st January 1948	Great Western Railway became British Railways Western Region.	Warren.
25^th September 1950	Leominster Junction renamed Bransford Road Junction.	SRS GW Register.
1950	Donald Wilden, Station Master, Malvern Wells retired.	Putley.
1953	30mph speed restriction over Bromyard Road bridge pending bridgeworks. 40mph speed restriction over River Teme Bridge pending bridgeworks. 15mph speed restriction over Woodshears Road bridge pending bridgeworks.	M1 week 2
1953	Signal Box Opening Hours: Great Malvern Station: 0645-2320 Monday-Saturday, 0855-2340 Sunday. Malvern & Tewksbury Junction: 0600-2040 Monday-Saurday.	M1 week 2
11^th January 1953	Malvern Link: Down Main Advanced Starting signal and redundant disc signal removed.	M1 week 2
1^st June 1954	Bristol Omnibus Company services extended from Link Top to terminate in Malvern Link station yard.	Davis.
25^th April 1954	Cummings Crossing signal box closed.	SRS GW Register.
September 1954	Newland Marshalling Sidings converted to CCE Pre-assembly depot. Note: CCE = Chief Civil Engineer.	IRS, Boynton.
14^th November 1954	Rump of line to Tewksbury and Malvern Sidings accessed by extension of Malvern Wells Down Loop towards Worcester and former up line from Tewksbury connected into it.	Cooke, Signal W1025.
14th November 1954	Malvern & Tewksbury Junction signal box closed. Malvern Tunnel Junction signal box closed. Temporary padlocked ground lever controlling access to coal sidings replaced by new Malvern New Sidings Ground Frame, 1 lever released electrically from Malvern Wells. Up & Down Goods Running Loops redesignated Goods Loops. Malvern Wells signal box now open continuously.	SRS GW Register, Signal W1028.
1956	Great Malvern: down platform wall rebuilt in 10 yard stages starting from the Hereford end.	M1 notice, week 45.
21^st October 1956	Great Malvern: Malvern Girls College private siding taken out of use together with points 23 and discs 22 & 24.	Cooke. M1 notice week 45.
1^st August 1962	Royal assent given to Transport Act 1962 which authorised creation of the British Railways Board, replacing the British Transport Commission in respect of railways. View Act	Act of Parliament.
1^st January 1963	General withdrawal of livestock facilities across the BR network. Livestock no longer handled at Malvern Link, Malvern Wells (GW) or Colwall.	RCH Handbook amendment L17.
January 1964	Malvern Link up Yard taken out of use. Great Malvern Down Back Siding (carriage landing) taken out of use.	Cooke. Clark.
24^th February 1964	Bransford Road Up Loop and south and north ground frames taken out of use.	Cooke.
May 1964	Colwall Up Sidings reduced in size.	Cooke.
1^st June 1964	Malvern Wells Goods sidings taken out of use.	Cooke, Clark.
3^rd July 1964	Newland West signal box closed. Newland Loop access closed at west end. Newland Gas Works Sidings closed. Note: IRS quote late 1960s for closure of the gas works.	SRS GW Register. Cooke. Boynton.
15^th August 1964	Newland Up Loop reduced to Up Refuge Siding accessed at Newland East End and by trailing crossover at west end.	Cooke.
18^th October 1964	Bromyard Junction signal box closed.	SRS GW Register.
January - June 1965	Great Malvern: End loading dock, down side being recovered as and when staff available. Malvern Link: The two back sidings, up side being recovered as and when staff available	K2/1/65 repeated weekly to K2/21/65.
14^th March 1965	Great Malvern signal box taken out of use together with all associated signalling. AWS ramp for Malvern Wells Down Distant repositioned 440 yards in rear of signal. Block Section becomes Malvern Link - Malvern Wells.	K2/10/65.
21^st March 1965	Malvern Wells Up Distant signal renewed in the same position as a 2-aspect colour light, 12' in height.	K2/11/65.
5^th April 1965	Bransford Road station closed. Newland Halt closed. Malvern Wells station (GW) closed.	Quick.
10^th April 1965	Worcester Road bridge at Malvern Link closed completely for the day towards the end of the bridge rebuiding work and restricted to light traffic only for a few days afterward. Bus services diverted.	Davis.
11^th August 1965	Trailing connection to Colwall Up Sidings closed.	Cooke.
14^th October 1965	Malvern Link: The following connections spiked, clipped and padlocked out of use pending recovery: Mains crossover with slip to down sidings. Up Main to Up Sidings opposite signal box. Down Main to Down Sidings. All associated discs will be recovered.	K2/34/65.
14^th November 1965	Malvern Link Down Sidings taken out of use.	Cooke.
21^st December 1965	Malvern Link signal box and all associated signalling taken out of use. Trailing connections, Up Main to Up Sidings furthest from the signal box and the Down Main from Down Siding Malvern Wells side of the signal box will be spiked, clipped and padlocked and retained for the Engineer's use. All remaining connections spiked, clipped and padlocked out of use (set for main line) pending recovery. The Up Main Distant lower arm signal for Newland East will be moved to the top of the post and the associated AWS ramp repositioned 440 yards to the rear of the signal. Block Section becomes Newland East - Malvern Wells. Malvern Link Up siding (former bay platform) taken out of use.	K2/47/65. Cooke.
1966	Malvern Wells station buildings demolished.	Dray.
23^rd May 1966	Malvern Wells Up Loop reduced to siding accessed from Malvern Wells end.	Cooke.
July 1966	Malvern Wells down distant signal renewed as colour light, 277 yards further from signal box.	K2/28/66.
October 1966	Newland East Up Refuge Siding deleted from Appendix. Instruction added under title of Engineering Department Pre-Assembly Yard (Up Sidings): No train must be allowed to enter the sidings without the permission of the Engineering Department; the sidings must not be used for refuge purposes.	K2/38/66.
October 1966	Newland East Up Refuge Siding renamed Up Siding. Both connections leading to the Holding Siding and associated slip connections to the Up Sidings disconnected from the signal box and converted to hand points. Relevant disc signals recovered. Former Up Refuge Siding Home bracket signal and stop lamp in the Holding Siding recored. Up Refuge Siding Starting Bracket Signal rnewed as a disc signal, fitted with a yellow arm and light.	K2/40/66 'has been'.
1^st April 1967	Colwall Down Siding taken out of use together with remaining Up Sidings.	Cooke.
August 1967	Malvern Wells: the Main Line trailing crossover on the Hereford side of the signal box has been spiked, clipped and padlocked out of use pending recovery. The catch point situated in the Up Refuge Siding has been spiked, clipped and padlocked out of use pending recovery. Associated disc signals have been recovered. The straight post signal situated in the Up Refuge Sidings (former Up Loop Home Signal) has been taken out of use.	K2/33/67 'has been'.
1^st October 1967	Ledbury North End and Colwall signal boxes closed [K2/37/67 'has been']. Line singled Colwall to Ledbury Tunnel using up line.	SRS GW Register. Cooke.
3^rd - 15^th November 1967	Colwall Tunnel closed due to earth fall.	Cooke.
26^th November 1967	Double line shortened to 130m18c at Malvern Wells.	Cooke.
10^th December 1967	Work programmed to slew the new single line into the former Up Main line at 133m22c between Colwall & Ledbury. Postponed until 14 January 1968. Posponed again to 4 February 1968.	K2/1/68 'has been'. K2/3/68.
1968	Retirement of Porter Kath Thomas from Malvern Link. Awarded OBE for services as a foster mother.	Malvern Voices (2).
12^th September 1969	Great Malvern main station building given Grade II listed status by Historic England. View List Entry View Location Map	Historic England.
early 1970s	British Rail allowed a team of volunteers to repaint the ornamented cast iron canopy support columns at Great Malvern.	Clark.
September – October 1971	Malvern Link station buildings demolished and replaced by wooden huts.	Dray.
13^th December 1974	Newland East Crossing gates replaced by full lifting barriers.	Cooke.
11^th May 1979	Great Malvern station forecourt walls and piers given Grade II listed status by Historic England. View List Entry View Location Map	Historic England.
11^th May 1979	Avenue Road bridge given Grade II listed status by Historic England. View List Entry View Location Map	Historic England.
November 1982	Newland pre-assembly depot closed.	IRS, Boynton.
1^st May 1984	First working of HST through Malvern.	Dray.
19^th September 1984	Bridge Cottage, Walwyn Road, Colwall listed grade II. Building is distinguished by having suffered removal of one corner c1860 when the railway was built.	Historic England.
August 1985	Lady Foley's Tea Room opened.
11^th April 1986	Fire at Great Malvern station badly damaged main station building, destroying the main entrance area and the Tea Room. View Malvern Gazette reports (re-published 2011).	Simpson, Dray.
20^th May 1988	Great Malvern station building reopened after restoration. Ticket office relocated to former telegraph office and gap between main building and lavatory block covered over to create new booking hall.	Dray.
14^th February 1989	Lady Foley's Team room reopened in Lady Foley’s former private waiting room having been in a portakabin since the fire.	Dray.
5^th November 1993	Royal assent given to Railways Act 1993 which authorised creation of Railtrack Plc as owner of the national railway infrastructure. View Act	Act of Parliament.

Railtrack / British Railways

Date	Event	Source
1^st April 1994	Ownership of British Railways infrastructure (stations, track, bridges &c) transferred to Railtrack Plc.	Deaves.
16^th December 1994	Great Western Train Co Ltd took over running of InterCity services between Paddington, Oxford and Hereford replacing British Rail InterCity.	Deaves.

Railtrack / Central Trains

Date	Event	Source
12^th November 1995	Central Trains Ltd took over running of Great Malvern and Malvern Link stations from British Railways as part of a franchise operation replacing Regional Railways Central. Became principal provider of the local train service along the Worcester and Hereford Railway.	Deaves.
10^th December 1995	Thames Trains Ltd took over running of non InterCity services between Paddington, Oxford and Hereford replacing British Rail Network SouthEast.	Deaves.
4^th February 1996	Great Western Train Co Ltd became part of Great Western Holdings Ltd.	Deaves.
5^th January 1997	Thames Trains Ltd became part of Victory Railway Holdings Ltd.	Deaves.
2^nd March 1997	Central Trains Ltd became part of the National Express Group Plc.	Deaves.
7^th October 2001	Railtrack Plc placed in Railway Administration.	Deaves.
3^rd October 2002	Railtrack Plc taken out of Railway Administration.	Deaves.

Network Rail / Central Trains

Date	Event	Source
3^rd February 2003	Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd replaced Railtrack Plc.	Deaves.
26^th March 2004	First Great Western Link took over running of non InterCity services between Paddington, Oxford and Hereford replacing Thames Trains Ltd.	Deaves.
6^th October 2004	Thames Trains Ltd licence revoked.	Deaves.
1^st April 2006	First Greater Western Limited took over running of all services between Paddington, Oxford and Hereford replacing Great Western Train Co Ltd.	Deaves.
30^th August 2006	Great Western Holdings Ltd and First Great Western Link licences both revoked.	Deaves.
2007	Walwyn Road (B4218) over bridge at Colwall declared unsafe and closed to road traffic. Bridge said to date from 1892. What was there before then? 6 inch OS map surveyed in 1886 shows a bridge in existence.	Malvern Gazette (24/8/2007).

Network Rail / London Midland

Date	Event	Source
7^th November 2007	London and Birmingham Railway Ltd (trading as London Midland) took over running of Great Malvern and Malvern Link stations from Central Trains as part of a new franchise operation. Became principal provider of the local train service along the Worcester and Hereford Railway..	Deaves.
8^th January 2008	Central Trains Ltd licence revoked.	Deaves.
30th April 2008	Derailment outside signal box at Malvern Wells when tamping machine driver attempted to enter sidings without the signal box being open – points concerned controlled by signalman.
1^st September 2014	Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd classified as a “government body”.	Deaves.
1^st July 2015	Secretary of State for Transport became sole “member” of Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd completing transfer to direct government control.
July 2015	Malvern Link station rebuilding recognised by an award from the Malvern Civic Society. View Malvern Gazette Report published on 17^th July.	Malvern Gazette (17/07/2015).
July 2015	Great Malvern station awarded certificate of excellence by TripAdvisor. View Malvern Gazette Report published on 31^st July.	Malvern Gazette (31/07/2015).
28^th July 2015	Pedestrian Walkway (“Worm”) and Goods Entrance Tunnel given Grade II listed status by Historic England. View List Entry Report Location Map. View Malvern Gazette Report published on 14^th August.	Historic England.
July - August 2015	Scaffolding erected around Malvern Wells signal box for the purpose of carrying out roof repairs.	Putley.
14^th August 2015	Malvern Gazette published letter seeking date when Great Malvern clock tower was demolished.	Malvern Gazette (14/08/2015).
22^nd September 2015	Great Malvern main station building listing (1969) expanded by Historic England to encompass the down side platform (platform 2) as well. View List Entry View Location Map	Historic England.
13^th April 2016	Malvern Observer published details of the Clock Tower Appeal. View Item	Malvern Observer.
July-August 2016	Changes made to track and signalling at Malvern Wells. View Publicity Leaflet	London Midland.