Eardington: Severn Valley Railway station raided by thieves

Rare railway lamps and other railwayana were stolen from Eardington station in Shropshire. 

The raid happened on Tuesday, April 15 and station master Steve Downs discovered the attack and raised the alarm after noticing items were missing. 

The SVR, which starts at Kidderminster, said the full extent of the thefts only became apparent the next day when volunteers were able to carry out a daylight inspection. 

These lamps were both taken in the raid (Image: Lesley Carr)

Volunteer lamp man, Phill Harris, said: "Up to a dozen lamps have gone. Then there's the cast iron door sign, some polished brass oil cans, a milk churn and an enamelled advertising sign." 

Mr Harris, who has been restoring lamps at Eardington for the past 10 years, also had his toolbox stolen "taking away his ability to carry out his job". 

He said: "This had something like 20 years' worth of accumulated spare parts and special tools that I'll find very difficult to replace. 

"Whoever took this has no concept of the upset this has caused the team here at Eardington. We've lavished so much care and attention on this and to have somebody come and do this is shocking.

"I wish I could speak to whoever did this because what is just a lamp to them is a great deal more to our heritage railway. This is history, something we can demonstrate and show to visitors, it adds more value to the railway and at a stroke, you've destroyed it." 

This oil-fired station platform lamp was taken (Image: Lesley Carr)

Last year, Eardington station re-opened to passenger trains for the first time in 40 years.

Widely considered the SVR’s ‘hidden gem’, it has no electricity supply and is the UK’s only exclusively oil-powered railway station.

The Eardington break-in follows the theft a few days earlier of cast iron signage from nearby Hampton Loade station.

Advertising sign taken from Eardington station (Image: Lesley Carr)

Station master Steve Downs added: "We have informed the police and are circulating photographs and details of the lamps widely.

"Though these lamps are rare, they are probably not worth a huge amount, but they represent a great deal of emotional value to us at Eardington. We are heartbroken that this has happened."

Anyone with information that could lead to the recovery of any of these items can contact West Mercia police, or get in touch with Steve directly at steve.downs@svrlive.com