Highley train line station is a station on the Severn Valley Railway heritage line in Shropshire, situated close to the west bank of the Stream Severn and slightly below a mile to the south-east of the town of Highley.Highley station opened to the general public on one Feb 1862 and closed on eight Sep 1963 when thru passenger services to Shrewsbury ceased after 101 years. Highley station was previously critical as the transport hub of a colliery district, with 4 coal mines nearby, all connected by standard and narrow gauge branch lines, wire inclines and aerial ropeways to the Severn Valley line. This was underlined by the intensive sidings next to the line, and van mend works at Kinlet, half-a-mile to the south.
The operations at Highley were controlled from a carefully placed signal box opposite to the platform. The signal box stayed in use after closure till Alveley colliery closed and freight traffic ceased in 1969.The station site was then disused till preservation.Highley is the sole station correct on the SVR with just one platform.Other calling places with one platform are unstaffed halts.Partly due to the absence of 2 platforms, but essentially thanks to the way the signal box is interlocked it isn't allowable to pass 2 passenger trains there.
Fortunately, tiny demolition occurred at Highley after closure, the signal box stayed untouched, as did the station buildings.Highley's original footbridge needed to be demolished in the early 1970s for safety reasons but a new footbridge was opened in 2009.Between Apr 1974 and mid-May 1974, Highley was the southern station of the Severn Valley Railway.Both Highley station and Country Park Halt are situated in the bounds of the Severn Valley Country Park, the splendidly transformed location of a previous big coal mine Highley Station, like plenty of other stations has won awards for its restoration and continuing level of appearance, but Highley is unique in its atmosphere and veracity.
Highley has been employed on innumerable occasions for TV and film locations, on gala days the station can handle freight trains and recreate the movements of days long-gone on the modern railway system.The station has great personality and is well looked after, making it a superb place to visit.