Echoes – Leapgate

Leapgate

Railway lines are fascinating places for a number of reasons, partly for the atmosphere and and partly the wildlife as they have been largely underused since closing. Most of these railways were removed in the 1960s. Popular thinking blames the Beeching cuts but apparently some of the lines and stations in the area had already been earmarked before Dr. Beeching had been commissioned to make his report. All that remains nowadays are paths along the old lines, abutments along roadsides which mark like a huge gravestones the place bridges had spanned the roads, and some viaducts. Some of these lines have just become country paths and some of have been cleared for wider use. Leapgate was a side-line which joined Worcester and Stourport-on-Severn. This ‘Country Park’ is advertised as good for walking, cycling and horse riding. It is situated by Wilden, between Stourport and Kidderminster.