Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1969

Article under construction This article is currently under construction. Further data will be added shortly.

The Easter 1969 line-up (David Cooke)

This page provides a timeline of events on the Severn Valley Railway during 1969.

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January 1969

LMS Stanier 8F No 48773 (LMS 8233), which had been stored at Bewdley since arrival in September, moved in steam to Bridgnorth on 4 January.

During January BR announced that they proposed to end passenger services between Hartlebury Junction and Bewdley, and between Kidderminster Junction and Bewdley from 7 April 1969, with the closure Stourport-on-Severn Station, Burlish Halt, Bewdley Station and Foley Park Halt (the closure actually took place in January 1970). The SVR had already announced an intention to purchase the section from Alveley to Bewdley following this closure, and were in contact with BR.

Alveley Colliery closed at the end of January 1969, following which BR officially closed the adjacent section of the line from Alveley to Bewdley. Technically the area between Bewdley and Bridgnorth was a closed siding under BR control and therefore subject to the recently imposed BR steam ban. Early in 1969, BR banned steam operations by the SVR, a blow which made the SVR members all the more determined to re-open the line.

Severn Valley Railway News Issue 11 for January 1969 was the first commercially printed edition (the first 10 having been hand duplicated). 1,500 copies were produced, with approximately 1,200 copies circulated to 1,400 members (joint members receiving a single copy).

In mid-January 1969 the five large main wall sections of the Pensnett signal box, weighing over two tons, were transported from Pensnett to Bridgnorth, the largest front section requiring 22 men to lift it onto the articulated lorry. On Sunday 25 January the five units were lifted into their permanent position on the brickwork with the aid of a mobile crane. Rebuilding work continued throughout the summer, and was externally complete by September.

• 
  Lifting the ex-Pensnett box sections into position on 25 January
  (Tony Bending / SVR News)
• 
  Reconstruction in progress
  (David Cooke)

April 1969

The 'Easter steam gala' on Sunday 6 April saw Bridgnorth's four tender locos, 46443, 3205, 43106 and 48773 lined up in the yard (see photo). Members' trains were not allowed following BR's ban, although 3205 was in steam and travelled light engine to Eardington to take water. Over 5,000 visitors raised around £500 for Society funds.

Membership had passed 1,500, with just over £5,000 in the "Save the Severn Valley Railway Fund".

May 1969

Another steam gala was held at Whitsun.

• 
  Whitsun Steam Gala poster

June 1969

The result of the Public Enquiry announced on 6 June was that the Inspector's recommendation was that the first LRO should be granted and the Council's objection dismissed. However the Minister of Transport (Labour's Richard Marsh) took the 'extraordinary step' of overruling the Inspector's recommendation, citing the potential extra cost to public funds of the Bridgnorth By-pass Bridge if the Railway went ahead (the objections relating to the Eardington and other road bridges were not sustained). The Minister invited the parties to meet and resolve the issue.

July 1969

Ex Manchester Ship Canal and ICI Hunslet 0-6-0T 686 The Lady Armaghdale arrived on 14 July.

August / September 1969

Another 3-day steam gala (the last before opening in 1970) was held on 30-31 August and 1 September.

• 
  Steam Gala poster

A 9-vehicle convoy left Bridgnorth by rail to visit Birmingham Railway Museum at Tyseley for a special event. The convoy was piloted from Bewdley by BR Brush Type 4 No. 1858 and consisted of GWR BTK 5787, 46443, 3205, Railcar 22, Royal Saloon 9001, GWR BCK 7285, GWR BCK 6562 and a BR brake van. 3205 won the cup for the best restored visiting locomotive.

October 1969

In order to make progress, it became necessary for the SVR to agree formally that they would either fund the By-pass Bridge or end the line south of the By-pass when and if it was built. Given that assurance, the County Council withdrew its objections and the Minister accordingly found in favour of the Scheme. On 9 October an Evening Mail headline reported "Green light for S.V.R. to run trains from Bridgnorth".

The Worcester Locomotive Society's GWR Pannier 5786 (ex-London Transport L92) arrived at Bridgnorth by road on Saturday 4 October. Their second locomotive, Kitson & Co 5474 'Carnarvon' also arrived and was used for shunting during the year.

• 
  Carnarvon arrives at Bridgnorth by lorry
  (David Cooke)
• 
  Carnarvon shunting at Bridgnorth in 1969
  (David Cooke)

December 1969

On 4 December the Minister of Transport wrote to the BR Board confirming that after full consideration of all the factors involved, he had decided in favour of granting a Light Railway Order (LRO) allowing BR to work the line from Bridgnorth to Alveley as a Light Railway. Although of course BR had no wish to do so, the granting of that order meant the Guarantee Company could apply for a Transfer Order to transfer ownership to the SVR.

The news of the proposed granting of the LRO was announced at the Annual General Meeting on 6 December 1969. At the same AGM, the Severn Valley Railway Society was merged into the Guarantee Company, with the latter now being considered the proper entity to take the Scheme forward. The AGM also approved an alteration of the Articles of Association, empowering the SVR to purchase any part of the Branch up to or between Bewdley and Kidderminster Junction on terms to be agreed with British Rail.

Steam locomotives used

A table of steam locomotives used during the 1960s and their mileages can be found on the Steam Locomotive Mileages page.

See also

• The Severn Valley Railway in preservation

London Midland & Scottish Railway

British Rail or British Railways

Severn Valley Railway

Light Railway Order

The British Railways classification for diesel locomotives of 2000 bhp to 2999 bhp