Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1981

1981 timetable

This page provides a timeline of events on the Severn Valley Railway during 1981.

In 1981, Eardington was reinstated as a request stop in the timetable. BR again ran a limited DMU shuttle service between Kidderminster and the SVR at Bewdley on 5 days. The SVR continued to provide locomotives to work on main line rail tours from Hereford and elsewhere.

Passenger numbers for the year fell to 157,522, partly due to poor weather at the start and end of the year.

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January 1981

4930 and 45000 departed for Hereford on main line duties, accompanied by WD 193 which left on loan to the 6000 Locomotive Association group based there. The 4-6-0s would return in April; 193's loan would be extended.

The non-standard GWR building serving as a sales kiosk at Highley was taken down, and a project began to replace it with a new replica porter's hut / sales kiosk.

March 1981

The first public main line excursion from Bridgnorth ran on 14 March. The 11-coach ‘Severn Valley Crusader’ to Paddington was hauled to Bewdley by 7819 and 46521, where two BR class 25s took over.

A Western Diesel Weekend was held on 28-29 March.

April 1981

The Spring Steam Gala took place on 11-12 April.

The 200 foot extension to the south end of platform 1 at Bridgnorth was completed on Wednesday 15 April, in time for the Easter weekend. Easter weekend included a S&T Department exhibition at Arley with examples of equipment on display in Siphon G 1257 and the ground frame from Burlish Crossing and a distant signal temporarily installed on the adjacent cattle dock platform.

June 1981

The Great Western Weekend took place on 20-21 June. The newly installed ex-Whitchurch water tower at Highley was used for the first time on 20 June when 3205 took water there.

August 1981

The SVR on 15 August 1981 (Geograph):

• 
  Bridgnorth MPD
• 
  Highley, 15 August.
• 
  4930 Hagley Hall at Bewdley

The SVR on 31 August 1981 (Wikimedia Commons):

• 
  D1013 Western Ranger
• 
  D1062 Western Courier

September 1981

The Enthusiasts Weekend on 12-13 September was scheduled to include 10 SVR locomotives in steam. SVR News did not confirm the final number, although D1013 Western Ranger was also in use.

October 1981

A second Western Diesel Weekend was held on 3-4 October.

On 17-18 October a party of 11 officer cadets from RAF Cranwell spent the weekend helping collect redundant sleepers from along the railway. 5764 hauled the works train of sleeper wagons.

November 1981

A 'Members Day' open day was held on 7 November, with the main intention of recruiting additional working volunteers. On the same day, filming for an episode of ITV’s Game for a Laugh took place, involving musician and entertainer Joe Brown firing 80079, repeating a job he previously did for BR while a fireman at Plaistow.

On 14 November, 45690 Leander was 'renamed' by Commander Drake of HMS Leander following completion of the overhaul begun the previous year.. The locomotive then left the SVR to return to main line work; around the same time WD 193's loan to Hereford was extended, and 3020 Cornwall was to return to the NRM until funds could be found for its overhaul.

December 1981

The north end of the line was closed for maintenance, with winter services running between Bewdley and Arley only. The Santa Special services struggled thorough in the worst winter weather seen in 31 years, with snow and daytime temperatures of -25°C hampering operations.

Steam locomotives used

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

See also

• The Severn Valley Railway in preservation

British Rail or British Railways

Diesel Multiple Unit

Severn Valley Railway

Great Western Railway

Signals & Telegraph

Motive Power Depot