Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1984
This page provides a timeline of events on the Severn Valley Railway during 1984. In July 1984 the SVR finally reached Kidderminster. The development of Kidderminster Town Station gives a full account of events leading up to the opening day, the opening day itself and continued development of the station thereafter.
Turnover for the year passed £1 million for the first time, helped by the Kidderminster opening. Passenger numbers for the year totalled 181,345.[1]
Around this time, SVR news referred to a target of maintaining a working fleet of 15 locomotives.[2] This gives an indication of the commitment to main line working at the time; in comparison 2014 summertime services used only 8 steam locomotives.
February 1984[edit | edit source]
The share offer to raise money for Kidderminster Town reached £230,000 by 29 February, well in excess of the preliminary target of £90,000. Exchange of contracts with British Rail had taken place to purchase the line from Foley Park to Kidderminster and lease an area of the Goods Yard on Comberton Hill (with the Kidderminster Footbridge forming the boundary between the SVR-owned and SVR-rented property). The SVR had also applied for the Light Railway Order (LRO) necessary to operate over the last section of the line between Foley Park and Kidderminster. Even though they would now own the line, without an LRO they could not use it without a hired-in BR driver.[3][4]
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Kidderminster Goods Yard in February 1984
45690 Leander, by now an SVR locomotive, was working the Welsh Marches Express.[5]
April 1984[edit | edit source]
Filming of a feature for LWT's 'Surprise, Surprise' with Cilla Black took place on 2 April using 6960 Raveningham Hall. The episode was broadcast on Sunday 2 June.[6]
The Spring Steam Gala took place on 14-15 April, using seven of the home fleet out of twelve available on the day.[7]
May 1984[edit | edit source]
A press release on 4 May confirmed that the share offer had reached the target of £300,000.[8]
Work on the Kidderminster site began in earnest in mid-May with BR granting walking permits for workers on the site. The proposed opening date of 30 July gave just eleven weeks to complete the job.[9]
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May 1984, 2 months from opening -
SVR leaflet from 1984 advertising the new through route to Kidderminster. -
Reverse of leaflet.
The year's first Western Diesel Weekend took place on 19-20 May. D1062 Western Courier, which had been out of traffic after suffering a seized engine in March 1981, made a test run to Bewdley on the Saturday afternoon and returned to Bridgnorth in a double header with D1015 Western Ranger.[10][note 1] The gala was visited by the artist and steam locomotive owner David Shepherd. A special train hauled by 43106 marked the 10th anniversary of Bridgnorth - Bewdley services.[5][11]
June 1984[edit | edit source]
The Summer Steam Gala was held on 23-24 June.
SVR news confirmed that 46443's new owners would not be moving the locomotive to the GCR at Loughborough. SVR members had launched a fund to buy back the locomotive which was now 'on the market'.
July 1984[edit | edit source]
3717 City Of Truro arrived from the Swindon Museum on 14 July.[12] The locomotive was to be restored by the SVR with a view to being used on the main line in the 1985 GWR 150 celebrations.
Following the granting of the Light Railway Order on 21 July and an inspection by Major Olver on 24 July, Kidderminster Town Station was opened on 31 July 1984.[13] Trains ran over the full 16 miles from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster for the first time in the preservation era.
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4930 Hagley Hall with the opening day train
The SVR(H) AGM in June had approved the extension of the Share Offer, and the contract for Phase I of the Kidderminster station building was let to the contractors William Jackson (Langley Green) Limited. This was anticipated to be
an 18 week project.[13]
September 1984[edit | edit source]
SVR News announced that 46443 had been purchased by the SVR 46443 Fund and would remain at the SVR.[12]
The Enthusiasts Weekend was held on 15-16 September. 5051 Drysllwyn Castle (later renamed Earl Bathurst) visited from Didcot (45690 Leander made a 3-week visit to Didcot in exchange). At the same time two of the SVR's smaller engines were steamed for the first time in some years; GWR 813 had not steamed since a brief test in 1975 while Peckett 1738 had not steamed since 1970.[14]
On Saturday 22 September D1062 Western Courier was rolled out of Bridgnorth paint shop having been repainted in maroon livery.[15]
October 1984[edit | edit source]
During the year's second Western Diesel Weekend on 12-13 October, both D1062 and D1013 Western Ranger were in use, working one round trip each on the Saturday and two round trips each on the Sunday. It was D1062's first trip to Kidderminster since arrival in 1978.[15]
November 1984[edit | edit source]
The first phase of the new station building at Kidderminster (the west wing) was completed just 12 hours before Santa Special services began on 24 November.[16] The contract for the second phase was let to the same contractors, with work carrying straight on. The share offer had passed £374,000.[17]
The first year of 'Santa' operations from Kidderminster involved 34,628 passengers.[1]
December 1984[edit | edit source]
The main line connection with British Rail was passed for passenger traffic on 12 December, with the first through working taking place on 29 December.[18]
Steam locomotives used[edit | edit source]
A table of steam locomotives used and their mileages can be found on the Steam Locomotive Mileages page.
See also[edit | edit source]
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Notes[edit | edit source]
- ↑ D1062 was working on one engine as the replacement second engine had been fitted but not yet commissioned. The locomotives were separated before crossing Victoria Bridge and re-coupled at Arley.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 SVR News 75, General Manager's Notes, Michael Draper
- ↑ SVR News 71, p. 12.
- ↑ SVR News 71, Boardroom Notes
- ↑ SVR News 72, pp. 20-21, Kiddermionster Track PLan
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 SVR News 71, General Manager's Notes, Michael Draper
- ↑ SVR News 72, pp. 22-23.
- ↑ SVR News 72, p. 10.
- ↑ SVR News 72, General Manager's Notes, Michael Draper
- ↑ SVR News 73, pp. 15-19.
- ↑ SVR News 73, pp. 28-29.
- ↑ SVR News 72, p. 4.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 SVR News 73, Boardroom Notes
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 SVR News 73, General Manager's Notes, Michael Draper
- ↑ SVR News 73, p. 11.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 SVR News 74, p.32.
- ↑ SVR News 75, pp. 11-15.
- ↑ SVR News 74, General Manager's Notes, Michael Draper
- ↑ SVR News 75, Boardroom Notes