Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1988
 Article under construction This article is currently under construction. Further data will be added shortly.
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This page provides a timeline of events on the Severn Valley Railway during 1988. The year saw a reduction in the amount of main line running. BR decided not to repeat the previous year's Cardigan Bay Express season, and also cancelled a proposed August/September season on the Settle and Carlisle Line using 48773. Negotiations were taking place between BR and the Steam Locomotive Owners Association (SLOA) on the future plans for main line steam.
March 1988[edit | edit source]
Two Tyseley locomotives, GWR Castle No 5080 Defiant and LMS Jubilee 45593 Kolhapur, visited the SVR to get running in mileage before going on the main line. Both left during April.
April 1988[edit | edit source]
The Spring Steam Gala was held on 16-17 April.
BR Brush-built diesel 31413 visited the SVR on 22 April 1988 to be named "Severn Valley Railway" in a ceremony at Bewdley.[1]
May 1988[edit | edit source]
A prospectus was issued to raise up to £500,000 for the new boiler shop at Bridgnorth. The two year agreement on day-time open air working would expire in November, and the prospect of increased noise abatement restrictions added urgency to the appeal.
The May Diesel weekend on 7-8 May featured guests:
- 31413 Severn Valley Railway (D5812): Brush Class 30 A1A-A1A
- 59001 Yeoman Endeavour: GM Electro-Motive Division Class 59 Co-Co
- 156404: B.R. 'Super Sprinter' DMU
- 37427 Barmouth Bridge (D6988): E.E. Class 37 Co-Co
- 20170 (D8170): E.E. Class 20 Bo-Bo
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31413 near Daniels Mill (7 May)
June 1988[edit | edit source]
34027 Taw Valley was re-named at a ceremony on 4 June. The locomotive also entered full service on the SVR, having been running-in since first steaming the previous year.
The SVR advertised "'Western' Diesel operations - additional to basic service" on four days in the year, startng on 11 June followed by 9 July, 13 August and l0 September.[2]
Michael Draper officially opened the original dual-gauge Coalyard Miniature Railway at Kidderminster on 25 June.[3]
The Summer Steam Gala was held on 25-26 June.
July 1988[edit | edit source]
The reduced commitment to main line working gave the SVR the opportunity to loan Jinty 47383 to Swanage and HE 686 The Lady Armaghdale to Crewe Heritage Centre. Both returned in September.
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LMS 8233 at Bridgnorth, 2 July
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September 1988[edit | edit source]
SVR News did not mention that any locomotive visited for the Autumn Steam Gala on 24-25 September. A 'fully fit' Taw Valley was mentioned as a big crowd pleaser.
BR marked the closure of Birmingham Moor Street Station on 26 September by the use of steam on the final day. 46443 was one of the locomotives taking part, working a return service to Dorridge.
October 1988[edit | edit source]
The fourth Vintage Vehicle Sunday organised by The Erlestoke Manor Fund in aid of the restoration of 7802 Bradley Manor was held on Sunday 2 October.
The latter days of October saw 'an orgy of boiler smithing' to clear the area for construction of the new boiler shop, with four boilers all completed in record time.
Guests at the October Diesel Weekend on 15-16 October were:
- D7018: Beyer Peacock Class 35 B-B
- D1041 Western Prince: B.R. Class 52 C-C
- D9516: B.R. Class 14 0-6-0
- 55016 Gordon Highlander: E.E. Class 55 Deltic Co-Co
- T305: Pressed Steel Company Class 117 DMU (51368, 59520, 51420)
- D335 (40135): E.E. Class 40 1Co-Co1
Following the Gala, Michael Draper referred to the 3-car chocolate and cream DMU in SVR News and stated "This has sparked off several serious enquiries about the advisability of the SVR operating a DMU set as a regular feature of our timetable. I happen to think the idea has considerable merit and we will let you know if and when we can progress the options".[4]
November 1988[edit | edit source]
The contract was let for construction of the boiler shop at Bridgnorth, with a target completion date of April 1989.
December 1988[edit | edit source]
The Santa Special services carried more than 38,000 passengers, while total ticket sales for the year exceeded 200,000 for the first time. The Coalyard Miniature Railway provided an added attraction and carried over 4,000 people.[3]
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]