Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1990
This page details events on the Severn Valley Railway during 1990, a year which saw the SVR celebrate its Silver Jubilee. There were record passenger numbers to date totalling 213,029 over 203 days of scheduled services.[1]
February 1990[edit | edit source]
The heavy overhaul of 60009 Union of South Africa was completed two days inside the agreed 1 year period. The locomotive ran three return test runs in mid-February which were made open to the public, drawing a large crowd. The locomotive rapidly returned to the main line, hauling a VIP special across the Forth Bridge on 4 March.[2]
The Great Marquess hauled “The White Rose” from London Marylebone to Sheffield on 17 February. The locomotive continued to Scotland to haul a return tour from Carlisle to Skipton a week later. SVR News reported that this was the first engine to work from London to Scotland in steam since Flying Scotsman’s non-stop run in 1968.
March 1990[edit | edit source]
34027 Taw Valley returned from the winter season at Marylebone,[3] before later setting off on another season of Crewe-Holyhead express working.
On 4 March the S&T Dept staged an Open Day at Kidderminster, giving guided tours of the station.
Viscountess Cobham attended the main season opening on 17 March, travelling on the footplate of 6960 Raveningham Hall which was renumbered 4930 and renamed 'Hagley Hall' for the day in recognition of her ancestral home .[2]
On 30 March, Bridgnorth Footbridge Trust President Sir William McAlpine launched an appeal to rebuild the Hollybush Road Footbridge outside Bridgnorth station, connecting the station to New Road between Low Town and High Town. The previous footbridge had been deemed beyond repair and demolished by Bridgnorth Council in 1976.[4]
April 2000[edit | edit source]
The 25th Anniversary Spring Steam Gala was held on 21-22 April, featuring home locos only.
May 1990[edit | edit source]
1 May saw the 150th anniversary of the Penny Black postage stamp introduced by Kidderminster’s Sir Rowland Hill. A private Royal Mail / British Rail charter ran from London to Birmingham hauled by electric locomotive 90019, newly named “Penny Black”. Haulage from Birmingham to Kidderminster was by diesel electric 47515 “Night Mail”. On the SVR, BR locomotive 47474 was named "Sir Rowland Hill".[5]
Sunday 13 May saw the normal summertime Table C timetable in use, requiring 5 steam locomotives. Only later was it pointed out that the SVR had unknowingly achieved a ‘full house’ by rostering GWR 4566, SR 34027 Taw Valley, LMS 46443, LNER 3442 The Great Marquess and BR Standard 75069 on the same day.
The Spring Diesel Gala was held on 19-20 May.[note 1] As part of the Silver Jubilee celebrations, Railcar 22 returned to the SVR and appeared at the Gala (although only working as far north as Highley cattle dock due to tight platform clearances at the station platform),[6] remaining until July. Other guests were:
- D7076: Beyer Peacock Class 35 B-B
- D5054 (24054): BR Class 24 Bo-Bo
- CH 611: BRCW Class 104 DMU (53451/53529)
The SVR stated that the two-car Class 104 DMU would be returning on loan to the SVR in October for a two year trial period.[7] The group organising the loan proposed to use it for 'untapped' portions of the market such as one-off hires and evening / scenic specials.
SVR membership reached 15,000.
June 1990[edit | edit source]
The SVR staged a "Heavy Freight Weekend" on 2-3 June. As the event came to a close, a number of wagons were unfortunately derailed on the trap points at the north end of Bridgnorth station[8].
A 'Celebration Steam Gala' was held on 24-24 June.
Summer 1990[edit | edit source]
7812 Erlestoke Manor left the SVR for overhaul at Swindon, becoming the first SVR locomotive not to be overhauled in the Bridgnorth Loco Works.[8]
Following an agreement reached with the B.R. Property Board and L.C.P. Fuels, a start was made on moving the latter's coal stocking ground to give access to Platform 2 and begon the construction work necessatry to enable trains to use it.[8]
August 1990[edit | edit source]
Saturday 25 August, the first day of the bank holiday weekend, saw Kidderminster Railway Museum open to the public for the first time.[9]
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75069 at Arley, 26 August (Geograph)
September 1990[edit | edit source]
Gresley A3 Pacific 60103 Flying Scotsman (in LNER green livery as No 4472) arrived on 17 September for the Silver Jubilee Steam Spectacular, accompanied by owner Sir William McAlpine. During the gala on 22-23 September, customers could buy a bacon butty "fried on the fireman's shovel", wih the locomotive carring a tongue-in-cheek "Frying Scotsman" headboard.
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"The Frying Scotsman" (Geograph)
October 1990[edit | edit source]
The sixth and final Vintage Vehicle Rally oganised by The Erlestoke Manor Fund in aid of the restoration of 7802 Bradley Manor was held on Sunday 7 October. From the following year it became a joint SVR / Worcester Bus Preservation Society event.
The Autumn Diesel Gala took place on the weekend of 13-14 October.[note 1] Guest locomotives were:
- D1842 (47192): Brush Class 47 Co-Co
- 55016 Gordon Highlander: E.E. Class 55 Deltic Co-Co
- D9000 Royal Scots Grey (55022): E.E. Class 55 Deltic Co-Co
- T014: Pressed Steel Company Class 121 DMU (W55034 only)
HRH The Duke of Gloucester officially opened the Bridgnorth Boiler shop. 7819 Hinton Manor carried the appropriate Royal headlamp code for the occasion.[10]
November 1990[edit | edit source]
Following ballasting and laying of sleepers and rails during the year, Platform 2 at Kidderminster was brought into use on 25 November, with 7819 Hinton Manor making the first operational entry. This allowed two trains to be in Kidderminster Station at the same time. Previously, commissioning of the Kidderminster signal box in late 1987 had removed the 'One Engine in Steam' restriction on the Kidderminster to Bewdley section, but all services had to cross in the passing loop outside the station.
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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