Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1991
This page details events on the Severn Valley Railway during 1991. The year saw a recession in the UK, the effect of which was felt on the Severn Valley Railway where passenger numbers (197,562) and membership (15,424) both fell for the first time in some years.[1][2]
Spring 1991 edit
The Editor apologised for the lack of a Spring issue of SVR News, the only quarter to have been missed in a quarter of a century of his editorship.[3]
'Black 5' 45000, which had been out of use since early 1989, returned to the NRM, together with coach 9631, the "Clapham Buffet".[note 1] The latter had seen regular use on the SVR as well as appearing at Rail 150 and in the SVR's GWR main line set, and correspondence in SVR news suggested its departure was regretted more than that of the Black 5! SVR News also noted that Bert Hitchen's 34027 Taw Valley, out on the main line at the time, was 'unlikely to return'.[4]
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Clapham Buffet 9631 in 2009
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The share offer launched in May 1988 reached the target of £500k.[4]
March 1991 edit
The SVR had announced during the previous year that a 2-car Class 104 DMU would be based at the Railway from that October for a two year trial period.[5] In the event, it was a 2-car Class 108 DMU which finally arrived on Good Friday 29 March.[6] At the time a centre car, Class 110 TSL E59701, was expected to arrive 'shortly' to form a 3-car set.[7][note 2]
April 1991 edit
Stanier Mogul 42968, which had arrived from Barry in December 1973, entered service for the first time after restoration on 13 April. The locomotive had been outshopped in LMS livery as 2968.[8] It featured in the Spring Steam Gala on the weekend 20-21 April, which used only 'home' locomotives.
From April, the "Crossley Vintage Bus service" was introduced, linking the SVR's Kidderminster and Bewdley stations with Bewdley Museum in the town centre. The service, which ran on the first Sunday of each month, was operated by the Birmingham Crossley Bus Preservation Society, using sole surviving Crossley double-decker 2489 (JOJ 489).[9]
June 1991 edit
A 'Heavy Freight weekend' was held on 1-2 June.
Around this time the Kidderminster Turntable Project was launched, seeking funds to install the ex-Fort William 70ft turntable at Kidderminster. The smaller ex-Whitchurch turntable was still being considered for installation at Bridgnorth, but as a lower priority.[10]
July 1991 edit
The Hampton Loade Station Gala took place on Sunday 28 July.
August 1991 edit
75069 and 7819 Hinton Manor took turns to work the Cambrian Coast Express between Shrewsbury and Barmouth.
September 1991 edit
The Autumn Steam Gala saw repeat visits from Flying Scotsman and 3440 City of Truro. A total of 9 locomotives were used at the gala.
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Flying Scotsman at Bridgnorth, 22 Sep. (Geograph)
October 1991 edit
The 2-car Class 108 DMU, which had been at the Railway since March, was formally commissioned and handed over to the DMU Group (West Midlands) Group on 13 October.[6]
The Autumn Diesel Gala was held on 19-20 October. Guest locomotives were (* advertised lineup, attendance TBC):
- D7523 (25173): B.R. Class 25 Bo-Bo *
- D821 Greyhound: BR Class 42 Warship B-B (remained as a resident thereafter)
- D120 (45018): BR Class 45 1Co-Co1 *
- D1842 (47192): Brush Class 47 Co-Co
December 1991 edit
60009 Union of South Africa returned from the main line for maintenance, and was used on the Christmas services before work began.
The P.W. Department completed the process of replacing all wooden sleepers throughout the Railway with concrete sleepers, apart from within stations.
Steam locomotives used edit
A table of steam locomotives used and their mileages (where published) can be found on the Steam Locomotive Mileages page. Locomotives hired out to other railways during the year were as follows:
- 46443: Summer hire to Llangollen Railway until boiler tubes failed
- 4566: Summer hire to Llangollen Railway replacing 46443
- 47383 Summer hire to North Norfolk Railway
See also edit
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Notes edit
- ↑ Prior to its loan to the SVR, 9631 was one of the exhibits at the former Museum of British Transport which was housed in a former London Transport bus garage at Clapham, south London from 1962 to 1972. This gave rise to the somewhat affectionate title by which the coach was referred to on the SVR.
- ↑ Class 108 TSL 59250 was later acquired by the DMU Group and arrived on the SVR in mid-1992. 59701 was initially preserved at the Battlefield Line and subsequently at the East Lancashire Railway.
References edit
- ↑ SVR News 102, General Manager's Notes, Michael Draper
- ↑ SVR News 101, Membership, p.52.
- ↑ SVR News 99, p.4.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 SVR News 99, Boardroom Notes, pp. 3-4.
- ↑ SVR News 96, p.13.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 SVR News 131, pp. 44-46., DMU Group (West Midlands) Progress, Trevor Daw
- ↑ SVR News 99, p.17.
- ↑ SVR News 99, p.2.
- ↑ SVR News 99, p. 25.
- ↑ SVR News 99, p. 31.