Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1992
This page details events on the Severn Valley Railway during 1992. During the year, despite the ongoing recession, the Severn Valley Railway continued to adopt the policy of having 15 serviceable locomotives, of which 3-4 would be used on the main line or hired out.[1] After almost two years of discussions, the Health and Safety Executive issued a directive at the start of the year banning the public from access to the yard and shed areas at Bridgnorth. This attracted many complaints from enthusiasts; the Boards began to develop plans to provide better access to an improved viewing area alongside the headshunt adjacent to Pan Pudding Hill as a compromise[2]. Passenger numbers showed another slight fall to 194,566 achieved on 211 operating days.[3]
February 1992[edit | edit source]
During the winter 'closed season', filming of scenes for an episode of the BBC TV series Virtual Murder took place involving four locomotives, 6960 Raveningham Hall, 5764, 42968 and The Great Marquess.[4]
April 1992[edit | edit source]
Michael Draper cut the 'first sod' for the new Kidderminster Turntable on Sunday 5 April.[5]
The Spring Steam Gala on 11-12 April featured guest locomotive 34072 257 Squadron, the first "un-rebuilt" Bulleid Battle of Britain class loco to appear at the SVR, which made a 2 month visit. Also featured was 60009 Union of South Africa whose winter maintenance had been completed. 'No 9' worked a rail tour to Scotland before leaving the SVR at the end of the month.
The grounded body of Barry Railway Carriage 163 arrived at Hampton Loade.[6]
May 1992[edit | edit source]
The now annual Diesel Gala reverted to May and became a three-day event from Friday to Sunday with all-diesel dervices on the Friday. There were seven guest locomotives:
- 55016 Gordon Highlander: E.E. Class 55 Deltic Co-Co
- 47402 (D1501): Brush Class 47 Co-Co
- 50031 Hood: E.E. Class 50 Co-Co (now SVR resident)
- 55015 Tulyar: E.E. Class 55 Deltic Co-Co
- D9000 Royal Scots Grey (55022): E.E. Class 55 Deltic Co-Co
- 56014: Electroputere Class 56 Co-Co
- 59101 Village of Whatley: GM Electro-Motive Division Class 59 Co-Co
June 1992[edit | edit source]
The SVR staged its first 'Thomas the Tank Engine' event on 6-7 June, featuring Manchester Ship Canal No 32 Gothenburg (Hudswell Clarke 680/1903) from the East Lancashire Railway. The two days saw 16,982 visitors to the railway.[1]
A 'Heavy Freight Weekend' was held on 27-28 June with demonstration freight trains in addition to the normal passenger services.[1]
June 1992 saw 'Ashford 150', an event celebrating the anniversary of the Ashford railway works.[note 1]. 75069 traveled south to join Taw Valley and SR 30777 'Sir Lamiel', and worked a series of shuttles between Ashford and Hastings.
July 1992[edit | edit source]
Highley station was closed for 2 weeks; SVR News noted "The deterioration of Highley Station Platform was felt to have gone far enough when a hole appeared in it."[7]
The SVR Junior Club did a full 32 mile return trip using the pump trolley to raise money for charity.
The SVR experimented with a TV advertisement for the first time.
Collett Mogul 7325 returned to steam for the first time in 28 years.[8]
Attractions at the Hampton Loade Station Gala on Sunday 26 July included 5in gauge railway rides. The 15in gauge railway project was also on display.[9]
August 1992[edit | edit source]
The refurbished (non-operational) hand powered crane was installed in the goods yard at Highley.[10]
-
The crane at Highley (2015)
The DMU Group organised the first 'Evening Land Cruise' specials on Saturday 15 and Saturday 22 August. Two more took place on Friday 11 and Saturday 19 September.[11] They became a popular feature in the timetable .
September 1992[edit | edit source]
During the Autumn Steam Gala on 26-29 September, a total of 12 engines were in steam. There was one guest, LNER A4 pacific 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley.
-
48773 at Bridgnorth in September (Gepgraph)
October 1992[edit | edit source]
During the annual Vintage Vehicle Rally on 11 October, a small line-up of diesel traction in Platform 2 included BR Class 58 no 58028 courtesy of BR Railfreight Coal at Bescot. More than a hundred vehicles attended the event, including some seventy buses, thirty cars, and a dozen commercials.[12]
November 1992[edit | edit source]
At the Ian Allan Railway Heritage Awards, the SVR was presented with the Westinghouse Signalling Ltd award for Kidderminster signal box and the associated signalling installation.[13]
Steam locomotives used[edit | edit source]
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:
- 2857: Season on hire to GWSR
- 4566: Summer hire to Llangollen
- 48773: Summer hire to Worth Valley Railway
See also[edit | edit source]
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Notes[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 SVR News 103, General Manager's Notes, Michael Draper
- ↑ SVR News 104, pp. 3, 16.
- ↑ SVR News 106, General Manager's Notes, Michael Draper
- ↑ SVR News 102, p.11.
- ↑ SVR News 102, pp. 23-24.
- ↑ SVR News 118, p. 42.
- ↑ SVR News 103, Boardroom Notes
- ↑ SVR News 104, p. 5.
- ↑ SVR News 102, back page advertisement
- ↑ SVR News 205, p.19.
- ↑ SVR News 103, p.26.
- ↑ SVR News 106, pp. 38-41.
- ↑ SVR News 105, p. 30.