Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1993
This page details events on the Severn Valley Railway during 1993, a year which marked 25 years since the end of BR steam in 1968, and also 30 years since the last train from Bridgnorth. The recession continued to bite; the membership briefly dropped below 15,000 and the management began to review the 'large engine' policy. Passenger numbers for the year were 192,502.[1]
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1993 timetable
January to March 1993[edit | edit source]
Winter works included major repairs to Wribbenhall Viaduct[2] and the Cleobury Road Bridge. The girders of the latter were lifted out in January so that the necessary repair work could be carried out to the abutments. Completion of the work overran by one day, with the SVR running a 'replacement bus service' between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade on Saturday 13 March, the first weekend of the 1993 season.[3] Other work included the water tank on Bewdley island platform which was re-erected on 26 February using 'Toby Jiblets', the 6 ton Steam Crane.
April 1993[edit | edit source]
The Spring Steam Gala on 17-18 April saw a return visit from Gresley A4 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley, standing in at short notice for Flying Scotsman which had failed prior to the event.
Footplate Experience courses were introduced on the SVR for the first time in late April.[4]
May 1993[edit | edit source]
The Diesel Gala took place on Friday to Sunday 7-9 May. Visiting locomotives were:
- D120 (45108): BR Class 45 1Co-Co1
- 31233 Severn Valley Railway (D5660): Brush Class 31 A1A-A1A
- 37031 (D6731): E.E. Class 37 Co-Co
- 37898 Cwmbargoed D.P. (D6886): E.E. Class 37 Co-Co
- 50031 Hood: E.E. Class 50 Co-Co (now SVR resident)
Black 5 44767 George Stephenson paid a short visit to the SVR prior to beginning main line running.[5]
June 1993[edit | edit source]
Following the success and large crowds at the inaugural 1992 event, the SVR opted to stage two 'Thomas' weekends, the first on 5-6 June and the second on 11-12 September.[6]
The occasional use of the SVR's Western Diesels D1013 and D1062 on scheduled passenger services during a 'normal' operating day began on Saturday 12 June, using what was described as a "normally 'spare path'in the timetable." Two further weekends were scheduled in 1993, on 10 July and 14 August.[6]
Pannier 5775 arrived on a 3 month loan from the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, taking part in the now annual 'Heavy Freight Weekend' on 26-27 June.
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5775 stands at Arley on 27 June. (Geograph)
July 1993[edit | edit source]
At the Board meeting on 6 July, David Owen stepped down as Chairman and was succeeded by Mick York. At the same meeting, it was reported that in response to the previous year's H&SE directive banning the public from access to Bridgnorth locomotive yard, plans had been drawn up for improved public access including new boarded crossings and revised fenced areas giving better viewing of movements, which it was hoped to implement in time for 1994.[7]
September 1993[edit | edit source]
On 4 September the SVR was visited by Prince and Princess Michael of Kent aboard a charter consisting of 10 coaches of the VSOE 'Orient Express'. 600 Gordon provided the motive power for a Kidderminster – Bridgnorth return, being the only SVR locomotive equipped to work with air braked stock.[8]
The SVR found itself embroiled in 'the Draper affair'.[9] Following a Holdings Company Board meeting on 15 September, Mr Draper was dismissed as General Manager and Finance Director, roles he had held for the past 18 years.[10] He was succeeded, initially as acting General Manager, by Alun Rees.[11] Alun was subsequently confirmed as General Manager in spring 1994, from a short-list of 7 candidates interviewed out of 196 applicants for the post.[12]
A special train ran to mark the 30th anniversary of the last BR passenger service to leave Bridgnorth.
The Autumn Steam Gala on 25-26 September was the SVR's most ambitious to date. It was the first to feature overnight running, and the first to include 3 guests. It included a Bridgnorth-Kidderminster run with triple-headed panniers, while no less than 17 locomotives were steamed on both the Saturday and Sunday. The guest locomotives were:
- 5775: GWR Collett 5700 class 0-6-0PT
- 44422 [LMS 4422]: LMS Fowler 4F 0-6-0
- 69621: GER A.J.Hill N7 class 0-6-2T
October 1993[edit | edit source]
The annual joint SVR / Worcester Bus Preservation Society Vintage Vehicle Day was held on Sunday 10 October.
December 1993[edit | edit source]
The SVR found out 'by chance' that landlords BR were planning to auction the 7.6 acre site on which the SVR's Kidderminster station was built (in 1984 the SVR had bought the line to Kidderminster, but could only afford to lease the land for the station itself). Contact was hastily made with BR, who agreed to an offer of £450k to secure the site without an auction.[13] An unconditional exchange of contracts took place on 14 December.[14] The purchase (plus £80k of recoverable VAT) was initially funded by a bridging loan, and inevitably triggered another share offer.[13]
The contract for construction of the New Road footbridge was signed just in time to qualify for a grant from the European Regional Development Fund.
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:
- 5764: Summer hire to South Devon
- 46521: Summer hire to GWSR
- 47383: Summer hire to North Norfolk
- 48773: Summer Hire to West Somerset
- 80079: Summer hire to Llangollen
See also[edit | edit source]
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Notes[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ SVR News 109, p.11.
- ↑ SVR News 106, pp. 15-18.
- ↑ SVR News 106, General Manager's Notes, Michael Draper
- ↑ SVR News 108, p.4.
- ↑ SVR News 107, cover photo 15 May
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 SVR News 105, p. 4.
- ↑ SVR News 107, Holdings Company Notes
- ↑ SVR News 108, pp. 10, 17.
- ↑ SVR News 108, Boardroom Notes
- ↑ SVR News 108, Holdings Chairman's Statement, Michael York
- ↑ SVR News 108, The Dismissal of Michael Draper, the Editor
- ↑ SVR News 110, Boardroom Notes
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 SVR News 109, Boardroom Notes
- ↑ SVR(H) Accounts, 31 December 1993