Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1994
This page details events on the Severn Valley Railway during 1994. Another major overhaul of Victoria Bridge was carried out over the winter, partly funded by English Heritage due to the bridge's listed status. Repairs continued into the spring, with the work including repainting completed in August.[1] Passenger numbers for the year fell by around 5% to 183,282, reflecting "the general malaise within the leisure industry".[2]
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1994 timetable
January 1994[edit | edit source]
On 12 January 1994,[note 1] Waterworks Crossing was the location of a tragic accident on 12 January 1994 where a locomotive struck a van whilst it was negotiating the crossing, fatally injuring the driver who was on his way home after finishing his shift. The train involved was an inspection special for a party of bank officials.[3] The Railway Inspectorate had conducted an enquiry by 5 April.[4] An inquest on 18 May recorded a verdict of 'accidental death' with no blame attached to the Railway.[5]
February 1994[edit | edit source]
SVR(H) completed the purchase of the Kidderminster site on 14 February. A separate contract for resale of part of the site to Kidderminster Railway Museum for £80,000 was signed on the same day. The final consideration was funded initially by an immediate loan of £30,000 by the Guarantee Company (later converted into Shares) and an extension to the Company's overdraft facility; following completion a bridging loan of £350,000 was established.[4][6]
Newly restored 7802 Bradley Manor was used to test reaction to winter Sunday operations from Kidderminster to Bewdley during the course of 'running-in' turns on 4 Sundays.[7]
March 1994[edit | edit source]
On the opening day of the 2004 season, Saturday 12 March, Members were invited to travel for free as a way of saying "thank you".[8] This event continued in subsequent years as the Members Day (later expanding to become the Members & Shareholders Weekend).
April 1994[edit | edit source]
On the afternoon of Wednesday 6 April a skip lorry struck Hay Bridge, demolishing the west-side walkway and pushing the main girders two feet out of alignment. Easter week services were suspended, but round the clock work by the PW Department supported by the Highways Department and the Railway Inspectorate saw the bridge reopened just 48 hours later.[9] Visiting locomotive 6024 King Edward I was first to cross the repaired bridge, echoing the events of May 1983 when 92220 Evening Star 'tested' the repaired embankment at Bridgnorth.
SVR(H) launched the Railway's largest Share Offer to date on 13 April, seeking to raise £750k (£450k for the purchase of the Kidderminster site's freehold and £300k for "much-needed working capital".).[10] The first £150k had been received by 3 May.[11]
The Spring Steam Gala on 16-17 April included the unusually high number of 5 visiting locomotives:
- 5029 Nunney Castle : GWR Collett 4073 Castle class 4-6-0 (had arrived in connection with the launch of the share offer)
- 6024 King Edward I : GWR Collett 4-6-0 King class (winter visitor for engineering work)
- 44422 [LMS 4422]: LMS Fowler 4F 0-6-0
- 45596 Bahamas : LMS Stanier Jubilee 6P class 4-6-0
- 80080: BR Riddles Standard 4MT class 2-6-4T (sister of the SVR's 80079)
On 23 April The Severn Valley Railway Association chartered 'The Wessex Railtour' between Crewe and Weymouth.[12]
May 1994[edit | edit source]
The annual Diesel Gala took place on Friday to Sunday 7-9 May; Friday was 'diesel only' with steam services also in service at the weekend. Visiting locomotives were:
- 31206 (D5630): Brush Class 31 A1A-A1A
- 37107 (D6807): E.E. Class 37 Co-Co
- 37430 Cwmbran (D6965): E.E. Class 37 Co-Co
- D212 Aureol (40012): E.E. Class 40 1Co-Co1
- 55015 Tulyar: E.E. Class 55 Deltic Co-Co (as 55001 St. Paddy)[13]
The first of the year's two 'Thomas' Weekends was held on 21-22 May. 686 The Lady Armaghdale had been repainted as 'Thomas' earlier in the year, assuming the role for the first time.[14] Over the next few years the locomotive would embark on a succession of loans to other railways for 'Thomas' events as well as performing the duty at the SVR.
7802 Bradley Manor was formally commissioned on Saturday 14 May, after a period of running in following restoration which began in 1983.[15] The locomotive was originally acquired in 1979 as a source of spares for 7812 Erlestoke Manor, and indeed the SVR Stock Book published in 1980 had listed 7802 under "Vehicles scrapped on the SVR"![16]
June 1994[edit | edit source]
The Railway's first War Weekend was held on 25-26 June and reported to be a major success.
July 1994[edit | edit source]
The new Hollybush Road Footbridge, linking Bridgnorth Station and New Road, was completed and opened to the public. The bridge had cost £150,000, partly funded by a £91,000 grant from the EU.[17]
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The new Hollybush Road Footbridge (2015)
September 1994[edit | edit source]
September began with another 'Thomas' weekend featuring the SVR's new Thomas and regular Gordon at Kidderminnster, with 'Daisy the DMU' giving rides at Bewdley. 5,700 passengers attended over the two days. As a prelude to the Autumn Gala, Lady Lucinda Lambton was invited to christen the newly installed Kidderminster Turntable by turning 60103 Flying Scotsman (in typical fashion Gordon had already sneaked in a turn before the Thomas event!).[1]
Another Autumn 'monster gala' followed on 24-25 September with 17 locomotives in steam. Operations were hampered by the discovery of a broken rail at Alveley, causing a speed restriction right at the foot of the bank which affected the timetable.[18] The guest locomotives taking part were:
- 6024 King Edward I: GWR Collett 4-6-0 King class
- 60009 Union of South Africa: LNER Gresley A4 Pacific (visiting for more repairs)
- 60103 Flying Scotsman: LNER Gresley A3 Pacific (now in BR livery with German-style smoke deflectors)
October 1994[edit | edit source]
The annual joint SVR / Worcester Bus Preservation Society Vintage Vehicle Day was held on Sunday 10 October. Taking part were more than 150 veteran and vintage buses, commercial vehicles, cars and motorbikes, with four steam locos (7325, 46521, The Great Marquess and visiting Flying Scotsman) and two diesels (D821 and D1062) in service.[19]
On 15 October the 8F Society presented a cheque for funds raised to the Turntable Fund, while 8F 48773 was turned.[20]
On Tuesday 18 October the SVR issued a press release that an out-of-court settlement had been reached with Michael Draper, who had agreed to pay £21,000 to the Railway in full and final setlement of all claims. Mr Draper had also agreed to withdraw his counterclaims and his application in the Industrial Tribunal.[21]
Winter 1994[edit | edit source]
6024 King Edward I made another brief visit, arriving with a railtour and subsequently working one day of SVR services on Friday 30 December before leaving on 1 January 1995 for the return leg of a special which saw 46521 and 80079 return from London. 30 December also saw the final day in ticket of 2857 with a goods train charter for the owning group. 7819 and 48773 also came out of ticket at the end of the 1994 season.[22]
The SVR(H) Board announced the sale of 45690 Leander (and 45699 Galatea) to the family of Dr. Peter Beet. The justification given was that the offer was attractive (it generated a one off profit of £135,280[23]), the locomotive had been stored out of use for 7 years, funds were not available for a General Repair, and once repaired the locomotive would see limited use on the SVR due to its size and axle loading.[24] Predictably many members complained of the Railway 'selling the family silver'.
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.
See also[edit | edit source]
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Notes[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 SVR News 112, General Manager's Notes, Alun Rees
- ↑ SVR(H) 1994 Accounts, Chairman's Statement
- ↑ SVR News 110, "Boardroom Notes"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 1993 SVR(H) Accounts, Directors' Report
- ↑ SVR News 111, "Boardroom Notes"
- ↑ SVR News 109, "Boardroom Notes"
- ↑ SVR News 110, p. 8.
- ↑ SVR News 109, p. 55.
- ↑ SVR News 110, p. 4.
- ↑ SVR News 110, Boardroom Notes
- ↑ SVR News 110, p.3.
- ↑ Six Bells Junction (Retrieved 6 June 2024)
- ↑ SVR News 111, p. 44.
- ↑ SVR News 110, p. 11.
- ↑ SVR News 111, p.18.
- ↑ SVR Stock Book Seventh Edition, 1st July 1980, p. 73.
- ↑ SVR News 113, p. 31.
- ↑ SVR News 112, p. 10.
- ↑ SVR News 112, Editorial
- ↑ SVR News 114
- ↑ SVR News 112, Out-of-Court Settlement, p. 9.
- ↑ SVR News 113, pp. 10-11.
- ↑ Reports and Accounts ending 31 December 1995
- ↑ SVR News 113, General Manager's Notes, Alun Rees