Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1994
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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 repainting completed in May.
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1994 timetable
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. 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.
The Spring Gala included the unusually high number of 5 visiting locomotives. 1993 Autumn Gala guest 44442 had returned to steam following repair over the winter, 6024 King Edward I was another winter visitor for engineering work, 5029 Nunney Castle had arrived in connection with the launch of a share issue, while LMS Stanier Jubilee 45596 Bahamas and Standard Tank 80080 (sister of the SVR’s 80079) were also present.
On 23 April The Severn Valley Railway Association chartered 'The Wessex Railtour' between Crewe and Weymouth.[1]
May 1994[edit | edit source]
7802 Bradley Manor was formally commissioned, following a period of running in following restoration. The locomotive was originally acquired as a source of spares for 7812 Erlestoke Manor, and indeed the SVR Stock Book published in 1980 listed 7802 under ‘Vehicles scrapped on the SVR’!
June 1994[edit | edit source]
The first ‘War Weekend’ was held and reported to be a major success.
686 The Lady Armaghdale was repainted as ‘Thomas’. Over the next few years the locomotive would embark on a succession of loans to other railways for ‘Thomas’ events.
July 1994[edit | edit source]
The footbridge between Bridgnorth Station and New Road was completed and opened to the public.
September 1994[edit | edit source]
September began with a ‘Thomas’ weekend featuring the SVR’s new Thomas and regular Gordon, together with ‘Daisy the DMU’. 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!).
Another ‘monster gala’ followed with 17 in steam, including guests 6024 King Edward I, 60103 Flying Scotsman (now in BR livery with German-style smoke deflectors) and 60009 Union of South Africa which had visited again for more repairs. 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.
Winter 1994[edit | edit source]
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[2]), 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. 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]
- ↑ Six Bells Junction (Retrieved 6 June 2024)
- ↑ Reports and Accounts ending 31 December 1995