Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1995
This page details events on the Severn Valley Railway during 1995. Passenger numbers totalled 172,380, falling for a fifth year in succession and almost 20% down from 1990. The Chairman's report attributed the result to "a leisure industry that has become increasingly competitive with each passing year" and "the continued economic stagnation".[1]
Spring 1995 edit
Over the winter ten feet of river bank was washed away at Sterns, triggering further slippage. 3,000 tons of rock was deposited on the river bank as a temporary measure while a geological survey was undertaken. The other major engineering task was the reinforcement and strengthening of the abutments of the Underbridge at Hampton Loade, during which the steelwork was taken to Bridgnorth to be needle gunned and repainted. A limited Sunday-only service operated between Kidderminster and Highley in January, February and March using the Class 108 DMU and small tank engines with nearly 4,500 passengers being carried. The main season opened as planned on 1 April.[2]
Agreement had been reached with Bridgnorth District Council to build a halt at the Alveley Countryside Park, to be called Country Park Halt. This would have platform 2½ coaches in length with a platform shelter similar in style to the shelter on Platform 2 at Arley, with costs being met by the Council.[3][note 1] Construction would take place in late 1995, and the Halt would be open in time for the 1996 season.
March 1995 edit
7802 Bradley Manor ran a return test trip from Bristol to Paignton on 29 March, in anticipation of a summer season organised by Pete Waterman involving 7802 and 7325.[4]
April 1995 edit
Members Day took place on 1 April. It saw an increased service and 'behind the scenes' visits, with a 'nominal' £2 charge for members' tickets (the standard return fare that year was £9.90).[5]
The Spring Steam Gala on 8-9 April was a 'surprising success' despite featuring only home locomotives. 46521 provided an unexpected sideshow at Highley by becoming derailed on the loop points.[6]
May 1995 edit
The first of the year's two 'Thomas' Weekends was held on 3-4 June, with a second taking place on 2-3 September.
80079 was one of three locomotives taking part in the 'Steam on the Met' festival organised by London Underground Limited (LUL). SVR personnel were allowed to drive and fire the locomotive under supervision of an LUL conductor.[6] Preserved steam on the Metropolitan Line between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Amersham had started in 1989, and previous SVR participants were 46521 in 1993 and 80079 in 1984.
The pilot episode of the TV sitcom "Oh Doctor Beeching!" was filmed at Arley.[7]
June 1995 edit
The Railway’s 'Steam School' (Footplate Experience) courses received a boost following the filming on 7 June and subsequent broadcast of a feature on BBC's Blue Peter with presenter Diane-Louise Jordan.[8]
On 8 June the 15in gauge railway at Hampton Loade officially closed, after it transpired that its use was not covered by the SVR's insurance. Track lifting began shortly afterwards.[9]
The Saturday timetable introduced a scheduled diesel-hauled passenger service for the first time. Up to that time, diesels had only worked passenger services in "spare paths" in the timetable or at Galas. The announcement in Autumn 1994 of this change also confirmed that it was in place of the annual Diesel Gala which was to be rested while their future was considered.[10]
The SVR's second Forties Weekend was held on 24-25 June, commemorating the 50th Anniversary of V.E. Day. Saturday included a fly-past in formation by the RAF Memorial Flight's Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane.[11]
July 1995 edit
Manning Wardle 2047 Warwickshire was moved out of Bridgnorth Shed for the first time in 18 years. The locomotive had been cosmetically restored and repainted in its Rugby Portland Cement green livery with red, black and yellow lining.[note 2]. Kidderminster Railway Museum had agreed to provide space to display the locomotive; while a site was prepared 2047 was initially towed to Hampton Loade by 686 The Lady Armaghdale Hampton Loade and put on display there.[12] The move to Kidderminster took place in February 1997.[13]
A special train ran on 8 July to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the initial meeting at the Cooper's Arms.[14]
August 1995 edit
For 3 weeks in August the SVR used only diesel haulage due to the severe drought at the time.
The General Manager’s Notes in SVR news referred to visiting locomotives for the forthcoming Autumn Steam Gala, and continued "Together with our own fleet, including the A4 60009 Union of South Africa.."[15] Although no formal announcement was made, this was the first occasion on which 60009 was referred to as a 'home' locomotive rather than a visitor.
September 1995 edit
The Autumn Steam Gala on 23-24 September featured two visitors:
- 1466: GWR Collett 1400 class 0-4-2T (from Didcot, classmate of 1450 which arrived at the SVR in 2014)
- 53808 [S&DJR 88]: S&DJR Fowler 7F class 2-8-0 (from the West Somerset Railway)
Centro and Regional Railways reopened 'The Jewellery Line' from Birmingham Snow Hill via Smethwick West Junction to Stourbridge Junction and Kidderminster. Despite being the weekend of the Autumn Gala, the SVR made 80079 available, and the locomotive made 3 return journeys between Snow Hill and Stourbridge Junction with 5 maroon liveried Mark 1s in tow, taking only 25 minutes against an allowed 35 minutes for the uphill journey via Old Hill bank.[16]
October 1995 edit
The annual joint SVR / Worcester Bus Preservation Society Vintage Vehicle Day was held on Sunday 8 October.
November 1995 edit
Peckett 1738, which had accumulated just 14 miles in service since arriving in 1968, departed for the South Devon Railway.[17]
-
1738 at Bridgnorth in 1972
Steam locomotives used edit
A table of steam locomotives used and their mileages (where published) can be found on the Steam Locomotive Mileages page. Locomtives which spent a period on hire to other railways during the summer were:[15]
- 7714: South Devon Railway
- 3342: Nene Valley Railway
- 4566: Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway
- 47383: Dean Forest Railway
See also edit
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Notes edit
- ↑ Discussions were also taking place at the time with Severn Trent Water about a possible halt at Trimpley Reservoir, although this never came to fruition
- ↑ The owning goup had intended to restore 2047 in its former Caledonian Blue livery. However their other loco 686 had recently been repainted blue for 'Thomas' purposes and the Group did not want two blue locomotives.
References edit
- ↑ SVR(H) 1995 Accounts, Chairman's Statement
- ↑ SVR News 114, General Manager's Notes, Alun Rees
- ↑ SVR News 113, Boardroom Notes
- ↑ SVR News 114, p. 59.
- ↑ SVR News 113, p.3.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 SVR News 115, p. 11.
- ↑ SVR News 117, General Manager's Notes, Alun Rees
- ↑ SVR News 117, p. 49.
- ↑ SVR News 118, pp. 40-45., Six Years at Hampton Loade, John Tennent
- ↑ SBR News 112, Autumn 1994, Boardroom Notes Alun Rees
- ↑ SVR News 115, pp. 40-42.
- ↑ SVR News 116, p. 53.
- ↑ Shaw (1998) p. 58.
- ↑ SVR News 114, p.23.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 SVR News 115, General Manager's Notes, Alun Rees
- ↑ SVR News 116, p. 17.
- ↑ South Devon Railway Association