Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2002
This page details events on the Severn Valley Railway during 2002, The year was summarised in the 2002 accounts "Following the traumas of 2000 and 2001, when we were beset by boiler problems which decimated the locomotive fleet, tourism generally suffered from the effects of the Foot and Mouth disease, and then the September 11 attacks, it is indeed gratifying to be able to report that the Company fared much better in 2002." Passenger numbers reached a new record figure of 236,704.[1]
February 2002[edit | edit source]
On Saturday 16 February the SVR hosted an incoming Hertfordshire Railtours HST rail tour. A request to SVR Marketing Manager John Leach for an event to entertain the visiting passengers resulted in the first 1960s Transport Day. This was held at Kidderminster and mainly featured classic cars together with a few buses, lorries and bikes.[2][note 1]
On 23 February the Diesel Traction Group's D1015 Western Champion became the first ex-Western Region diesel hydraulic to make a main line comeback, hauling a Paddington – Bristol- Gloucester – Paddington rail tour.[3]
Spring 2002[edit | edit source]
A new loco pit was constructed at Bewdley MPD. The previous pit was not sufficiently deep to allow MPD staff to stand underneath the locomotives, and was prone to flooding. A similar enlargement of the Bridgnorth loco pit had taken place the year before.
7802 Bradley Manor, whose boiler had failed during the 2000 'boiler crisis', re-entered service having received the overhauled boiler from 7812 Erlestoke Manor.[4]
March 2002[edit | edit source]
The Spring Steam Gala on 16-17 March took a 'Somerset & Dorset' theme, with SVR locomotives renumbered as former S&DJR inhabitants.[note 2] BR Riddles Standard 4MT class 4-6-0 75014, appearing as Templecombe's 75009 (82G), was the guest.[5]
On 24 March, L&Y class 25 0-6-0 No. 957 (BR 52044) worked the 1.00 pm Kidderminster to Bridgnorth service, double headed with 46443.[6] The test run followed a contract restoration which began in summer 1997[7].
The SVR hosted more unusual visitors in the form of a 4-car Virgin Voyager which was clearance-tested along the SVR line on 28 March,[6] and a PPM50 Parry People Mover (later Class 999 No. 999900) which spent 2 months being tested. It was used from 2006-2008 on the Network Rail branch line from Stourbridge Junction to Stourbridge Town. It visited again for testing in 2020.
April 2002[edit | edit source]
The annual Members' Day took place on Saturday 2 April.
May 2002[edit | edit source]
The Railway held 'Day out with Thomas' weekends on 11-12 and 18-19 May.
June 2002[edit | edit source]
English, Welsh & Scottish Railway Class 60 locomotive No 60089 was named "The Railway Horse" in a ceremony at Bewdley on 8 June 2002.[8].
The 1940s weekends took place on 29-30 June and 6-7 July.
Summer 2002[edit | edit source]
An application was made to the Heritage Lottery Fund for grant aid for a new museum and storage building at Highley (this would become The Engine House).
The boiler ticket of LMS 'Jinty' 47383 expired at the start of July, while 80079 finally succumbed to tube failure shortly before the expiry of its own boier ticket.[9]
Two further 'Day out with Thomas' weekends were held on 31 August - 1 September and 7-8 September.
August 2022[edit | edit source]
John Garth died on 24 August. John was a founder member and had been a central figure in the development of the SVR, from the first meeting of the Severn Valley Railway Society on 6 July 1965, through Chairmanships of the Society, the Guarantee Company and SVR(H), right up to that time.[10]
September 2002[edit | edit source]
Paul Fathers stepped down as Chairman of SVR(H) and was succeeded by Mick York.[11]
To celebrate the Royal Jubilee, the guests at the Autumn Steam Gala on 20-22 September were:
- 46233 Duchess of Sutherland [LMS 6233]: LMS Stanier 8P Princess Coronation class Pacific
- 46201 Princess Elizabeth [LMS 6201]: LMS Stanier 8P Princess Royal class Pacific
October 2002[edit | edit source]
Reverting to an Autumn date, the annual Diesel Gala took place on 4-6 October. There were eight visiting locomotives including Bombardier Class 220 Voyager Diesel electric multiple unit 220 025 Severn Voyager which was named at the event.
The Classic Car and Bike Day took place on Sunday 13 October.
686 The Lady Armaghdale travelled to Holland for the first ever continental 'Thomas' event - the first SVR locomotive to go abroad in preservation.
-
686 having arrived at Holland for the 'Thomas' event (David Cooke)
November 2002[edit | edit source]
On the morning of All Saints Day, Sunday 3rd November, the Railway Royal Engineers' memorial locomotive 8F 48773 was the centrepiece of a dedication ceremony at Kidderminster in honour of personnel of military transport units who were killed in active service during wartime hostilities. A Roll of Honour and Books of Remembrance commemorating 354 known casualties were unveiled. The dedication was made by the Chief Royal Engineer, Lieutenant-General Sir Scott Grant KCB. 48773 then hauled a Kidderminster to Bridgnorth return trip, 'The Sapper Limited'.[12]
Locomotive Mileages[edit | edit source]
A table of locomotives used during the year is shown below.[13]
| Locomotive | Miles | Comment |
| 813 | 1,236 | |
| 1501 | 7,035 | |
| 5764 | 6,684 | |
| 7714 | 3,390 | |
| 7802 Bradley Manor | 9,118 | Re-entered service (with boiler from 7812) |
| 34027 Taw Valley | 1,357 | Including main line railtours |
| 45110 | 10,167 | |
| 46443 | 10,432 | |
| 47383 | 3,193 | Boiler ticket expired July |
| 48773 | 9,777 | |
| 60009 Union of South Africa | 5,116 | Including main line railtours |
| 80079 | 750 | Boiler tube failure in summer. |
| 686 The Lady Armaghdale | 2,293 | |
| Guests and others | 1,012 | |
| Total | 71,560 |
See also[edit | edit source]
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Notes[edit | edit source]
- ↑ The 1960s Transport Day became an annual event, normally held in February, and expanded to include exhibits at Bewdley and Kiderminster. However it was always subject to 'February weather' and organiser Rob Whale made the decision to end it after the 2010 and 2011 events were both badly rain-affected.
- ↑ 34027 Taw Valley became 34045 Ottery St Mary (7lB Bournemouth), 80079 became 80043 (82F Bath), 45110 became 45440 (71G Bath), 46443 became 46494 (22A Bristol Barow Rd), 47383 became 47557 (71G Radstock), 48773 became 48309 (82F Bath), and 75069 (soon for repair), was static as 75072 (7lG Bath)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ SVR(H) 2002 Annual Accounts, Chairman's Statement
- ↑ SVR News 219, pp.48-49.SVR Classic Vehicle Day Events, Rob Whale
- ↑ DTG Website, D1015 Western Champion: Preservation History (retrieved 14 October 2025)
- ↑ SVR News 139, p.16.
- ↑ SVR News 138, p.4.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 SVR News 140, p.15.
- ↑ SVR News 122
- ↑ Information displayed in The Engine House
- ↑ SVR News 140
- ↑ SVR News 141, Obituary - John Garth, pp. 5-6.
- ↑ SVR News 141, p.3.
- ↑ SVR News 142, p.10.
- ↑ SVR News Issue 152, p. 25., SVR Steam Locomotive Mileages 1990-2004 compiled by Graham Nangreave