Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2004
This page details events on the Severn Valley Railway during 2004.
Page under construction / revision as of October 2025[update].
Spring 2004[edit | edit source]
Victoria Bridge was closed until April for a major overhaul, which included replacing the 1970s bridge deck timbers with reinforced steel mesh. The closure of this section of the line meant no Spring Gala was held, and ultimately resulted in a fall in the number of passengers carried compared with the previous year’s record. The bridge was re-opened by a young lady named … Victoria Bridge!
May 2004[edit | edit source]
Locomotive 5164 entered service for the first time since 1984 after completion of overhaul.
Bridgnorth station footbridge was re-installed. It had previously been taken down for shot-blasting and repainting.
August 2004[edit | edit source]
Steeplejack and TV personality Fred Dibnah arrived at the SVR complete with traction engine, riding van and BBC film crew. He spent a considerable time in the machine shop and boiler shop, so much so that he missed the chance of a footplate ride! The visit was featured in the series Fred Dibnah's Made in Britain.
September 2004[edit | edit source]
The Autumn Steam Gala saw 12 locomotives in use, including visitors SR Maunsell V ‘Schools’ class 4-4-0 No 30926 Repton and SR USA Porter ‘Dock Tank’ 0-6-0T No 30070 liveried as DS 238.
October 2004[edit | edit source]
The SVR staged 'Railcar50' to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the introduction of Diesel Multiple Unit traction by BR in 1954. The SVR’s 5-car DMU was joined by 16 visiting cars representing 12 classes of DMU. The highlight of the event was the formation of a 12-car DMU set which ran to Bridgnorth on the evening of Saturday 16th, eclipsing the previous 9-car record for the longest DMU in preservation which had been set two days earlier.
Locomotive Mileages[edit | edit source]
A table of locomotives used during the year is shown below.[1]
| Locomotive | Miles | Comment |
| 813 | 504 | |
| 1501 | 2,471 | |
| 5164 | 8,138 | Re-entered service in May |
| 5764 | 3,969 | |
| 7714 | 1,708 | |
| 7802 Bradley Manor | 10,517 | Including 3 Cambrian Coast Express |
| 34027 Taw Valley | 7,532 | Including main line railtours |
| 42968 | 8,228 | |
| 45110 | 8,972 | |
| 46443 | 6,033 | |
| 48773 | 4,098 | |
| 60009 Union of South Africa | 4,393 | Including main line railtours |
| 686 The Lady Armaghdale | 2,272 | |
| Guests and others | 396 | |
| Total | 69,231 |
See also[edit | edit source]
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Notes[edit | edit source]