Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2008
In 2008 the line fully reopened at Easter following the 2007 Storm Damage. The Board had set a cautious budget for the year based on 190,000 passengers; in the event the total passenger numbers for the year were 238,056, only 14,000 below the record year of 2005.[1]
March 2008[edit | edit source]
On Sunday 2 March, the full length of the line was re-connected for the first time since the floods in June 2007. The last section to be completed was near Borle Viaduct.[2]
Friday 14 March saw Jinty no 47383 become the first engine to be moved into The Engine House. Two days later another 6 engines were moved in, numbers 7325, Midland Compound 1000 (on loan from the NRM), 600 Gordon, 4930 Hagley Hall, 80079 and 1501. Space was left for the final exhibit, 8F no 48773 which had retired from service in January and would be moved in later in the year after undergoing cosmetic restoration.[3]
Easter weekend saw the line fully re-opened. On Thursday 20 March 7812 Erlestoke Manor, newly returned to service for the first time since 1985, hauled a re-opening special. Public services began on Good Friday 21 March, The first public passenger trains hauled by 7812 and 45110 from either end of the line carrying 'SVR Re-opening Train' headboards, with The Engine House opening its doors on the same day. Guest locomotive Somerset & Dorset Fowler 7F No 88 (BR 53808) from the West Somerset Railway was also in use.
April 2008[edit | edit source]
The annual 1960s Transport Day took place on Saturday 5 April.
The Members & Shareholders Weekend took place on 19-20 April. On the Saturday, the "Severn Valley Phoenix" railtour traversed the Railway, hauled by newly restored A4 60019 Bittern from Swindon to Kidderminster via Gloucester, and Bridgnorth to Oxford via Birmingham Snow Hill. EWS class 67 67 003 completed the 'top and tail' operation over the SVR.[4]
The Annual Diesel Gala took place on Thursday-Saturday 24-26 April, using the compromise format introduced in 2007 of diesel-only services on the first two days.[note 1] There were two visiting Class 37 locomotives.
May 2008[edit | edit source]
DMU car M51935 was severely damaged by fire in what was believed to be an arson attack. The DMU group later acquired powered car M50933/53933 as a replacement.
May 27-28 celebrated 60 Years of Land Rover, featuring "Original 1948 examples right through to the present day - up to 200 Land Rovers up and down the Valley!"
June 2008[edit | edit source]
10 June saw a visit to the Railway by Their Royal Highnesses Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall. The Royal Train was hauled from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth by 6024 King Edward I, as the SVR had no working locomotive equipped to work with air-braked stock. The Bridgnorth MPD had just carried out a successful emergency repair to 6024's front bogie, so 6021 Princess Elizabeth was also present at Kidderminster as stand-by locomotive.[5]
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6024 King Edward I with the Royal Train (Wikimedia Commons)
GWR 3200 ‘Dukedog’ class No 9017 Earl of Berkeley arrived on the SVR from the Bluebell Railway for repairs to its valves, a visit which lasted continued past its appearance at the Autumn Steam Gala.
On 25 June 2008 Mick York received the Transport Trust's 'Preservationist of the Year 2007' award, recognising the SVR's success in recovering from the storm damage.[6] The Railway also received other awards in 2008, including the, the Ian Allen Publishing 'Heritage Railway of the Year 2008' and the Heart of England Tourist Board 'Best Tourism Experience of the Year 2008'.
The 1940s weekends took place on 28-29 June and 5-6 July.
July 2008[edit | edit source]
Earlier in the year, ownership of LMR 600 Gordon was transferred from the British Army to the Severn Valley Railway.[7]. A formal presentation ceremony took place at The Engine House on Friday 25 July.
Partially completed replica locomotive ‘Catch Me Who Can’ was steamed in Severn Park at the ‘Trevithick 200 Rally’. A number of other working replicas attributed to Trevithick and his associates also took part. The locomotive also attended an open day at Barrow Hill Roundhouse.
August 2008[edit | edit source]
11 August saw the 40th anniversary of 45110 hauling the ‘Fifteen Guinea Special’ to end the use of main line steam by British Railways. The locomotive had been granted a 6-month boiler certificate extension in order to be able to celebrate the occasion, and afterwards saw out the final few weeks running as 45134. Once out of service, 45110 was moved to Barrow Hill Roundhouse for a period on display there.
On Saturday 16 August Mr. Tim Godfrey, grandson of Sir Nigel Gresley, formally recommissioned newly restored GNR Corridor Composite coach 2701 at Kidderminster. Later that day he presented the Railway with Sir Nigel's top hat, on loan for display at Highley Engine House.[8]
An unseasonably wet August put the Railway’s new flood repairs to the test – the infrastructure survived well.
September 2008[edit | edit source]
On Tuesday 2 September 8F 48773, which had undergone a cosmetic restoration at Bridgnorth after being withdrawn from service, was moved into The Engine House. The locomotive was initially taken to Kidderminster by D8188 to be turned, and then returned to Highley by D3937 Gladys.[8]
During the Autumn Steam Gala on 19-21 September, new build replica 'Catch Me Who Can' had been fitted with its crosshead and ancillary controls, enabling it to operate statically in Bridgnorth yard with the driving wheels jacked off the rails. Hampton Loade’s Paddock Railway celebrated its 21st birthday since construction began with an assembly of 54 live 16mm scale steam locomotives. GWR 6024 King Edward I was scheduled to appear but had failed on the main line the week before. The guest locomotives were:
- 5526: GWR Churchward 4575 class 'Small Prairie' with Auto Coach W228
- 5542: GWR Churchward 4575 class 'Small Prairie' (also worked with Auto Coach W228)
- 9017 Earl of Berkeley: GWR Collett 9000 Dukedog class 4-4-0
- 3717 City of Truro: GWR Churchward 3700 City class 4-4-0
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9017 Earl of Berkeley
October-November 2008[edit | edit source]
The Classic Car and Bike Day took place on Sunday 12 October.
From Saturday 11 October to Sunday 30 November, the line was closed between Bewdley and Kidderminster for an overhaul of Worcester Road Bridge (Bridge 2).
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Repairs in progress on 7 November (Geograph)
The Engine House had received around 60,000 visitors by 3 November, well in excess of the budgeted number of 37,000.
The frames for new build 82045 returned to Bridgnorth on 25 November following drilling at Boro’ Foundry in Lye.
See also[edit | edit source]
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