Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2009
2009 on the Severn Valley Railway was described as "a year of mixed fortunes for the Railway." Positives included a Royal visit, two well received Steam Galas and a "tremendous" October half-term week featuring Tornado. Passenger numbers were "very good" at 248,798. On the down side, more visitors than usual were taking shorter journeys and the Railway suffered an unfortunate derailment at Hampton Loade in late September.[1]
January 2009[edit | edit source]
Highley Station was closed on January weekends while installation of the footings for the new footbridge were installed.
February 2009[edit | edit source]
The annual 1960s Transport Day took place on Saturday 21 February.
March 2009[edit | edit source]
The Spring Steam Gala, described as the 'Festival of Steam', took place on Friday-Sunday 6-8 March. Unusually this event, rather than the Autumn Steam Gala, saw larger engines visiting, comprising:
- 5029 Nunney Castle: GWR Collett 4073 Castle class 4-6-0
- 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley: LNER Gresley A4 Pacific
- 71000 Duke of Gloucester: BR Riddles Standard 8P class Pacific
- 70013 Oliver Cromwell: BR Riddles Standard 7MT class Pacific
-
5029 Nunney Castle -
60007 Sir Nigel Gresley -
71000 Duke of Gloucester -
71013 Oliver Cromwell
April 2009[edit | edit source]
SVR Patron H.R.H. The Duke of Gloucester was unable to attend the official opening of The Engine House on Tuesday 28 April due to illness. The ceremony went ahead with The Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire officiating.
May 2009[edit | edit source]
The SVR staged what became the Railway's last "Day Out with Thomas" events on the weekends of 9-10 and 16-17 May. A regular feature in the calendar since 1992, the decision was taken to rest the event in 2010 due to the retirement from service of regular 'Thomas' 686 in September 2009 (see below) and the "probable difficulty of finding a replacement".[2]
Summer 2009[edit | edit source]
An upgrade to the Bridgnorth loco shed was completed. The work involved included the installation of roller shutter doors, side windows to improve lighting, and an enclosed paint shop.
An appeal was launched for funds to acquire and install a wheel-drop which had been located at the Leicester Midland MPD (shed 15C).
The boiler of 7714 had for some time been giving concern, having been a ‘quick fix’ during the boiler crisis of 2000. In addition, 5164 was out of service for a mid-term overhaul. As a result, 4936 Kinlet Hall joined the SVR on hire from Tyseley for the summer and autumn.
The 1940s weekends took place on 27-28 June and 4-5 July.
July 2009[edit | edit source]
7802 Bradley Manor carried a headboard bearing the legend ‘100,000 miles, Still Going Strong’ to celebrate achieving that mileage in preservation.
August 2009[edit | edit source]
"Flying Pig" 43106 was steamed again after a lengthy restoration. As 43106 entered service, 7714's boiler finally gave out.
On 19 August, the ‘rolling chassis’ of GWR 0-6-2T No 6634 arrived at Bridgnorth. SVR News announced that the SVR had reached an agreement with owners The Waterman Railway Heritage Trust to complete the overhaul of the ‘bottom end’ while Crewe completed the repair of the boiler. The SVR would then bring the locomotive into use; with it being run on the SVR for ‘a period deemed fair by both parties’. The deal appeared favourable to the SVR as it would not involve the boiler shop or require space in the works on the jacks.
September 2009[edit | edit source]
686 The Lady Armaghdale was withdrawn from service with boiler issues. The locomotive was subsequently cosmetically restored at Bridgnorth into ICI red livery as 'The Lady Armaghdale' before entering The Engine House on static display in 2010.[3].
The Autumn Steam Gala on Friday-Sunday 25-27 September had a “Tank Engines” theme, with visitors:
- 5643: GWR Collett 5600 class 0-6-2T
- 41241: LMS Ivatt 2MT Prairie
- 69523 [GNR 1744]: LNER Gresley N2 class 0-6-2T
- 4936 Kinlet Hall: GWR Collett 4900 Hall Class 4-6-0 (on hire)
-
5643 on Victoria Bridge -
41241 and 46443 at Highley -
GNR 1744 at Highley -
4936 Kinlet Hall (12 September)
On 28 September 2009, the Monday after the Gala, 43106’s tender became derailed as it approached Hampton Loade station hauling a passenger train. There were no injuries. The RAIB later reported that the immediate cause of the accident was the flange of the leading right-hand wheel of the tender climbing over the right-hand rail. The contributory factors were that a spring had been replaced on the tender with one which was not of the correct type and that the track in the area had become distorted[4].
October 2009[edit | edit source]
The points at Hampton Loade had been damaged in the derailment, so a temporary repair to the track at Hampton Loade was made allowing ‘straight through’ running, although without the ability to pass trains anywhere between Bridgnorth and Arley. The points were reinstated the following January.
The Annual Diesel Gala took place on Thursday-Saturday 8-10 October, using the compromise format introduced in 2007 of diesel-only services on the first two days.[note 1] There were four visiting locomotives. The Classic Car and Bike Day took place on Sunday 11 October.
The new (replacement) footbridge at Highley was installed on 12 October. On 21 October H.R.H The Duke of Gloucester made a visit to the SVR, having been unable to attend earlier in the year, and opened the footbridge as well as visiting The Engine House.
60163 Tornado visited the railway for 9 days of continuous working over the half term week. GNR Gresley N2 No 1744, which had remained at the railway following the Autumn Steam Gala, also took part.
-
60163 Tornado (Highley, 25 October)
The two 0-6-0 locomotives 686 The Lady Armahgdale and GWR 813 both retired from service due to boiler issues.
GWR 6025 King Edward I visited the SVR for minor repairs.
-
6024 King Edward I
November 2009[edit | edit source]
On 14 November Vintage Trains' The SLS Special railtour visited the SVR after earlier working to Coalbrookdale. 4566 and 5764 took the tour from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth and back while mainline locos 9466 and 9600 were serviced at Kidderminster.[5]
See also[edit | edit source]
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Notes[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ SVR(H) 2009 Annual Accounts, Chairman's Statement
- ↑ SVR News 168, Boardroom Notes, p.8.
- ↑ SVR News 171
- ↑ | RAIB Report Retrieved 19 February 2015
- ↑ Six Bells Junction