Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2010-2019
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Significant events in the history of the Severn Valley Railway in preservation between 2010 and the present date are set out below.
2010[edit | edit source]
2010 saw the 40th anniversary of the official opening of the SVR. Two ‘must-do’ engineering projects were in progress, an overhaul of the Bridgnorth By-pass Bridge which had been deferred at the time of the 2007 storm damage, and installation of the wheel-drop at Bridgnorth which required a 12,000 cubic foot hole to be dug in the locomotive works.
2010 also became ‘the year of the tender’. The axles on 43106’s tender had suffered damage in the derailment the previous year, but the locomotive was returned to service after the Strathspey Railway kindly loaned the axles from the tender of 46512 which was not in service at the time. Next came a broken spring hanger bracket on 7812 Erlestoke Manor’s tender, temporarily resolved by a loan from the Foxcote Manor Group at Llangollen while new castings were made. Finally 42968 suffered wheel flats on the tender, and resumed service using the tender from Black 5 45110 which was brought back from Barrow Hill where the locomotive was on static display.
Other legacies of the derailment saw the SVR invest in more sophisticated locomotive weighing equipment to ensure the correct adjustment of locomotive and tender springs, and the acquisition of a Track Data Recording Device, a simple three-wheeled lightweight unit to measure track conditions such as twist, superelevation, gauge, gradient and rail condition.
January 2010
- New points were installed at Hampton Loade to replace those damaged in the derailment the previous autumn. Services from Kidderminster terminated at Highley while the work took place.
February 2010
- On 23 February the internal enquiry team's report into the previous year's Hampton Loade derailment was presented to the SVR(H) Board. The recommendations were accepted in full. These included responsibility for safety residing solely with SVR(H) rather than the Joint Board, reviewing the SMS and insituting an audit procedure to ensure compliance[1].
March 2010
- Visitors at the Spring ‘Reunion’ Gala were 61994 The Great Marquess (in BR Black livery), BR Standard 2MT 2-6-0 No 78019 (which had never steamed while at the SVR), GWR 0-6-0PT No 5786 which had spent 10 months on the SVR in 1969/70, and GWR 0-6-2T No 6695 after winter work at Bridgnorth.
April 2010
- On 21 April E6005 (73005) left the SVR by road. It had suffered an axle bearing fault and seized turbo around 2005.[2]
- On 24 April DEMU 1001 operated Hastings Diesels Limited’s 'Severn Explorer' railtour from Hastings to Bridgnorth.[3][2]
- On 26 April a Network Rail test train was used to check the full length of the line for track twists and dipped rail joints. Those found were dealt with by the P.W. staff.[2]
- On 28 April D3022 conducted a big shunt at The Engine House with LMS 798 Royal Coach being moved in.
May 2010
- 43106 hauled the 40th anniversary special.
July 2010:
- 42968 became the first locomotive to use the new wheel-drop ‘in anger’, with the rear driving wheels being removed to attend to wear in the axle boxes.
- 'Kids for a Quid' offered £1 fares for children from 24 July to 31 August. Ticket Treats for Grown-Ups offered reduced price off-peak travel during July.[4]
- The Ffestiniog Railway’s 1' 11½" gauge 1863 locomotive No 2 ‘Prince’ was on display in The Engine House.
Summer 2010
- The locomotive fleet was again ‘one short’ for the summer peak service, resulting in the hire of GWR 2884 Class 3802 from Llangollen, utilising 7822 'Foxcote Manor's' tender to save transport costs.
August 2010
- A Q&A session on 21 August reported the recession had truly hit; in the first six months of the year SVR Passenger numbers were 13% down and all departments were asked to economise as much as possible.[5]
- The railway pulled in more than 30 prospective new guards from a special recruiting day on 14 August[6].
September 2010
- The Autumn ‘Anniversary’ Gala saw three former resident locomotives revisiting; 3205 (which hauled the first train on opening day 40 years earlier), 45690 Leander and 3717 City of Truro. GWR ‘Small Prairie’ 5542 and SR Bullied un-rebuilt West Country Class No 34070 Manston also took part.
October 2010
- 8-9 October saw a ‘Railcar Reunion’. Visiting diesel railcars varied in age from the oldest active BR diesel unit in preservation, the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway’s BR ‘Lightweight’ unit M79900 of 1956, to the youngest, pioneer ‘Sprinter’ 3-car set 150 001 of 1984 which was still in use by London Midland at the time.
- 686 The Lady Armaghdale was moved into The Engine House on 18 October, having been repainted into the red livery of her second owners, ICI Limited.
November 2010 There were no trains to/from Bridgnorth during November, due to track re-laying on Eardington bank.[7]
December 2010
- Exceptionally cold weather up to and over Christmas caused difficulties for Boxing Day re-opening. Despite engines having remained lit up over the fortnight and heated where possible, 7802 suffered a fracture in an injector delivery pipe prior to departing Bewdley MPD that morning, its place on the first train of the day taken by 42968 after the tender brake cylinder and water feed pipes were defrosted by means of oily rags, alight, and wrapped around the ends of pallet wood! 43106 suffered a shattered piston and broken cylinder cover attributed to the cold weather. 42968 ran the service alone that day and during the course of it clocked up 100,000 miles in preservation.
- 46443 was in the shed for two weeks and actually became stuck to the ground by icicles.
- The HLF rejected a bid for funds for a wagon shed
2011[edit | edit source]
January 2011
- On 20 January 2011, thieves broke into Bridgnorth Boiler Shop and stole a quantity of copper worth approximately £70,000.
- Work began on two major infrastructure upgrades. At Arley Station the track was re-laid with improved drainage being installed, while the platforms were also re-faced. At Bewdley South (Sandbourne) viaduct the track bed was removed to reveal the top of the brick arches, which were lined to make them waterproof. Both jobs were completed in time for re-opening in late March. The P.W. staff also carried out major track renewals between Sterns and Hay Bridge and between Victoria Bridge and Arley.
February 2011
- 7802 Bradley Manor’s firebox was deemed unfit for further service, 8 months before its boiler certificate was due to expire.
March 2011
- On 6 March 40 workers from the national stationery and office supplies retailer Ryman, dressed as nuns in traditional black habits, pulled D8059 over a short section of track as part of a bid to raise £10,000 for Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day. The Nuns on the Pull (Planes, Trains and Automobiles) charity day pulled an aeroplane 100 yards at East Midlands Airport before moving to the SVR to pull the locomotive 100 yards along the track.[8]
- On 11 March the new wheeldrop at Bridgnorth Loco Works was officially opened in the presence of invited guests, including representatives from First Group and Heritage Railway Awards.[8]
- On 24 March boiler SVR1 was dispatched to the Talyllyn Railway at Tywyn. This was the first new boiler to be completed by the SVR and the first boiler completed in Bridgnorth for nearly two hundred years. It was fitted to Talyllyn Railway No 2 Dolgoch.[8]
April 2011
- No Spring Steam Gala had taken place due to the engineering work. Plans for an Easter re-visit by 60163 Tornado were thwarted when the locomotive failed in late 2010 with boiler issues. Easter instead saw a ‘Postman Pat’ event at The Engine House.
May 2011
- 43106 re-entered service following repairs to the damaged piston.
- Sharp Stewart 0-4-4T ‘Dunrobin’ arrived at Bridgnorth for a quotation for overhaul costs on behalf of the Beamish Railway Museum. The locomotive had recently been repatriated from Canada.
- The NRM’s Midland Compound No 1000 left the SVR. The locomotive had been on display in The Engine House since it opened in 2008.
- Ian Riley’s 'Black 5s' Nos 45407 and 44871 and Class 26 No. 5310 made an appearance at the 1960s event.
June 2011
- The SVR ran a special train on 1 June with proceeds going to help the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway, which had suffered two successive embankment collapses. The GWSR was one of the railways which had come to the aid of the SVR following the flood damage in 2007.
- Members of the cast of the TV series 'Allo 'Allo were interviewed prior to 2011 Severn Valley Railway 1940s weekend[9].
Summer 2011
- BR Standard 9F 2-10-0 No 92212 from the Mid Hants Railway became the third summer hire-in in three years, working services in July and August. The SVR’s new policy of weighing new locomotives on arrival (another legacy of the derailment) revealed two broken springs, which slightly delayed the entry into service.
- The Bewdley Carriage & Wagon Works won a contract job to finish paint Mike Little’s GWR Auto Coach No 238 ‘Chaffinch’. Mike Little’s locomotive No 1450 and his two Auto Coaches later moved to the SVR in 2014.
- 2857 re-entered service after a lengthy overhaul.
- From 23 July to 4 September advance purchase 'Summer Saver Tickets' gave a saving of 20% off the normal ‘Freedom of the Line’ price[10].
August 2011
- There was confusion over expansion plans. Local press reported the SVR could be extended and new stations built under ambitious multi-million pound plans. Quoting Nick Ralls, SVR general manager, it reported the SVR was considering “very aspirational” proposals that could be 20 years away to provide a link from Bridgnorth to the Ironbridge Gorge.[11] A clarification followed shortly thereafter ruling out an extension, but confirmed that SVR(H) had agreed to look again at the concept[12].
September 2011
- Autumn Steam Gala guests were 6024 King Edward I (deputising for ‘Blue King’ 6023 King Edward II which was unavailable), GWR Large Prairie 4160 (deputising for 5029 Nunney Castle also unavailable), Caledonian Railway McIntosh 812 3F no 828 (BR 57566) making a first visit in preservation to an English railway, and 60163 Tornado whose boiler had been repaired in Germany during the summer. Summer hire-in 9F 92212 also took part. By public demand a new evening fare was introduced for travel on trains between 6.00pm and midnight.
- Phil Brown was appointed to the vacant post of Operations Manager, coming from the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway where he was Deputy Operating Manager.
November 2011
- BR Standard Tank No 80072 arrived on hire from Llangollen to help with the Santa Special services.
2012[edit | edit source]
January 2012
- The major engineering project for the winter began, involving installing new drainage and track in and adjacent to Bewdley Tunnel. The work took 6 weeks, with the last tamping being finished at 9.00pm on the evening before the line re-opened on 11 February. The line was subject to a 10mph restriction for the next 3 months while further work took place, including welding the rails to reduce future maintenance.
- ‘The Peoples Engine’ 46443 retired from service with boiler superheater header issues.
Spring 2012
- Crewe announced a decision to use the boiler from Barry 10 locomotive 4115 for 6634, rather than the locomotive’s own boiler. From this point on, SVR News consistently advised ‘No further progress to report’.
- The Midland Railway Centre, Butterley’s LMS Jinty 47327 appeared as ‘Thomas’ for two weekends in March and April.
- Guy Martin was filmed helping overhaul Prairie Tank 5164 for the series 'How Britain Worked'.
March 2012
- The Spring Steam Gala saw a predominantly LNER theme with 5 guests; LNER Gresley A4 Pacific 60019 Bittern appearing in LNER livery complete with 'valances' for the first time in preservation, LNER Worsdell E1 J72 69023 ‘Joem’, Gresley N2 Class GNR 1744, Caledonian Railway McIntosh 812 class No 828 which had been re-wheeled following work over the winter, and LMS Fowler 3F Jinty No 47406. The recently completed restoration of LNER Restaurant Car 7960 allowed Bittern to haul a rake of 8 Gresley Teak coaches, a preservation first.
-
![2012: 60019 Bittern [LNER 4464]](https://pro-wiki.s3.amazonaws.com/4073723/thumb/0/03/60019_20120323.jpg/120px-60019_20120323.jpg)
2012: 60019 Bittern [LNER 4464] -
2012: 69023 "Joem" -
2012: CR 828 (57566) and Jinty 47406 -
2012: GNR 1744 (69523)
![2012: 60019 Bittern [LNER 4464]](/File:60019_20120323.jpg)
April 2012
- Although 2857 had only entered service a year earlier, a decision was reluctantly made to lift the boiler to resolve an ongoing issue with leaking stays.
- On 13 April the Parliamentary All-Party Rail Heritage Group enjoyed a day at the railway.[13]
- The two Thomas weekends attracted 7,424 passengers.[14]
- A number of locomotive exhibits were re-arranged in the Engine House. Pannier 7714 left to begin an overhaul at Bridgnorth, while the Royal Mail TPO returned. Jinty 47383, 4930 Hagley Hall and 600 Gordon moved to the ‘back’ road, while 8F 48773 was turned and moved to the ‘front’ road.
- Severn Valley Engineering Services at Bridgnorth MPD took delivery of a Colchester 2000 to boost the number of lathes available for use, and a C.N.C. lathe to give the works the ability to produce stays and other associated items for the SVR and for contract[14].
May 2012
- A Victorian event was held in May to celebrate 150 years since the opening of the original Severn Valley Railway in 1862. The event saw three guest locomotives of the period, Furness Railway No 20 0-4-0 of 1863 from the Furness Railway Trust, Head Wrightson 0-4-0VBT ‘Coffee Pot’ of 1871 from the Beamish Museum, and Fletcher Jennings 0-4-0T No 3 ‘Captain Baxter’ of 1877 from the Bluebell.
- An Extraordinary General Meeting was held on 4 May at which The SVR Rolling Stock Trust Co Limited became the Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust Limited. This would enable the charity to support a wider range of activities.
- On 14 May 2012 the SVR's Patron, HRH The Duke of Gloucester, unveiled a plaque at Bewdley Station commemorating the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Severn Valley Railway in 1862.
- On Thursday 24 May the Olympic Torch arrived on the SVR. 7812 Erlestoke Manor carried the torch between Bewdley and Kidderminster, pausing for a photo opportunity with Bewdley Safari Park’s elephants.
- SR Bullied Battle of Britain class locomotive 34053 Sir Keith Park arrived at Bridgnorth on indefinite loan from owners Southern Locomotives Limited. The locomotive, newly restored from ex-Barry condition, entered service in August following final testing and ‘fettling’ at the SVR.
Summer 2012
- The connection between the SVR and the main line at Kidderminster was upgraded. The work was done in conjunction with Network Rail who were transferring responsibility for main line signalling from the Kidderminster main line signal box to the West Midlands Signalling Centre.
- Negotiations were under way with locomotive owners with a view to establishing a new Rolling Stock Agreement.
- The SVR was again short of locomotives, partly resulting from a succession of spring failures which eventually resulted in a change of spring supplier. Didcot Railway Centre’s GWR Pannier 3650 arrived in July. Having been booked with a cover leaking, investigation showed a long-term cracked cylinder block. This was stitched with Metalock, the owners allowing the locomotive to take part in the Autumn Steam Gala in thanks.
- An SVR landmark disappeared with the demolition of the two 230ft high silos on the former British Sugar Corporation site at Foley Park.
- On 6 August ‘Blind Dave’ Heeley drove a steam train at Bewdley as pert of BBC WM’s Red Alert Appeal for the charity Cure Leukaemia, the first of a series of fundraising challenges.[15]
- Residents in Birmingham and Worcestershire enjoyed a day out on the SVR on 19 August from just £5 each as part of celebrations to mark the co-operative movement. Birmingham Co-operative Housing Services (bchs) and Redditch Co-operative Homes (RCH) organised the trip to celebrate the International Year of the Co-operatives, which aimed to raise awareness of businesses owned and run by their members.
- A 'Visit Heart of England' promotion saw one child travelling free with each adult 'Freedom of the Line' ticket purchased.
- On 29 August GWR 7812 Erlestoke Manor masqueraded as sister GWR 7802 Bradley Manor and was given a Bradley Wiggins-style makeover with a coat of gold paint and sideburns in honour of Team GB’s success at London 2012 Olympics.[16]
- English Heritage published a report on signalboxes in England, noting: "... three on the Severn Valley Railway, all good examples in their original locations and in excellent condition; Bewdley North (1878), Bewdley South (date not known) and Highley (1883). All three would be potential listing candidates [...] while the box formerly at Yorton (1882), now moved to Arley on the Severn Valley Railway, is a well-preserved all-timber box."
- Tentative discussions were held with representatives of 5029 Nunney Castle concerning the possibility of her having a home at the SVR, operation on the SVR and occasional mainline trips, which did not come to fruition[17].
September 2012
- Outside cylindered BR(W) pannier 1501 returned into service following an overhaul.
- Michael Portillo visited the SVR on 16 September, filming as part of his Great British Railway Journeys series.
- The Autumn Steam Gala featured two Southern locomotives, the NRM’s LSWR Drummond T9 No 30120 and the Mid Hants Railway’s SR Maunsell U class No 31806. The gala also featured a return visit from the LNWR Webb Coal Tank 1054, this time in LMS livery as 7799. GWR Pannier 3650 also took part following the summer hire and repair.
- Indie band British Sea Power call in to perform a live gig at Kidderminster Station on 13 September.[18]
- The Heritage Railway Association presented their Carriage & Wagon Competition award for 2010 on 22 September for LMS 7511 Restaurant First Open
October 2012
- The SVR launched a share offer to raise money for developing the Bridgnorth Station site and returning 4930 Hagley Hall to steam.
- On 26 October a race from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster was staged between 34053 Sir Keith Park and a Morgan 3-wheeler car to raise money for the BBC’s Children In Need. The car won by 5 minutes, with over £5,000 raised for the charity.
November 2012
- The Reverse Osmosis water treatment plants at both Kidderminster and Bridgnorth were causing issues; a number of key parts had to be replaced.
- Metropolitan Railway 0-4-4T No 1 came to the SVR for testing prior to participating in the London Underground events in 2013. The visit was not announced in advance and was not open to the public, as it involved running at up to 50mph on certain sections of the line.
- The SVR announced its Annual Family Pass
- A 'Visit Heart of England Promotion' allowed one child to travel free with each adult ticket purchased until 25 November 2012.[19]
December 2012
- 2857 suffered a failure of a copper steam pipe. As a result, Ian Riley’s Black 5 44871 spent 2 weeks at the SVR assisting with the Santa Special services.
- ‘Mighty Mogul’ 42968 bowed out of traffic on the final working day of the 2012 season.
2013[edit | edit source]
Spring 2013
- The share issue had reached £1.2m. However consultation meetings with members and shareholders had drawn criticism of the architectural approach being planned. A group had prepared an alternative design which became known as ‘Plan B’. Following a consultation meeting in February 2013, the ‘Plan B’ group were invited to meet with the project Working Group, while the SVR(H) Board also agreed to the formation of a Conservation and Heritage Committee, initially to be chaired by David Postle of Kidderminster Railway Museum.
- 350hp 0-6-0 diesel shunter 09 012 was purchased from the Harry Needle Company.
- The SVR confirmed that 80079 had not been sold, contrary to stories appearing in the press at the time.
- The SVR, in common with other heritage railways, was experiencing problems obtaining supplies of coal following the closures of Daw Mill Colliery after a fire and of Scottish Coal which had gone into administration.
March 2013
- The Spring Steam Gala was hit by heavy snow, resulting in attendances being around half of the numbers expected. The Railway still managed to run the services as planned, including guests SR un-rebuilt Bulleid West Country class pacific No 34007 Wadebridge, USA Porter ‘yankee tank’ No 65 (SR 30065), GWR Collett 1400 class 0-4-2T No 1450, and BR Standard 4MT 4-6-2T No 80072.
- The LNER (SVR) Coach Fund took delivery of a supply of teak for use in the teak set.[20] This was retrieved in 2011 from the submerged British merchant ship SS Pegu, which was torpedoed off Ireland during WW1.[21]
Summer 2013
- The Furness Railway Trust’s GWR 5600 class 0-6-2T No 5643 joined the SVR on hire for the rest of the year.
- The Boards of SVR(H) and the Guarantee Company agreed to an exchange of tenders with the David Clarke Railway Trust, custodians of 6990 Witherslack Hall. The exchange suited both parties, as 4930 Hagley Hall would receive a 4000 gallon Collett fluted tender appropriate for a 1929-built locomotive, while 6990 would receive a Hawksworth straight-sided tender appropriate for a 1948-built Modified Hall.
August 2013
- 43106 returned to service after a mid-term overhaul which had lasted 8 months. The locomotive had required a new drag box to be fitted, and the opportunity was taken to overhaul the boiler at the same time.
- A re-commissioning celebration for 34053 Sir Keith Park was held at Kidderminster. Guests included representatives of the owners Southern Locomotives Limited, veterans of the RAF who flew in the Battle of Britain, Terence Stevens Prior, the great-nephew of Sir Keith Park, and Oliver Bulleid, the grandson of the locomotive’s designer.
September 2013
- The share offer officially closed, having just passed a total of £2m.
- The Autumn Steam Gala saw visits from LMS Stanier 8P Princess Coronation class No 46233 Duchess of Sutherland (replacing the booked 70000 Britannia), SR Maunsell Schools class No 925 Cheltenham (BR 30925, replacing the booked SR 850 Lord Nelson), Metropolitan Railway 0-4-4T Number 1, and GWR 4936 Kinlet Hall which would remain on hire over the winter season. Talyllyn Railway 2 ft 3 in gauge 0-4-2ST ‘Sir Haydn’ travelled the line as part of the freight workings, and would later spend the winter on display in The Engine House. Passengers paid a £5 supplement to travel in Victorian first class style between Hampton Loade and Bridgnorth in Metropolitan Railway 'Jubilee' carriage No. 353.
- An SVR Family Campaign launched, to increase family visitors and to build a sustainable base level of passengers by showcasing the Railway as a great family day out in its own right on a ‘normal’ operating day. It featured TV adverts, posters on key high traffic sites, adverts in local magazines and newspapers, adverts on London Midland trains and posts on social media.
- The SVR leased a unit at Stanmore Industrial Estate, Bridgnorth to clear the MPD of stores and what was affectionately known as ‘Tranter Towers’. The cleared space was to allow for the relocation of some workshop machinery and open up further space for locomotive overhaul.
- S&T rewired Hampton Loade signal box from 9 September, with an amended timetable in operation.
- The Great Western (SVR) Association ran a special train on 18 September to mark the completion of GWR Saloon 9103. This was the first chance to see the tthree saloons 9055, 9369 and 9103 together. The train included a stop at Bewdley to view progress on GWR Collett open brake third 650.
October 2013
- On 6 October a special Shareholders' and Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust day was held at The Engine House to witness the removal of GWR 4930 Hagley Hall.[22]
- Gala visitors No. 925 'Cheltenham' and No. 4936 'Kinlet Hall' additionally operated service trains on 12 and 13 October.
- The Lord Lieutenants of Worcestershire and Shropshire presented The Queen's Award for Volunteering on 21 October.
November 2013
- On 2 November the 'Blue Bell Explorer' rail tour hauled by 70013 Oliver Cromwell ran from Bridgnorth to the Bluebell Railway in Sussex, becoming the first rail tour to use the newly re-signalled main line connection at Kidderminster. 47580 County of Essex worked the return trip.[23]
December 2013
- Large Prairie 5164 retired from service at the end of the 2013 season, running its last public passenger trains on 5 January 2014.
The total mileages for the year recorded by the SVR's steam locomotives are shown in the table below.[24]
2014[edit | edit source]
Winter 2013-14
- Over the winter ‘Tranter Towers’, the storage and office area within the Bridgnorth works, was taken down to provide more space for locomotive overhauls. Infrastructure projects included track relaying near Sterns, improved drainage near Platform 2 at Bridgnorth and straightening of the main line connection at Kidderminster to increase the speed limit from 5mph to 15mph. The latter was completed in time for an incoming rail tour hauled by 70013 Oliver Cromwell to make use of it.
March 2014
- Mike Little’s locomotive No 1450 and two Auto Coaches arrived, initially for the 2014 season.
- The Spring Steam Gala saw visits from BR(W) Hawksworth 1600 class Pannier Tank No 1638, from the Kent & East Sussex Railway, GWR Collett 6400 class Pannier Tank No 6435 from the Bodmin & Wenford Railway, BR(W) 7800 Manor Class No 7828 Odney Manor from the West Somerset Railway, and 4936 Kinlet Hall which had remained at the SVR since being hired last summer. 7828 had in recent years been running as ‘Norton Manor’ at the WSR, but reverted to its original name during the SVR visit. 4936 finally left the SVR in early summer.
April 2014
- The SVR occupied a new Head Office building at Number One, Comberton Hill, adjacent to Kidderminster station. Long term plans for the Bewdley Station building, the former Head Office, included a new buffet to replace the current portable building. In the event a further temporary building replaced it in 2020.
- On 10 April the Charitable Trust raised £62,000 from an exceptional charity fundraiser at Ludlow Race Course, doubled by the Heritage Lottery Fund. A guest from a West Midlands Trust donated a further £106,000 on the day to fund the training of 2 apprentices for 5 years at the newly formed Heritage Skills Training Academy.[25]
- On 12 April at a job fair at the Members & Shareholders day over 100 people registered their interest in volunteering and 33 names and addresses were also recorded to go forward for induction courses.[25]
- On 22 April D1015 Western Champion hauled D1062 Western Courier from Kidderminster to Tyseley for tyre turning, providing a maroon Western hauling another on the mainline, a scene not seen for decades.[25]
May 2014
- Peter’s Railway Young Engineers’ Centre opened on 24 May at The Engine House explaining more about railway engineering and how a steam locomotive works.
Summer 2014
- The 2014 summer hire-in was the Midland Railway Centre Butterley’s BR Standard 5MT No 73129, the only surviving Standard 5MT with Caprotti valve gear rather than the normal Walschaerts valve gear. Following spring changes after weighing on arrival, the locomotive proved a popular visitor.
- For the first time no ‘battle’ was staged at the 1940s weekends.
- Trials of Welsh steam coal from Ffos-y-fran proved successful, and this became the normal source of supply.
- On 14 July Barry Railway Carriage Trust and the SVR made a loan agreement for the presence and future use of Barry Railway Carriage 163.
- The total locomotive mileage passed 2 million steaming miles.
- Replica locomotive Catch Me Who Can spent 2 months on display at the Dutch Railway Museum at Utrecht as part of the 175th anniversary of the railways in the Netherlands.
- A Bridgnorth Conservation Plan was published, as a precursor to the Development Project.
- On 16 July a wheel lathe was moved from the Carriage Repair Works at Kidderminster to the South Devon Railway. It had been unused for 20 years due to insufficient power supply.
- Despite an extensive television advertising campaign and a leaflet drop the passenger numbers in August were disappointing, with visitors 2,000 below 2013.
- The Engine House was newly licensed to conduct Weddings and Civil Ceremonies
September 2014:
- The 'Fantastic Fares' offer returned with up to 30% off adult and child fares throughout September and October.
- On 6 September Chiltern Trains operated a return ‘Silver King’ charter from London Marylebone to Bridgnorth using their modern rolling stock, Bo-Bo 67010 and Driving Van Trailer 82301.
- Stepping back to 1965, on 7 September the railway recreated the SLS special of 19 September 1965 to Alveley Colliery. Locomotives Nos. 1450 and 4566 stood in for former classmates 1420 and 4555.
- On 8 September a shunting incident occurred at Eardington involving a run through of the points.
- On 19 September B&Q donated £8,000 of tools and vouchers for Heritage Skills Training Academy's use, secured by the SVR Charitable Trust.
- Autumn Steam Gala visitors were Somerset & Dorset Fowler 7F No 88 (BR 53808) from the West Somerset Railway (making its last visit to another Railway before going out of ticket), LSWR Drummond M7No 30053 from the Swanage Railway, and LMS Fowler 4F No 43924 from the Worth Valley Railway. Caprotti Standard 5MT No 73129 also took part before returning to Butterley.
- Access to the Enterprise Investment Scheme, by which new shares issued by SVR qualified for tax relief, ended on 30 September.
Winter 2014
- BR Standard 9F 2-10-0 No 92214 was hired in from the Great Central Railway to help with the Santa Special services.
The total mileages recorded by the SVR's steam locomotives in 2014 were as follows:
| Locomotive | 2014 |
| 1450 | 2,110 |
| 1501 | 5,128 |
| 2857 | 10,477 |
| 4566 | 5,775 |
| 4936 | 507 |
| 7812 | 9,329 |
| 34053 | 8,220 |
| 43106 | 9,597 |
| 73129 | 3,550 |
| 92214 | 897 |
| Total | 55,591 |
2015[edit | edit source]
January-February 2015
- The winter saw a major infrastructure project, initiated by Severn Trent Water, which involved replacing three of the four large diameter water pipes bringing water from the Elan Valley to Birmingham where they cross under the trackbed between Bewdley and Arley near Folly Point. The replacement work was carried out by STW's contractors, but SVR staff and volunteers removed and replaced the trackbed and signalling equipment to enable the work to be carried out. Due to the lack of good road access to the aqueduct, the replacement pipes were transported from Bewdley station to the worksite by rail, using contracted SVR equipment in the form of diesel shunter 319290 and Gane 'A' 60841 [26]. The project over-ran, meaning the first 3 days of re-opening for half term week could not run between Bewdley and Highley.
- Other winter infrastructure work included replacement of the points and installation of improved drainage at the south end of Arley station. Restoration work was also carried out on Bewdley South (Sandbourne) and Bewdley North (Wribbenhall) viaducts.
- On 10 January this Wiki went live to the general public. The concept had been under development by a group of SVR Volunteers since the previous summer.[27]
- On 2 February the contractors arrived on site at Kidderminster to begin construction of the new Diesel Depot.
- The SVR was voted 'Heritage Site of the Year' in the BBC Countryfile Awards 2014/15; other shortlisted candidates included London’s Imperial War Museum, Georgian estate Kew Palace, Welsh architectural wonder Portmeirion and the pre-historic stone circle at Avebury.
March 2015
- The Spring Steam Gala saw 4 visitors: WD Austerity 2-8-0 'Dub Dee' No. 90733 from the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, former resident GWR pannier tank No. 5786 from the South Devon Railway (in London Underground livery as L92, the livery it first wore at the SVR), GWR 2-8-0T No. 4270 from the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway, and LNWR coal tank No. 1054 from the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway. The gala also saw the opening of an exhibition at The Engine House celebrating 50 years of the SVR.
- An unusual locomotive arrived on the SVR for a cosmetic overhaul in the form of Sentinel 9387.
April 2015
- On Monday 13 April, HRH The Princess Royal paid her first visit to the SVR. The visit began at Bewdley with a welcome and summary of the flood damage repairs, which were the focus of the last Royal Visit by HRH the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall in 2008. The Princess Royal then rode to Kidderminster on the footplate of 7812 Erlestoke Manor, crewed by driver Paul Fathers and fireman Ryan Green. After meeting four of the SVR’s founding members, Keith Beddoes, Christopher George, Columb Howell and Roger Hobson, The Princess Royal then unveiled a plaque celebrating 50 years of the SVR, and was presented with a locoman's billy can as a memento of the occasion.
- On Friday 17 April, the 82045 Steam Locomotive Trust organised the Eardington Explorer, a special train calling at disused Eardington, using locomotive 1450. Tickets were priced at £19.65, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the SVR, with funds going towards the purchase of 82045's boiler.
- On Monday 27 April, a Pump Trolley Challenge took place between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade, with 13 teams of volunteers in fancy dress taking part. Teams were judged on their costumes and enthusiasm (not speed!), with the Bridgnorth Engineering Services team being awarded first place.
- A Monster Raving Loony Party general election address proposed that HS2 be replaced by an extension of the Severn Valley Railway under a new company to be called the Eighth Valley Railway.[28]
May 2015
- English Electric Class 73/9 Electro-diesel No 73952 arrived on 4 May for three weeks of testing and crew training.
- On 16 May 34027 Taw Valley returned to service after a lengthy overhaul. She hauled an incoming railtour from London Victoria, "The Golden Jubilee Pullman", between Bewdley and Bridgnorth, also working an SVR service from Bridgnorth back to Kidderminster. She carried a wreath, as did the other SVR locomotives in service on the day, to commemorate the death earlier in the week of former owner Bert Hitchen.
June 2015
- 50031 was on the move 29 June from Eastleigh – RVEL Derby where it underwent a generator swap
July 2015
- On Monday 6 July, a special 50th Anniversary Dining Train was arranged for founding members and early pioneers of the SVR, being hauled by early SVR locomotive 43106. A photographic lineup was organised at Bridgnorth, with five SVR locomotives forming the backdrop.
- From 6 July the SVR planted some golden tickets offering six winners and their guest the chance to enjoy an exclusive, behind-the-scenes, VIP experience at the Severn Valley Railway.
- On 17 July, a separate 50th Anniversary Dinner was held at Spring Grove House, West Midland Safari Park, including a talk by Antiques Roadshow expert and railway enthusiast Paul Atterbury.
August 2015
- The "Step back to the 1960s" event was run on Friday 14th and Saturday 15th, with many 60s-themed exhibits, including car displays and a fashion show at The Engine House. On both evenings, music shows were held at Kidderminster, with performances by tribute acts The Stones (Friday) and The Who 2 (Saturday).
- On 8 August the SVR was operated almost entirely by current and former members of the SVR Junior Club in a unique tribute to much-loved volunteer, the late Don Wilcox - "Don's Day".
- Fifteen BR 'Rudd' Ballast Wagons were purchased from DB Schenker, which had been on loan since the 2007 Storm Damage.
September 2015
- The SVR's patron, HRH The Duke of Gloucester, visited the railway on Thursday 17th September. After a reception at Bridgnorth, he travelled to Hampton Loade and back on an autotrain hauled by GWR 1450. HRH accepted the opportunity to drive the train in both directions, which was done from the driving compartment of the autocoach on the outward journey. He then met a number of staff from the Bridgnorth locomotive works and boiler shop, as well as members of the 82045 Trust, of which he is also patron.
- The Autumn Steam Gala had a 50th anniversary theme. Two guest locomotives were former residents, BR Standard Class 7 70000 Britannia and LMS Ivatt Class 2 Mogul 46521. The gala also featured LMS Royal Scot No. 46100 Royal Scot, newly returned to steam following a 5-year overhaul.
- 43106 appeared at the LMS themed gala at Barrow Hill, becoming the first of her class to appear at the Roundhouse in half a century.
- On 29 September the railway purchased 10 acres of land to the West of Bridgnorth station, including Pan Pudding Hill. The purchase was done to safeguard the land from any developments such as housing estates, with plans including more permanent parking facilities (the fields had previously been used for overflow parking), and other uses such as a new volunteer accommodation building.[29]
October 2015
- A presentation to the October Board included a comprehensive review of track condition along the Railway, based upon measurements undertaken by the PWay team using the Abtus trolley and measuring equipment that was on test on the Railway.[30]
- Guests at the 2015 Diesel Gala were summer visitor Deltic 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier, Class 14 D9531, Class 17 D8568, Class 35 D7076 and Class 52 D1015 Western Champion.
- On 8 October Driving Motor Composite M52064 returned after work at Rowsley, Peak Railway.[30]
- LNER A1 No 60163 Tornado arrived on the SVR for a 3 week visit, operating from 6-27 October. Tornado had previously visited in 2009 and 2011.
- Having stayed at the SVR after its appearance at the Autumn Steam Gala, 46100 Royal Scot underwent high speed testing between Bewdley and Kidderminster, in preparation for a return to mainline service. During two weekends, Royal Scot was also used on passenger services alongside Tornado.
- On 11 October the Great Western (SVR) Association ran the a special train to celebrate the launch into service of GWR Collett open brake third 650 and to celebrate 100 years of 3930.[31]
November 2015
- 7802 Bradley Manor returned to service following an overhaul. The return coincided with the 'Manor 50' weekend, held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of steam on the Cambrian network. Bradley Manor was joined for the occasion by 7812 Erlestoke Manor and 7820 Dinmore Manor; the three locomotives being the last of their class to work on the Cambrian mainline.
- GWR 9103 Nondescript Saloon was awarded the title of Overall Winner in the Carriage and Wagon category of the Heritage Railway Association Awards in November 2015, due to the quality of its 30 year restoration that finished in 2013.
December 2015
- Structural work on the Diesel Depot was complete by December, with jobs such as wiring, installation of internal fittings, and painting being done by volunteer labour.[32]
- The lease of the Stourport Branch as far as Mount Pleasant tunnel to Rail Safety Solutions (RSS) was announced, this land still being owned by the SVR despite no track existing beyond the Stourport Triangle. RSS planned to train Network Rail apprentices in tracklaying and maintenance activities, and in return for the use of the land, the SVR would gain free training for its own staff, and use of a relaid portion of the Stourport Branch.
Locomotive mileages for the year are shown in the table below.
2016[edit | edit source]
See Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2016 page
2017[edit | edit source]
See Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2017 page
2018[edit | edit source]
See Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2018 page
2019[edit | edit source]
See Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2019 page
Steam locomotives used[edit | edit source]
A table of steam locomotives used since 2010 is shown below. Where detailed mileage records were not published in SVR News, locomotives used are marked 'X'. For locomotives hired in, the table identifies whether they were present either for the Summer (S) or Winter (W).
| Locomotive | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Comment |
| 813 | 515 | 1,724 | 1,592 | 1,344 | Returned to service November 2016 | ||||||
| 1450 | 2,110 | 1,714 | 1,297 | 2,640 | 3,487 | 1,178 | Arrived on SVR March 2014. | ||||
| 1501 | X | 4,701 | 5,128 | 4,356 | 4,755 | 5,546 | 8,042 | 5,311 | Returned to service September 2012 | ||
| 2857 | X | X | 10,624 | 10,477 | 10,828 | 8,216 | 5,278 | 8,209 | 8,605 | Returned to service summer 2011 | |
| 4566 | X | X | X | 4,606 | 5,775 | 5,644 | 4,346 | 84 | Withdrawn at end of 2016 season | ||
| 5164 | X | X | X | 8,556 | Withdrawn at end of 2013 season | ||||||
| 5764 | X | Withdrawn January 2011 | |||||||||
| 7714 | 366 | 7,770 | 7,105 | 9,253½ | Returned to service December 2016 | ||||||
| 7802 Bradley Manor | X | 1,238 | 9,139 | 7,592 | 8,739 | 4,328 | Withdrawn Feb 2011. Returned Nov 2015. Withdrawn 2019. | ||||
| 7812 Erlestoke Manor | X | X | X | 7,579 | 9,329 | 7,725 | 9,402 | 7,278 | Withdrawn Dec 2017. | ||
| 34027 Taw Valley | 6,265 | 7,716 | 5,956 | 7,241 | 7,002 | Returned to service May 2015 | |||||
| 34053 Sir Keith Park | X | 7,937 | 8,220 | 8,130 | 7,054 | 6,375 | 132 | Returned to Swanage at the end of the 2017 season | |||
| 42968 | X | X | X | Withdrawn at end of 2012 season | |||||||
| 43106 | X | X | X | 5,235 | 9,597 | 10,247 | 6,767 | 9,934 | 7,911 | 4,779 | Mid-term overhaul in 2013 |
| 46443 | X | X | Withdrawn January 2012 | ||||||||
| 75069 | 310 | 7,214 | |||||||||
| 3802 | X (S) | ||||||||||
| 6695 | X (W) | ||||||||||
| 92212 | X (S) | ||||||||||
| 80072 | X (W) | 465 (W) | 1,259 | ||||||||
| 3650 | X (S) | ||||||||||
| 44871 | X (W) | ||||||||||
| 4936 Kinlet Hall | 981 (S+W) | 507 (S) | |||||||||
| 5643 | 4,130 (S+W) | ||||||||||
| 6990 Witherslack Hall | X (Spring) | 680 (W) | 48 | ||||||||
| 73129 | 3,550 (S) | ||||||||||
| 92214 | 897 (W) | 414 | |||||||||
| 4144 | 5,742 (S) | ||||||||||
| 6960 Raveningham Hall | 4,659 (S+W) | ||||||||||
| Total | 49,408 | 55,591 | 56,147 | 59,573 | 63,613 | 58,496 | 61,439 |
See also[edit | edit source]
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
References[edit | edit source]
SVR News unless otherwise stated.
- ↑ SVR News 169
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Express Points Web Round-Up, May 2010
- ↑ Hastings Diesel Limited (Retrieved 24 April 2018)
- ↑ Express Points web round up, August 2010
- ↑ Express Points web round up, September 2010
- ↑ 'Severn Valley Railway in recruitment boost', Shropshire Star, 18 August 2010
- ↑ Express Points Web Round Up, September 2010
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Express Points Web Round-Up, April 2011
- ↑ Youtube, 24 June 2011 (Retrieved 28 June 2019)
- ↑ Express Pionts web round up, August 2011
- ↑ 'Severn Valley Railway has major expansion plans', Shropshire Star, 9 August 2011 (Retrieved 1 August 2019)
- ↑ 'Bosses rule out Severn Valley Railway extension', Shropshire Star, 11 August 2011 (Retrieved 1 August 2019)
- ↑ Lord Faulkner of Worcester's Flickr page
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Express Points Web Round-Up, May 2012
- ↑ Express Points web round up, September 2011
- ↑ Midlands Business News, 29 August 2012
- ↑ SVR Live
- ↑ 'British Sea Power steam in for Severn Valley Railway show', Shropshire Star, 2 August 2012 (Retrieved 1 August 2019)
- ↑ Express Points Web Round Up, September 2012
- ↑ Express Points Web Round Up October 2013
- ↑ SVR News 227, p.28
- ↑ Express Points Web Round-Up, September 2013
- ↑ Six Bells Junction
- ↑ SVR News 185. p12.
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Express Points Web Round-Up, May 2014
- ↑ https://www.svrlive.com/Pages/Infrastructure.aspx
- ↑ SVR-Online Forum post
- ↑ Express Points Web Round-Up, May 2015
- ↑ SVR Notice Board Issue NBI-H-276 "Purchase of 10 Acres of Land to the West of Bridgnorth"
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 Express Points Web Round-Up, October 2015
- ↑ Express Points Web Round-Up, August 2015
- ↑ Diesel Depot thread on SVRA forum