Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2012
This page details events on the Severn Valley Railway during 2012.
January 2012[edit | edit source]
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' LMS Ivatt Class 2 46443 retired from service with boiler superheater header issues.
Spring 2012[edit | edit source]
Crewe announced a decision to use the boiler from Barry 10 locomotive 4115 for 6634, rather than the locomotive's own boiler. After this time, SVR News consistently advised 'No further progress to report' (the locomotive eventually left in 2017).
The Midland Railway Centre, Butterley's LMS Jinty 47327 appeared as 'Thomas' for two weekends in March and April. The two Thomas weekends attracted 7,424 passengers.[1]
Guy Martin was filmed helping overhaul Prairie Tank 5164 for the series 'How Britain Worked'.
March 2012[edit | edit source]
The Spring Steam Gala on 23-25 March saw a predominantly LNER theme with 5 guests; LNER Gresley A4 Pacific 60019 Bittern appearing 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. The five guests were:
- 47406: LMS Fowler class 3F Jinty 0-6-0T
- 60019 Bittern [4464]: LNER Gresley A4 Pacific (in LNER livery complete with 'valances' for the first time in preservation,
- 69023 Joem: BR(NE) Worsdell J72 0-6-0T
- 57566 [CR 828]: Caledonian Railway McIntosh 812 class 3F
- 69523 [GNR 1744]: LNER Gresley N2 class 0-6-2T
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![2012: 60019 Bittern [LNER 4464]](https://pro-wiki.s3.amazonaws.com/4073723/thumb/0/03/60019_20120323.jpg/400px-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[edit | edit source]
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.[2]
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[1].
May 2012[edit | edit source]
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:
- No 20: Furness Railway Sharp Stewart 0-4-0 of 1863
- No 3 Captain Baxter: Fletcher Jennings 0-4-0T of 1877
- No 1 Coffee Pot: Head Wrightson 0-4-0VBT of 1871
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Furness Railway No 20 -
No 3 Captain Baxter -
No 1 Coffee Pot
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.
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150th Anniversary plaque
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[edit | edit source]
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.
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3650 at Bridgnorth (Aug 2012)
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 part of BBC WM’s Red Alert Appeal for the charity Cure Leukaemia, the first of a series of fundraising challenges.[3]
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.[4]
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7812 Erlestoke Manor with gold smokebox)
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 GWR 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[5].
September 2012[edit | edit source]
Outside cylindered BR(W) pannier 1501 returned into service following an overhaul.
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1501 (9 September)
Michael Portillo visited the SVR on 16 September, filming as part of his Great British Railway Journeys series.
The Autumn Steam Gala on 21-23 September featured:
- 3650: GWR Collett 5700 class 0-6-0PT (took part following the summer hire and repair)
- 30120: LSWR Drummond T9 4-4-0
- 31806: SR Maunsell U class Mogul
- 58926 [LMS 7799]: LNWR Webb 0-6-2T Coal Tank (previously visited as LNWR 1054)
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3650 (Aug 2012)
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30120 -
31806 -
![58926 [LMS 7799]](https://pro-wiki.s3.amazonaws.com/4073723/thumb/6/64/58926_LMS_7799_20120922.jpg/400px-58926_LMS_7799_20120922.jpg)
58926 [LMS 7799]
![58926 [LMS 7799]](/File:58926_LMS_7799_20120922.jpg)
Indie band British Sea Power call in to perform a live gig at Kidderminster Station on 13 September.[6]
The Heritage Railway Association presented their Carriage & Wagon Competition award for 2010 on 22 September for LMS 7511 Restaurant First Open
October 2012[edit | edit source]
The SVR launched a share offer seeking to raise £4m for developing the Bridgnorth Station site, returning 4930 Hagley Hall to steam, the refurbishment of the Great Western set of carriages, and the establishment of a Heritage Training Academy.[7]
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[edit | edit source]
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.[8]
December 2012[edit | edit source]
2857 suffered a failure of a copper steam pipe. As a result, Ian Riley's Black 5 44871 spent 2 weeks on hire to the SVR assisting with the Christmas services.
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44871 at Highley, 5 Jan 2013
'Mighty Mogul' 42968 bowed out of traffic on the final working day of the 2012 season.
See also[edit | edit source]
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References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Express Points Web Round-Up, May 2012
- ↑ Lord Faulkner of Worcester's Flickr page
- ↑ 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)
- ↑ SVR(H) Company Accounts for the period ended 6 January 2013, Chairman's Statement
- ↑ Express Points Web Round Up, September 2012