Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2017
This page details events on the Severn Valley Railway during 2017.
January 2017[edit | edit source]
GWR Small Prairie 4566 was withdrawn from service at the end of the Festive Season trains, at the expiry of its boiler certificate.
Work began on the major infrastructure project for the winter close down period, the renewal of formation and relaying of ½ mile of track in the vicinity of Waterworks Crossing.
The Heritage Railway Association awarded Kidderminster Traction Maintenance Depot its Modern Traction Award for the depot's ‘major contribution to modern traction preservation’.[1]
By 23 January share sales had reached £880,000[2].
February 2017[edit | edit source]
The SVR announced a ten-year commercial contract for the stabling of the 'Belmond Northern Belle' coaching stock at Kidderminster.
The Railwayman's Arms won the CAMRA "Bridgnorth Pub of The Year Award 2017"
SVR Charitable Trust announced they have made a further application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for £900,000 to restore Falling Sands Viaduct.
In 2016 the SVR carried an estimated 252,330 (245,800 - 2015) passengers. This is rebased on passengers carried rather than tickets sold and so is more directly comparable to the era when shareholders were included in data.
The waiting room at Arley Station became licensed to hold civil marriages and partnerships.[3].
March 2017[edit | edit source]
By 6 March share sales had reached £1,000,000[4].
The SVR acquired six BR 'Seacow' 40t Bogie Ballast Hoppers which arrived by rail.
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Seacow ballast hoppers at Eardington
The Spring Steam Gala on 17-19 March saw 4,537 tickets purchased against a budget figure of 4,300 (compared to 3,537 tickets purchased in 2016). The gala featured visiting locomotives:
- 41312: LMS Ivatt 2MT Prairie
- 34081 92 Squadron: SR Bulleid Battle of Britain Class Pacific (first visit to the SVR)
- 92214: BR Riddles Standard 9F class 2-10-0
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41312 -
34081 92 Squadron -
92214
April 2017[edit | edit source]
The Open House Weekend on 8-9 April featured 30 model railways, the chance to drive a Class 50 and the usual host of other attractions. It brought 2,181 paying passengers, an increase of 380 on the same event in 2016[5].
May 2017[edit | edit source]
Bricklaying of the new station building at Bridgnorth began at a ceremony on 3 May. Construction of the base for the building had been completed the week before.
On 16 May the rear wheel set on the tender of GWR 2857 Heavy Goods Loco derailed at a slow speed whilst travelling light engine and swapping sets at Kidderminster, with no passengers involved. 2857's tender had only recently returned from Tyseley after tyre turning. An investigation was instigated.
The King & Castle won the "Wyre Forest CAMRA Pub of the Season for Spring 2017".[6]
The Spring Diesel Festival from 18-20 May involved 17 visiting locomotives and a rake of Mark 2 coaches.
On 26 May the SVR Charitable Trust 'Future Fund' appeal reached its target to meet the HLF matched funding grant of £500,000.[5]
Fictitiously numbered Ruston and Hornsby 165hp Diesel Shunter D2957 emerged from a repaint carrying its works number 319290.
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Newly repainted 319290 in Bewdley Yard
By 31 May share sales had reached £1,200,000[7].
June 2017[edit | edit source]
The railway announced problems with an embankment slippage around the Bridge 19 area, also known as County Boundary, which had first been detected in 2016. The design for the remedial work required to stabilise the area was complete and work started to prepare the site for the stabilisation scheme.[5]
The railway published a progress update on its 2009 Strategic Plan.[5]
The Worcester Raceday on 14 June raised £23,000 for the SVR Charitable Trust
On 15 June new resident BR Class 09 09107 arrived on the SVR from Kingsbury for restoration.
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09107 after restoration (2019)
Four new 35 tonne Mechan jacks were provided for the Diesel Depot
On 16 June share sales had reached £1,250,000.
The 10th anniversary of the 2007 Storm Damage was commemorated on 19 June by the formal opening of the exhibition at The Engine House and a two special trains for members with the Belmond Northern Belle hauled by SR 34027 Taw Valley and mainline 57303 Pride of Carlisle.[5]
On 18 June the SVR Charitable Trust announced it had secured financial backing from the HLF to develop its bid for £1 million towards restoring Falling Sands Viaduct.
July 2017[edit | edit source]
GWR 6562 Brake Composite returned to service on 16 July.
-
Newly outshopped 6562
Proceeds from the sale of Peep Behind the Scenes wristbands came to well over £2,500, excluding donations made directly to individual restoration projects.
GB Railfreight Class 66 No 66763 Severn Valley Railway visited the SVR with five biomass hoppers. The locomotive and hoppers made round trips over the line on 26 and 27 July.
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66763 with biomass hoppers
August 2017[edit | edit source]
The SVR Charitable Trust was awarded £9,500 from the Hendy and Pendle Charitable Trust for the Heritage Skills Training Academy towards training an engineering apprentice.
On Saturday 12 August the 'Steam on the Road' event also featured an appearance by 'Plimsoll', a rail-mounted Land Rover, which made a return trip between Bridgnorth and Kidderminster during the day.
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'Plimsoll' arrives at Hampton Loade
The SVR announced that SR 34053 Sir Keith Park would leave the railway at the end of 2017.
On 26 August, share sales reached £1,500,000 (announced on 4 September).
September 2017[edit | edit source]
On 10 September the annual 'On the Buses' event at Bewdley featured a New Routemaster ("Boris Bus") as well as the normal vintage exhibits.
On 10 September the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway announced BR Class 20 D8059 and sister D8188 had joined their fleet.
Both The King & Castle and The Railwayman's Arms were featured in the 2018 CAMRA Good Beer Guide
The Autumn Steam Gala took place on 21-24 September. 34027 Taw Valley and 34053 Sir Keith Park hauled the overnight services, the latter making a last gala appearance before a planned move to the Swanage Railway at the beginning of 2018. Attendance on the Sunday was depressed by access issues caused by the routing of the 'Vélo Birmingham' cycling event resulting in multiple and widespread road closures. The guest locomotives were:
- 30926 Repton [SR926]: SR Maunsell V Schools class 4-4-0
- 65462 [GER 564]: GER Worsdell Y14 class 0-6-0
- 31323 Bluebell [SR 323]: SECR Wainwright P class 0-6-0T
- No. 2 Prince Festiniog Railway Small England class 0-4-0TT (George England works no 199/1863: 1ft 11½in gauge. Gave footplate rides in the Engine House car park)
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30926 Repton -
![65462 [GER 564]](https://pro-wiki.s3.amazonaws.com/4073723/thumb/d/d6/GER_564_20170922.jpg/400px-GER_564_20170922.jpg)
65462 [GER 564] -
31323 Bluebell -
Prince
![65462 [GER 564]](/File:GER_564_20170922.jpg)
October 2017[edit | edit source]
The long-stored boiler of SR 34010 Sidmouth left Bridgnorth to go to a boiler specialist for inspection and restoration.
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The boiler from 34010 Sidmouth
The old, round, £1 coins ceased to be legal tender and on 16 October SVR Charitable Trust appealed for them to be donated to the Bridgnorth Development Project.
On 19 October, share sales reached £2,000,000.
On 19 October BR Class 20 20177 left on a transporter for scrapping at C F Booth Ltd.
Network Rail's Loram CRG(01) Corrective Rail Grinder arrived on the SVR on 23 October.
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Rail grinder at Highley
The 2016 share offer closed on 31 October. The following day the SVR's web site confirmed that £2.5m had been achieved (£2,548,505) together with £83,000 donations to the SVR Charitable Trust[8].
November 2017[edit | edit source]
On 4 November visiting 50007 became the first locomotive to use the new lifting jacks at the Diesel Depot.
On 6 November the SVR announced an increase in car park changes from £3 to £4 in recognition of increased parking charges at Kidderminster main line station.
On 10 November GWR 0-6-2T 6634 left the SVR, departing by road for Peak Rail where owning group The Waterman Railway Heritage Trust is now based.
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6634 awaiting collection
On 11 November, Vintage Trains The Valley Rambler rail tour worked from Tyseley to Stratford, Bridgnorth and return to Tyseley double headed by 9466 and 9600.[9]
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express sold The Northern Belle, stabled at Kidderminster, to a joint venture between tour promotor David Pitts, owner of Wakefield-based marketing agency D P Publicity, and David Smith, owner of West Coast Railways.
The GWR 813 Preservation Fund staged special full-line brake van rides behind GWR 0-6-0PT 813 on 25 November, the event marking the 50th anniversary of the locomotive's arrival on the SVR.
December 2017[edit | edit source]
On 10 December all Santa Special services were cancelled in light of heavy snow overnight and complete loss of power at Arley Station.
On 26 December it was found GNR 2701 Composite Corridor and GWR 1146 Full Third stabled at Kidderminster Town station had been vandalised with graffiti
The post-Christmas Festive service saw the four seviceable cars of the Class 108 DMU stood down and replaced by loco and coaches due to higher passenger traffic numbers. Visiting BR Class 33 33108 ran one day (no train heating) before steam took over the remaining days.
On 31 December GWR 7812 Erlestoke Manor came out of traffic at the end of her boiler ticket
See also[edit | edit source]
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References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Kidderminster Shuttle 5 January 2017 (retrieved 15 January 2017)
- ↑ SVR website
- ↑ SVR website news item 'It’s ‘I Do’ for our newest wedding venue – just in time for Valentines!', February 2017
- ↑ SVR website
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 SVRLive
- ↑ SVR Official Facebook
- ↑ SVR e-newsletter
- ↑ SVR Website share offer page (retrieved 1 November 2017)
- ↑ Six Bells Junction