Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2021
2021 started in a third English national lockdown for the COVD-19 pandemic. All non-essential voluntary work was prohibited and vulnerable staff and volunteers required to 'shield', by staying at home. Vaccines were being rolled out to the population, with the most vulnerable (elderly and front-line workers) being given priority. Many SVR staff were furloughed. SVR public trains had been cancelled and The Engine House, the pubs, refreshment rooms and shops closed, with services hoped to recommence in April 2021.
January 2021[edit | edit source]
A reduced programme of winter works commenced consolidating works undertaken in 2020, with major works deferred.[1]
On 14 January John Hill died. He had the honour of driving the first passenger train out of Bridgnorth in 1967.
February 2021[edit | edit source]
On 11 February, during the third COVID-19 lockdown, a particularly egregious act of trespass occurred and was reported in the media. Two trespassers were disturbed by an engineers' train on Victoria Bridge, with abseiling equipment. The police were informed.[2]
On 15 February locomotive 66702 hauled newly converted 69001 from Longport (Stoke) to Kidderminster, for the delayed commencement of a testing contract.
New build 2999 Lady of Legend, GWR Churchward 2900 Saint class 4-6-0, was announced for the 2021 Spring Steam Up event which replaced the Spring Steam Gala. It had been announced for the 2020 event, cancelled due to COVID-19.
March 2021[edit | edit source]
The SVR announced an end to lineside passes and privately-run photo charters as income received is insignificant when compared to the potential risk these activities naturally contain.[3]
In the same announcement, Helen Smith said "The SVR is of particular interest to the ORR because of the two fall from height incidents that have happened in less than a year."[4] The ORR subsequently commenced a prosecution of SVR(H) following 'a safety incident that occurred in 2021'.[5]
Thieves stole 23 metal signs from Arley on 29 and 30 March.
On 30 March GWR Large Prairie 4150 was shunted out of Bewdley Down Yard after more than 43 years there, in preparation for a move to Bridgnorth Loco Works for restoration to be completed. The move took place the following month.
April 2021[edit | edit source]
On 2 April Arts Council England awarded Kidderminster Railway Museum Trust Ltd £19,025 through the Government's Culture Recovery Fund.
On 14 April six new livestream cameras were launched to provide 24/7 coverage of SVR stations to viewers across the globe.[6]
On 28 April the HRA awarded Class 50 Alliance Limited the Award for Diesel Locomotion 2021.[6]
May 2021[edit | edit source]
The SVR Charitable Trust’s £425,000 'Home & Dry Appeal' launched to raise funds to make Bridgnorth Loco Works a safer, drier, and more efficient place to work.[6]
June 2021[edit | edit source]
On 5 June the first charter visited the SVR since England entered its second lockdown, with a private GBRf charter utilising the high profile VSOE Pullman[7].
Between 16 June and 3 July the SVR hosted a new weedkilling train undergoing high speed testing between Kidderminster and Bewdley.
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50049 Defiance with the train near Bewdley Tunnel. Photo: Matt Robinson
The SVR applied for Listed building alterations in association with the conservation, renovation and reodering of Bridgnorth station, including reconstruction of the former parcels office and change of use to a shop.[8]
July 2021[edit | edit source]
A further short-term stabling contract commenced with five Class 43 HST power cars temporarily stored at Arley.[8]
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Five HST Power Cars at Arley
Plans for the Bridgnorth Loco Works 'Home & Dry' project were submitted to Shropshire County Council.[8]
Keith Norton became chairman of the SVR Charitable Trust.[8]
August 2021[edit | edit source]
On 1 August friends and family gathered at Kidderminster Railway Museum to celebrate the life of John Hill.[8]
The SVR Charitable Trust’s 'Home & Dry Appeal' reached £330,000 against a revised target of £475,000, because of the spiralling cost of steel and additional improvements needed inside Bridgnorth Loco Works.[8]
It was announced that the 2021 Christmas services would include the 'Enchanted Express', based around the classic poem ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, narrated by actress Dame Julie Walters.[8]
On 4 August GWR 1450 was moved by low loader to the Flour Mill locomotive repair workshop in Bream, Gloucestershire, where the owner Pull Push Limited had arranged for its overhaul.[8]
SVR(H) announced that an increase in the shareholding levels at which various shareholder travel benefits are earned, effective from 2022. This was the first change to benefits since 2010.
British Sugar 7-plank open wagon had its new signage painted at Kidderminster Railway Museum by former Gloucestershire and England wicket keeper Jack Russell MBE.[9]
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BSC 13 after signwriting in August 2021
PSL 193 'Plimsoll' revisited during the Vintage Transport Extravaganza on 7 and 8 August.
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'Plimsoll' at Highley during a previous visit
September 2021[edit | edit source]
On 4 and 5 September a group of volunteers organised an 'SVR O Gauge event' with five layouts at The Engine House, including Burlish Road in O gauge.[9]
From 7 September the Railway welcomed back ‘hop on, hop off’ passengers to all regular services and the return of observation saloons and footplate experiences, following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in July.[9]
50044 Exeter returned to the mainline on 12 September for the first time since 2012.[9]
In its first mainline outing since suffering a major B engine failure in 2016, D1015 Western Champion suffered a seized engine during a test run on 17 September.
The Autumn Steam Gala on 16-19 September featured GWR 4953 Pitchford Hall and GWR 0-6-0PT 9466. The Hall did not work on the Sunday due to a failure, while 9466 did not arrive in time to work on the Thursday but was also used on passenger services until 16 October. 813 suffered from leaking boiler tubes and was withdrawn on the Friday of that event.[10]
At the SVR(H) several attendees expressed concerns over the way in which changes to shareholder benefits were communicated. Helen Smith apologised and Nick Paul agreed to put a moratorium on changes until the board had the opportunity to reflect and review the decisions.[10]
The Guarantee company announced a major reorganisation of the Volunteer Liaison Office, with five co-ordinators sought.[9]
A project at Bewdley to improve access to the station for passengers with limited mobility saw contractors lay a reinforced concrete path between the gates protecting the rail crossing and the yard gates adjoining the car park.[10]
Nick Paul stood down as Chairman of SVR(H) after 10 years and was succeeded by Mike Ball.
A start was made on the 2021/22 project funded primarily by the SVR Charitable Trust to improve access at Bewdley for those with restricted mobility.[10]
October 2021[edit | edit source]
813 underwent a retube.[10] The owning The GWR 813 Preservation Fund became a charity this month.
On 17 October, the Great Western (SVR) Association officially commemorated the return to service of GWR 6045 Bow-end Composite with a special train for supporters and volunteers. On 30 October the Stanier Mogul Fund organised the 'SMF 50 Golden Jubilee' charter train to mark 50 years as a preservation group in 2020. In both cases the celebration had been delayed by COVID-19.[11]
November 2021[edit | edit source]
The SVR again provided testing facilities for Bayer CropScience Uk who were producing a fleet of weedkilling trains for the UK Network.[11]
813 moved to the Telford Steam Railway for Christmas and New Year, the first SVR-based locomotive to visit another event since COVID-19.
On 24 November More4 broadcast an episode of Britain's Scenic Railways featuring the SVR.
A new Christmas service, the Enchanted Express, first ran. It was a sell out.
The SVR announced the Loyalty Pass would end.
GWR Large Prairie 5164 transferred to the ownership of The Erlestoke Manor Fund.
December 2021[edit | edit source]
The Home & Dry appeal total reached 'almost £460,000'.[12]
The Falling Sands Viaduct restoration project was highly commended at the National Railway Heritage Awards.[12]
On 6 December new-build BR 3MT 82045 became a 2-6-2 for the first time, when fitted with its front and rear pony trucks.[12]
The SVR announced that it had been awarded £1,012,900 as part of the latest round of the Culture Recovery Fund, paying for salaries and running costs for the period between 1 October 2021 and 31 January 2022[13].
See also[edit | edit source]
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References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Branch Lines, January 2021
- ↑ Brock, Alexander, 'Severn Valley loco makes emergency stop to avoid trespasser "set to climb off edge of bridge"', Birmingham Mail, 12 February 2021 (Retrieved 15 February 2021)
- ↑ Branch Lines, March 2021 (Retrieved 7 March 2021)
- ↑ 'STATEMENT - Lineside passes and photo charters at the Severn Valley Railway, SVRLive News item updated: 17 March 2021 (Retrieved 30 July 2024)
- ↑ SVR(H) Annual Report and Financial Statement 2023, p. 40
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Branch Lines, May 2021
- ↑ Branch Lines, June 2021
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 Branch Lines, August 2021
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Branch Lines, September 2021
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Branch Lines, October 2021
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Branch Lines, November 2021
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Branch Lines, December 2021
- ↑ Rail Advent