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Significant events in the history of the Severn Valley Railway in preservation between 1965 and 1969 are set out below.
==1965==
[[File: Old_boundary_20150610The Coopers Arms, Canterbury Road, Kidderminster - geograph.org.uk - 1113269.jpg |thumb|300px200px|right| Milepost 144½, the old boundaryThe Cooper's Arms (Geograph)]]
The formation of the Severn Valley Railway in preservation began on 6 July 1965. Keith Beddoes, a local railway enthusiast, organised a meeting at the Cooper’s Arms in Kidderminster to discuss the feasibility of preserving a section of the former GWR Severn Valley Railway which had been closed by British Railways (BR). Around 50 people attended the meeting, and those present agreed to form the [[Severn Valley Railway Society]] (“the Society”). The initial membership subscription was proposed as £1, but eventually set at 1 guinea (£1+1shilling) at the suggestion of John Garth, in order to increase funds.
==1966==
[[File: Old_boundary_20150610.jpg |thumb|200px|right| Milepost 144½, the old boundary]]BR proved unwilling to lease the line to the SVR, and initially quoted a price of £45,000 for the outright purchase of line between [[Bridgnorth]] and Milepost 144½ at [[Alveley Sidings|Alveley Colliery]]. However following a professional valuation the [[Severn Valley Railway Society|Society]] made an offer of £25,000 for the track and buildings, which BR accepted in February 1966. BR asked for a deposit of 10% against the purchase price.
The rest of 1966 was taken up with raising the deposit. Bridgnorth Station saw regular ‘open weekends’, the first being a steam-free information display as part of Bridgnorth Arts Festival, over the Whitsun bank holiday weekend.<ref>A. G. Cleaver, "The Early Days Of The 'Severn Valley'", ''SVR News'' 190 (2015), p.24</ref> Two further open weekends later in the year featured road traction engines and a miniature railway set up on Platform 2. Society membership grew to around 300 in the first year.
