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==See also==
[[The Severn Valley Railway in preservation | The Severn Valley Railway in preservation]]<br>
( [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1970-1979 |1970-1979]] )
add picture, standard order
Significant events in the history of the Severn Valley Railway in preservation between 1965 and 1969 are set out below.
==1965==
[[File: The Coopers Arms, Canterbury Road, Kidderminster - geograph.org.uk - 1113269.jpg |thumb|200px300px|right| The 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|200px300px|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.
==1967==
[[File:3205-Bridgnorth-3-1967-03-25.jpeg|thumb|200px300px|right|The first train arrives at Bridgnorth on 25 March 1967 ([[Sellick Collection]])]]
==1968==
[[File:Bridgnorth Severn Valley Railway Locomotive Yard and Station geograph-2781621-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg | thumb|200px300px|right| Bridgnorth yard, September 1968 (Wikimedia Commons)]]
The galas continued with the tacit approval of BR. The Easter Steam Gala featured [[GWR 2251 Class 3205|No 3205]], while the Autumn Gala saw 10,000 visitors to [[Bridgnorth]], with 3205 and [[LMS Ivatt Class 2 46443|46443]] making alternate trips to [[Hampton Loade]] and back. Over £1,000 was raised on that Bank Holiday alone. However BR, which was still the LRO holder, became concerned at safety at such sizeable events.
==1969==
[[File:S0657_Big_4_Line_Up_1969.jpg | thumb|300px|right| A 1969 line-up (David Cooke)]]
1969 saw the arrival of another 2 engines; [[LMS Stanier 8F 48773|LMS Stanier 8F No 48773]] [LMS 8233] on 4 January and ex Manchester Ship Canal and ICI Hunslet 0-6-0T [[686 The Lady Armaghdale]] on 14 July.
In December 1969 the [[Severn Valley Railway Society]] was merged into [[Severn Valley Railway Company Limited|The Guarantee Company]], with the latter now becoming the proper entity to take the Scheme forward. The AGM coincided with the announcement that the first LRO had been granted, allowing BR to work the line from [[Bridgnorth]] to Alveley as a Light Railway, although of course they had no wish to do so. However the granting of that order meant The Guarantee Company could now apply for the second LRO to transfer ownership to the SVR.
==See also==[[The Severn Valley Railway in preservation | The Severn Valley Railway in preservation]]<br>( [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1970-1979 |1970-1979]] ) ==References and sources==
Past editions of Severn Valley Railway News. Also early history taken from:
:Severn Valley Railway Guide 1972/3, DN Cooke and DC Williams.
:Severn Valley Railway Steam, Sir Gerald Nabarro, M.P. (1971).
:[http://www.heritagerailway.co.uk/news/steaming-back-in-the-seventies-preservation-1970-74 Heritage Railway Magazine article]
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