Trustworthy, administrator
6,780
edits
Changes
m
Services again run [[File:1971 timetable002.jpg| thumb|400px|right|1971 timetable]]The first full year of SVR operation saw the arrival of [[Sir Gerald Nabarro]]. '''February 1971''': On 16 February a total price of £74,000 was finally agreed, subject to contract, for the southern section of the line between Bridgnorth [[Alveley Sidings]] and Hampton Loade[[Foley Park]] the new boundary with BR being at a point 200 yards east of [[Foley Park Halt]].<br>*'''March 1971''': [[LMS Ivatt Class 2 46521|LMS Ivatt Mogul 2MT No 46521 arrives ]] arrived from [[Barry Scrapyard]] on 20 March. The loco will (later to become the first Barry restoration to enter service on the SVR in 1974) <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">Bridgnorth railway station - March 1971 001.jpg | Bridgnorth in March 1971 (Wikimedia Commons)</gallery>*'''April 1971''': :[[BR Standard Class 7 70000 Britannia arrives |BR Standard 7MT No 70000 Britannia]] arrived on 9 April. :On 10 April a the SVR’s first Diesel, [[John Fowler 150hp Diesel Shunter No 17 Highflyer|Highflyer]] arrived. A summer timetable begins began on the same day between [[Bridgnorth ]] and [[Hampton Loade]], running at weekends and bank holidays until 30 31 October, with an hourly service on the busiest days operated by either one or two steam locos plus [[Railcar 22]].*'''May 1971''':: 80079 arrives [[Sir Gerald Nabarro]], the Conservative MP for South Worcestershire, advised the line to form a holdings company and to raise the cash for purchase of the southern portion of the line through a [[Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC#Share_offers|share offer]]. At the [[Guarantee Company]] AGM on 15 1 May.*June 1971: 5764 arrives on 19 JuneNabarro was elected to the Board of Directors, and the plans were announced to form the [[Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC|Public Company]].*August: WD 193 arrives on 7 August This would have a capital of £150,000, of which £110,000 would be new money raised by the public share issue.*September: The [[Severn Valley Railway Company Limited|Guarantee Company]] would be wound up, with £40,000 of shares being vested in a Members’ Association, the [[LMR 600 GordonSevern Valley Railway Association]] arrives on 20/9/, in exchange for the assets it formerly held in the northern section. However in late 1971it transpired that it was not possible to transfer the Light Railway Order from the Guarantee Company to another company, on loan from hence that company would need to remain in existence. The Transport Trust.<br>Locomotives used during meeting was then adjourned until later in the year and the mileages recorded were as follows: .{| class="wikitable"| <b>Locomotive</b> || gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:right;left" >Nabarro_1971.jpg| <b>Sir Gerald Nabarro on the footplate of [[45110]] at Bridgnorth in 1971</b> || style="text-align:right;" | <b>Total</bgallery>|-| 45110 || style="text-align:right;" [[BR Riddles 4MT 80079| 1,401 || style="textBR Standard 4MT 2-align:right;" | 1,799|6-4T No 80079]] arrived from [[Barry Scrapyard]] on 15 May.| 43106 || style="text-align:right;" | 1,252 || style="text-align:right;" | 2,592|-| 46443 || style="text-align'''June 1971''':right;" | 969 [[GWR Pannier 5764|| style="textGWR Collett 5700 0-align:right;" | 3,073|6-| 0PT No 5764 || style="text-align:right;" | 925 || style="text-align:right;" | 925]] arrived on 19 June.|-| 48773 || style="text-align'''July 1971''':right;" | 440 || style="text-align:right;" | 885The [[Severn Valley Railway Association]] was formed at a meeting on 17 July.|-| 686 The Lady Armaghdale|| style="text-align:right;" | 289 || style="text-align'''August 1971''':right;" | 289|-| 2047 Warwickshire || style="text-align:right;" | 196 || style="textOn 6 August the [[Guarantee Company]] AGM reconvened to discuss Nabarro’s plans for restructuring the railway, which had been circulated by letter with a recommendation by Chairman [[Andrew Marsden-align:right;" | 196Smedley]]. After lengthy discussion the members agreed to these proposals. |-| :[[WD 193 Shropshire || style="textEx-align:right;" | 88 || style="textMOD Hunslet WD Austerity 0-align:right;" | 1,109|6-0ST WD 193]] arrived on 7 August.| 3205 || style="text-align:right;" | 80 || style="text-align:right;" | 980|-| Other || style="text-align'''September 1971''':right;" | - || style="text-align:right;" | 2|-| <b>Total</b> || style="text-align:right;" | <b>5,640</b> || style="text-align:right;" | <b>11,850</b>|} [[45110]] received the name ‘R.A.F. Biggin Hill’ in a ceremony at Bridgnorth on 12 September.
*September 1972: 61994 The Great Marquess (LNER 3442) arrives on 9 September.<br>
<br>
Locomotives used during the year and the mileages recorded were as follows:
| <b>Locomotive</b> || ! style="text-align:rightleft;" | <b>1972</b> || Locomotive!! style="text-align:right;" | <b>Total</b>1967-1970!! 1971!! 1972!! 1973!! 1974!! 1975!! 1976!! 1977!! 1978!! 1979!! Cumulative !! Notes
==1979==7802 Bradley Manor arrived from Barry during 1979. ==References and sources==Information on the early history of the SVR can be found on the [http://www.bridgnorthstation.co.uk/history.html Bridgnorth Station website]<br>Information is from past editions of Severn Valley Railway News unless otherwise stated. Locomotive mileages taken from SVR News #58 Winter 1980references/81, page 34, "Steam Locomotive Mileages for the Decade".==See also==[[The Severn Valley Railway in preservation | The Severn Valley Railway in preservation]]<br>[[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1965-1969 | Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1965-1969]]
Typo
Significant events in the history of the Severn Valley Railway in preservation between 1970 and 1979 are set out below.
==1970==
[[File:1970 timetable001.jpg | thumb|400px|right|1970 timetable]]The SVR is granted a light railway order, allowing the line to be oficially opened in preservation began operating between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade in May1970.<br>*'''January 1970''': : Passenger services between [[Bewdley]], [[Kidderminster ]] and [[Hartlebury are ]] were withdrawn by BRwith effect from 5 January 1970. The last service was the 19:20 DMU from Bewdley to Kidderminster on Saturday 3 January 1970. This resulted in Bewdley Station becoming disused, along with the lines from Bewdley to [[Stourport]] and [[Foley Park Halt|Foley Park]]. The original Severn Valley Railway remained open for coal traffic between Hartlebury and [[Stourport Power Station]], while a section of “[[Kidderminster Loop Line|The Loop]]” remained open between [[Kidderminster Junction signal box|Kidderminster Junction]] and the [[Foley Park sidings|British Sugar Corporation factory]] at Foley Park. :The ground floor sections of the former Pensnett signal box were brought from Pensnett to [[Hampton Loade]] for use in rebuilding the [[Hampton Loade signal box|signal box]] there.*'''February 1970''': :The Civil Engineering Department welded more than a ton of steel plates onto the bridge girders of [[Hay Bridge]] to strengthen it. :On 23 February the SVR entered into an Agreement with Salop County Council that the Company would dedicate the necessary land to build Bridgnorth Bypass, which would sever the line south of Bridgnorth. The SVR would then be responsible for construction of a [[Bridgnorth Bypass Bridge|bridge over the bypass]]. This agreement was necessary before the LRO could be granted to reopen the line. '''March 1970''': A Ministry of Transport Railway Inspector visited the SVR in March and made certain recommendations concerning safety aspects. '''April 1970''': The SVR met with BR on 7 April and agreed the final price for the purchase of the southern section of the line between [[Alveley Sidings]] and [[Foley Park]]. A letter of intent was sent to BR the following day. '''May 1970''': The :Following the inspection visit in March, the second Light Railway Order is was granted on 20 May 1970, allowing the SVR to begin running public services to startbetween Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade. :Whit weekend, Saturday 23 May 1970 sees saw the official opening of the Severn Valley Railwayin preservation, with the first public trains running between [[Bridgnorth ]] and [[Hampton Loade]]. Loco [[GWR 2251 Class 3205|3205 hauls ]] hauled the first service, while the 14:00 from Bridgnorth. [[LMS Ivatt Class 2 46443|46443]], [[LMS Ivatt Class 4 43106|43106 ]], [[LMS Stanier 8F 48773|48773]] and 48773 are [[Railcar 22]] were also used over the that weekend. Trains The following weekend saw trains begin to run at weekends until the end of Octobera regular weekend service. *August 1970: 45110 and 4566 arrive on 20 and 25 August respectively. *November: 1501 arrives on 7 November.<br>The total mileages recorded by the SVR’s steam locomotives at the end of 1970 were as follows: {| classgallery mode=packed heights="wikitable"| <b>Locomotive</b> || 150px style="text-align:right;left" | <b>1967Bridgnorth Severn Valley Railway geograph-2932617-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg|3205 at Bridgnorth, opening day 1970</b>(Wikimedia Commons)|Bridgnorth with train to Hampton Loade on Opening Day of Severn Valley Railway, 1970 geograph-2781931-by-| 46443 || style="textBen-align:right;" Brooksbank.jpg | 243106 at Bridgnorth,104opening day 1970 (Wikimedia Commons)|Bridgnorth Severn Valley Railway enthusiasm on Opening Day, 1970 geograph-2781959-by-| 43106 || style="textBen-align:right;" Brooksbank.jpg| 1Opening day,3401970 (Wikimedia Commons)Child ticket 0001.jpg|-Child ticket 0001 from the opening dayChild ticket 0001a.jpg| WD 193 Shropshire Child ticket 0001 from the opening day</gallery> '''June 1970''': 3 weeks after opening a potential problem emerged. Although the LRO gave the [[Severn Valley Railway Company Limited|| style="textGuarantee Company]] a ‘license’ to operate, the line itself was still owned by BR and therefore subject to the BR steam ban. Services therefore ceased, but within 2 weeks SVR members and well-wishers from around the world had boosted the ‘line fund’ to the extent that the balance of the £25,000 purchase price could be paid to BR. Services then re-aligncommenced, with the line now owned by the SVR itself. '''July 1970''':right;" | 1By 12 July the 10,000th passenger had already made the return journey to Hampton Loade, the final figure at December would be more than 63,021000.|-| 3205 || style="text-align'''August 1970''':right;" | 900:[[LMS Stanier Class 5 45110|-LMS Stanier 5MT 45110]] arrived on 20 August.| 48773 || style="text-align:right;" [[GWR Small Prairie 4566| 445GWR Churchward 4500 'Small Prairie' No 4566]] arrived on 25 August.|-| 45110 || style="text-align'''September 1970''':right;" [[Bridgnorth#Footbridge outside Bridgnorth Station| 398Hollybush Road Footbridge]] was closed by Bridgnorth council on 30 September.|-| 1738 || style="text-align'''October 1970''': :right;" The water tank from Henley in Arden was moved to its new location on the hill behind [[Bridgnorth| 2Bridgnorth station]].|-| <b>Total</b> || style="text-align:rightFollowing the closure of Bewdley Station, the SVR advised BR that it was not interested in acquiring any of the line from Bewdley to Stourport, which was affected by a number of road schemes. However the SVR would be interested in acquiring the line from Milepost 144½" at [[Alveley Sidings| <b>6Alveley]] to Bewdley and Foley Park, in order to maintain their main line access. In October, BR Estates Department advised the SVR that Salop and Worcester County Councils, who legally had first refusal, did not wish to acquire the railway land, and that the cost to the SVR would be £74,000. At an informal General Meeting at Kidderminster Town Hall on 23 October the SVR members agreed in principle to proceed,210</b>|}although the cost was significantly more than the Society had previously raised to date.
'''November 1970''': [[GWR Pannier 1501|BR(W) Hawksworth 1500 class 0-6-0PT No further use of 1738 was recorded in the 1970s 1501]] arrived on 7 November.
==1971==
:[[LMR 600 Gordon|Ex Longmoor Military Railway WD Austerity 2-10-0 No 600 Gordon]] arrived on 20 September on loan from The Transport Trust.
'''October 1971''': The [[Severn Valley Railway Association]] was formally constituted at a meeting on 16 October. Its principal objects were to safeguard the interests of the members of the [[Guarantee Company]] and to promote the efficient organisation, financial standing and growth of the Severn Valley Railway.
==1972==
[[File:1972 timetable001.jpg| thumb|400px|right|1972 timetable]]
During the year the new Holding Company [[SVR(H)]] was successfully floated, but the relationship between Sir Gerald Nabarro and the SVR membership deteriorated.
'''January 1972''':
:During a visit to the former Heaton Mersey diesel depot, Frank Cronin noted the shed which would eventually be acquired by the SVR and incorporated into [[Bridgnorth Loco Works]].
:The unconditional contract to purchase the southern section of the line was signed on 29 January.
'''March 1972'''
:The season began on 4 March, with the timetable closely following that of 1971.
: [[Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC|Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) Limited]] ‘SVR(H)’ was incorporated on 15 March, with [[Viscount Cobham]] as President and [[Sir Gerald Nabarro]] as Chairman. The role of SVR(H) would be to finance the purchase of the Southern section of the line through the public share issue (for which Nabarro would be the figurehead), and to be responsible for overall policy decisions affecting the whole railway. The [[Severn Valley Railway Company Limited|Guarantee Company]] would remain responsible for day to day management and operation of the Railway, including commercial activities, and also be responsible for the membership.
:Four days of Easter running began on 31 March, with 6,400 passengers making 13,000 journeys over the 4 days.
'''April 1972''': The public share offer for 58,000 shares in [[SVR(H)]] was launched on 12 April.
'''May 1972'''
:The share offer closed, having been over-subscribed by £24,000.
:Sunday May 12 saw a notable milestone with [[GWR 2251 Class 3205| Collett 0-6-0 3205]] and newly restored [[5764]] in service together, the first time two GWR locomotives had shared Severn Valley passenger services since the 1960s<ref>SVR News 24</ref>.
'''June 1972''':
:On 10 June the excess proceeds of the share issue were returned, although the SVR announced a rights issue of a further £50,000 at the same time.
:On 16 June BR published the application for the LRO for the transfer of the line from Alveley to Foley, Park and Burlish via Bewdley.
:On 22 June the Department of the Environment announced the Bridgnorth Bypass had been transferred in to the firm Roads Programme for 1974.
:0-4-0ST Invicta arrived at Bridgnorth on 30 June.
'''July 1972''': [[600|LMR 600 Gordon]] Gordon hauled its inaugural passenger train on 29 July.
'''August 1972''': Salop County Council formally asked the SVR and other landowners to provide details of land owned by them which would be affected by the Bridgnorth bypass.
'''September 1972'''
: [[61994 The Great Marquess|LNER Gresley K4 West Highland 2-6-0 No 3442 The Great Marquess]] (BR 61994) arrived on 9 September.
:The Rights Issue of £50,000 was fully subscribed by the extended closing date of 29 September.
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
Bridgnorth Severn Valley Railway geograph-3281670-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg | Bridgnorth, September 1972 (Wikimedia Commons)
Bridgnorth Ex-WD 2-10-0 at Severn Valley Railway Depot geograph-2756011-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg | Bridgnorth, September 1972 (Wikimedia Commons)
Bridgnorth station geograph-3269207-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg | Bridgnorth, September 1972 (Wikimedia Commons)
</gallery>
'''October 1972''': On October 7 the Civil Engineering Department recovered a [[Bewdley#Water towers|2000 gallon water tank from Darlaston for future use at Bewdley]]. The following day the Department recovered two [[Bridgnorth#Locomotive watering facilities |platform level water columns from Henley-in-Arden for use at Bridgnorth]].
'''November 1972''':
During the year, Nabarro began to assume greater power and control over the Railway (described some years later in an SVR news article as ‘a committee of one’). By November 1972, members and volunteers were openly expressing the view that they were being alienated, and that proposed restructuring of the two Company Boards effectively meant that the membership would have no say in the running of the railway. Suspicions were also growing that the By-pass would be used as an excuse to abandon [[Bridgnorth]] and sell the site for housing development.
:On 3 November, the [[Guarantee Company]] Annual General Meeting was described as ‘noisy and controversial’ with some ‘pungent and straight talking’ resulting. The members unanimously passed three resolutions sponsored by the [[Severn Valley Railway Association]] (SVRA). These rejected proposed restructuring provisions which would give control of voting rights of the Guarantee Company’s 40,000 shares to SVR(H) and would give SVR(H) the power to appoint the Directors and Chairman of the Guarantee Company. Also the members voted that no final decision on the provision of a [[Bridgnorth Bypass Bridge|By-pass Bridge]] was to be made without a properly convened EGM, and that no paid appointments of railway staff should be made without applications for the post being invited from all members.
:A Bonfire Night event was held at Bridgnorth on 4 November.
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
Archive poster 5.jpg|1972 Bonfire Night poster
</gallery>
:At the AGM of the [[Severn Valley Railway Association|SVRA]] on 11 November, the members voted unanimously for the Association to continue.
'''December 1972''': Sir Gerald Nabarro announced on behalf of the Board that SVR(H) was fully capitalised at £150,000, and that the Southern section of the line to [[Foley Park]] had been purchased from BR subject to Light Railway Orders being granted. The share issue that he had fronted had thus been a success.
==1973==
[[File:Archive poster 6.jpg|thumb|300px|right|1973 poster]]
By early 1973, the SVR was receiving considerable adverse publicity in the national press over some of the decisions made by the Board of [[Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC|SVR(H)]], in particular the dismissal of the Railway’s Operating Superintendent and Shedmaster from his salaried post. This decision had caused uproar amongst the volunteers and raised the very real possibility of a strike.
'''January 1973'''
: [[GWR 4141|4141]], [[GWR Large Prairie 5164|5164]], [[GWR 7819 Hinton Manor|7819 Hinton Manor]] and [[GWR 4930 Hagley Hall|4930 Hagley Hall]] all arrived on 6 January. The convoy left [[Barry Scrapyard]] behind ‘Peak’ diesel No 157 for Kidderminster (still then a British Rail yard), where it arrived in a whiteout of heavy frost. Two other vehicles were in the consist: the [[Former Residents#Notes |tender from scrapped ex-LMS ‘Black Five’ 44888]] and [[BR Standard Class 5 73129 | 73129]]. After the SVR locos were detached at Kidderminster, this loco continued its journey to Derby. From Kidderminster Sulzer Type 2 No 7655 tripped the vehicles to the SVR in [[Bewdley Down Yard]], together with [[GWR 6045 Bow-end Composite|6045]], [[GWR 9615 Kitchen Diner First|9615]] and [[LMS Brake Third Corridor 26880|26880]].<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/bljan23 Branch Lines, January 2023]</ref>
'''February 1973'''
:The first stage of the Light Railway Order for the southern end of the line came into effect on 28 February. The British Railways Board (Severn Valley) Light Railway Order 1973 granted BR the power (to be transferred to the SVR) to operate as a Light Railway from the existing boundary at Alveley to a point 247 yards east of the [[Stourport Road Bridge]]. Power was also granted to operate over the [[Stourport Branch]] from Bewdley to a point 302 yards south of the southern portal of [[Mount Pleasant Tunnel]], this section having been purchased by the SVR for an additional £100.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books | Marshall (1989), p184]]</ref>
'''March 1973'''
:Following an Extraordinary General Meeting of the [[Severn Valley Railway Company Limited|Guarantee Company]] on 11 March and a special Joint Meeting of the boards of SVR(H) and the Guarantee Company 6 days later, an announcement was made that [[Sir Gerald Nabarro]] would step down as Chairman of both Boards. He was replaced as SVR(H) Chairman by [[The Earl of Lindsay|Viscount Garnock]]. It was also agreed that nominated directors of both the Guarantee Company and the SVRA would sit on the SVR(H) Board.
:[[BR Standard 2MT 78019|78019]] arrived from [[Barry Scrapyard]] on 12 March, [[GWR Pannier 7714|7714]] arrived on 29 March and [[BR Riddles 4MT 75069|75069]] arrived on 31 March.
'''June 1973'''
:By June 1973 the atmosphere on the railway had noticeably improved. An EGM of the Guarantee Company overwhelmingly voted in favour of raising money to build the [[Bridgnorth Bypass Bridge|By-Pass Bridge]], thus ‘saving [[Bridgnorth]] for a second time’.
: The Great Marquess was steamed for the first time since arrival the previous year. With an axle weight in excess of 19 tons, it exceeded the limit of 17 tons 12 cwt in the SVR's Light Railway Order granted in May 1970. A condition of the locomotive's move to the SVR was that it could be used there once restored, so the locomotive after a number of test runs in 1973 and one further steaming in 1974, was therefore stored while discussions took place over a possible transfer to another railway. In the meantime, a program of work was underway to upgrade the line, including replacement of several bridges, to raise the permitted limit to a figure in excess of 20 tons. This upgrade was achieved in due course.
'''November 1973'''
:Having left the SVR, Sir Gerald Nabarro died on 18 November 1973. He had suffered two stokes during 1972 and had recently retired from the House of Commons due to ill health.
:[[GWR Pannier 5764|5764]] was involved in the filming of the BBC children's serial ''[[Carrie's War]]''.
'''December 1973'''
:[[LMS Stanier Mogul 42968|Stanier Mogul 42968]] arrived on 14 December.
:[[WD 193 Shropshire|WD 193]] operated all the [[Christmas services|Santa services]].
==1974==
[[File:1974 timetable004.jpg |thumb|300px|right|1974 timetable]]
In 1974 the SVR began services to [[Bewdley]] and increased the amount of daily running during summer, resulting in a near tripling of the miles covered.
'''March 1974''': The Light Railway Transfer Order was granted to extend the line from [[Hampton Loade]] to Bewdley.
'''April 1974''': Easter weekend, 13 April, saw services begin between Hampton Loade and [[Highley]]. The first passenger service was the 09:30 from [[Bridgnorth]] with [[Railcar 22|GWR Railcar 22]], followed by the 12:45 steam service hauled by [[LMR 600 Gordon|No 600 Gordon]]. The weekend saw 16,000 passenger journeys.
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
Archive poster 7.jpg|1974 poster advertising services to Highley
</gallery>
'''May 1974''': The line was further opened from Highley to [[Arley]] and Bewdley on 18 May. GWR Railcar 22 operated the first round trip between Bridgnorth and Bewdley, while the first steam services were hauled by [[GWR Pannier 5764|No 5764]] from the [[Bewdley MPD|new MPD at Bewdley]] and [[LMS Ivatt Class 4 43106|No 43106]] from Bridgnorth. Daily running during the summer season was extended to five weeks.
'''July 1974''': [[LMS Ivatt Class 2 46521|46521]] became the SVR's first [[Barry Scrapyard|Barry]] restoration to enter service.
'''August 1974''': [[2047 Warwickshire]] made a guest appearance in steam at the Town & County Show at Stoneleigh. Remarkably, the locomotive covered 8½ miles on a temporary track only 40 ft long!
==1975==
[[File:1975 timetable002.jpg |thumb|300px|right|1975 timetable]]
The 1975 timetable included 118 running days between March and October, with 554 trains in each direction.
'''Spring 1975''': Announcements were made that [[417 Invicta|Invicta]] had been sold and was be leaving the SVR. Also 4110 would not be coming to the SVR as planned, but would instead go to the WSR. However [[Railcar 22]] would remain on loan from the Great Western Society for another 5 years.
'''May 1975''': [[Arley]] Loop was opened on 25 May, allowing a Spring Bank Holiday 45 minute service from [[Bridgnorth]] to [[Bewdley]] with 4 train sets, instead of the existing 90 minute service. [[LMS Ivatt Class 2 46521|46521]] and [[LMS Ivatt Class 4 43106|43106]] were the first trains to pass at Arley.
'''June 1975''': The SVR membership topped 5,000.
'''July 1975''':
:An event was held at Castle Hall, Bridgnorth to mark the 10th Anniversary of the formation of the Severn Valley Railway Society.
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
Archive poster 9.jpg | 10th Anniversary poster
</gallery>
:German 2-6-2T [[DRG 64 305|DB 64.305]] arrived on 17 July.
'''August 1975''':
:Four SVR engines and three carriages attended the [[Rail 150]] celebrations at Shildon, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. [[LMR 600 Gordon|600 Gordon]] travelled light engine to Shildon, later followed by a three coach train comprising [[LMS Stanier 8F 48773 | 8233]] (pilot), [[LMS Ivatt Class 4 43106 | 43106]], Clapham Buffet 9631, [[LMS 26986 Brake Third Corridor | LMS 26986]] and LNER Passenger Brake 4236. [[GWR 813 Saddle Tank|813]], which has been cosmetically restored for the event, went by road. Future SVR resident [[GWR 6960 Raveningham Hall]] (1977-1996) also took part.
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
General view of the old coal sidings at Shildon - geograph.org.uk - 2470835.jpg | Rail 150 at Shildon included 4 SVR locos (Wikimedia Commons)
</gallery>
:[[GWR 2857 Heavy Goods Loco|2857]] and [[GWR Mogul 7325|9303]] arrived from [[Barry Scrapyard]] on 13 August.
'''September 1975''':
:¾ of a mile of the old Stourport branch was relaid. The section was used in the filming of Universal Pictures' ''[[The Seven-Per-Cent Solution]]''. A number of the SVR's locos took part in the film.
:The SVR’s first Enthusiasts Day (the forerunner of the autumn Steam Gala) saw 11 locomotives in steam, with 10 hauling passenger services and DB 64.305 shunting. Two of the locos were Austrian Railways 2-6-0 locomotives in Furness Railway red livery with flared stovepipe chimneys and huge brass domes - [[LMS Ivatt Class 2 46443|46443]] and 46521 were ready for their starring roles! One of the locomotives appeared in this short film featuring Chris Tarrant, available on [http://player.bfi.org.uk/film/watch-severn-valley-railway-1976/ BFIplayer].
'''December 1975''': [[Christmas services]] were between Bewdley and Arley, due to engineering work on the north of the line.
==1976==
[[File:1976 timetable002.jpg |thumb|300px|right|1976 timetable]]
The 1976 timetable included 118 running days between 6 March and 31 October, now with 735 trains in each direction. As they year opened, negotiations with BR were in progress over the proposed [[Kidderminster|Kidderminster Terminus]]. The SVR was also negotiating with BR for the SVR to become an approved steam depot for main line running.
'''March 1976''': Construction of the loco shed at the [[Bridgnorth MPD]] began. This would take around a year to complete using parts of the former Portskewett and Heaton Mersey Sheds acquired for that purpose.
'''April 1976''': [[GWR 7812 Erlestoke Manor|7812 Erlestoke Manor]] arrived on 23 April, having previously been at the Dowty R.P.S. site at Ashchurch.
'''May 1976''': A busy day on 3 May at [[Bewdley MPD]] saw the lifting of 5 boilers and 2 frames in a single day. The boilers belonged to 5164, 4930, 7819, 7812 and 7714; the first and last also involved moves of the frames<ref>SVR News 40 'The 150 Ton Lift'</ref>.
'''August 1976''': The 'long hot summer' of 1976 caused problems as SVR volunteers fought dozens of fires along the railway. A spare Hawksworth 4000 gallon tender was filled and taken to [[Safari Park|Spring Grove]] (near [[Rifle Range Halt]]) to help the county fire brigade, assisted by SVR volunteers, fight a nearby forest fire which took 2 days to extinguish.
'''September 1976''': The first Autumn Enthusiasts Weekend (as opposed to day) saw the first "top-and-tailed" steam services to [[Foley Park Halt|Foley Park]]. 7 Locomotives were in steam ([[GWR 813 Saddle Tank|813]] having failed on the first day).
'''November 1976''':
:The pits were being dug for the new Bridgnorth loco shed.
:The first outgoing railtour took place. A photo in SVR news Edition 43 later showed Paddington Arrivals Information board on 13 November 1976 displaying the arrival of a service originating from Bridgnorth. This used the SVR's Great Western rolling stock and was hauled by Brush Type 4 diesel locomotive No. 47 120.
==1977==
[[File:1977 timetable002.jpg |thumb|300px|right|1977 timetable]]
For the first time, the SVR ran limited services in January and February, on Sundays between [[Bewdley]] and [[Arley]].<br>
'''Spring 1977''':
:Over the winter, intense cold followed by heavy rain resulted in the line at [[Sterns]] dropping 2ft 6" and moving 4ft nearer the river. Work on [[Borle Viaduct]] was suspended while this was resolved, and through services over the viaduct were 3 weeks late starting as a result. A large part of the front car park at [[Bridgnorth]] had also collapsed.
:Better news came with the arrival of [[GWR 6960 Raveningham Hall|6960 Raveningham Hall]].
'''March 1977''':
:The frames of the new [[Bridgnorth MPD|Bridgnorth loco shed]] were erected.
:[[Viscount Cobham]] died. A staunch supporter of the SVR, he was the first President of the SVR during the public floatation of the [[Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC|Holdings Company]] in 1972.
'''April 1977''':
:Bridgnorth Loco shed was completed.
:11 SVR coaches were used on a main line trip to Chester. [[LMS Stanier 8F 48773|48773]] hauled the service from [[Bridgnorth]] to Bewdley, other motive power during the day included the locomotives ''King George V'' and ''Princess Elizabeth''.
'''September 1977''':
:September saw the grand opening of the cast iron gentlemen’s toilet on Bewdley’s island platform, following its relocation from Melrose in Scotland. The ceremony was carried out by the Mayor of Bewdley, who congratulated the Railway on opening the town's first public urinal on that side of the river.
:Enthusiasts Day saw 10 SVR locos in steam including [[GWR 7819 Hinton Manor|7819 Hinton Manor]] and 6960 Raveningham Hall.<br>
'''Dates not recorded''':
*[[LMS Stanier Class 5 45000|45000]] arrived on loan from the [[National Railway Museum|NRM]].
*The Severn Valley Country Sound released an LP ''Just For You'' through Tank Records, with a cover featuring the band posing on [[43106]]<ref>[https://www.discogs.com/The-Severn-Valley-Country-Sound-Just-For-You/release/12538688?fbclid=IwAR0IG0XN_bpss7mCo5kOWMZaVsUopE9NsYZ-ZahbnbInk1ye0c5O1yUIywE Discogs] (Retrieved 16 January 2020)</ref>.
==1978==
[[File:1978 timetable002.jpg |thumb|200px|right|1978 timetable]]
In 1978 [[Severn Valley Railway|SVR]] based locos were beginning to provide locomotives to work on main line rail tours while stabled at depots such as Hereford. Visitor numbers to the SVR increase; for the first time the railway sold more than 150,000 tickets in a year.
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
1978 timetable001.jpg|1978 timetable
</gallery>
'''January 1978''': [[GWR Large Prairie 4150|4150]] arrived on 19 January, having previously been at the Dean Forest Railway<ref>4150 Fund</ref>. The Rolling Stock Committee decided that 4150 should be the last [[Barry Scrapyard]] engine to come in, as there were now 33 locomotives stationed at the railway.
'''April 1978''':
:A naming ceremony was held for [[WD 193 Shropshire|WD 193]], which was given the name ‘Shropshire’.
:[[GWR 6960 Raveningham Hall|Raveningham Hall]] became the first SVR-based locomotive to haul a main line tour. Leaving the SVR on 7 April, it worked the F&W Railtours “Cathedrals Express” from Hereford to Chester and back the following day.
'''May 1978''': [[BR Standard Class 7 70000 Britannia|70000 Britannia]] returned to steam after 12 years, and was renamed on 20 May by Mr R A Riddles, the locomotive’s designer.
'''December 1978''': [[GWR Pannier 3612]] was purchased from [[Barry Scrapyard]] for spares.
<br clear="all"/>
==1979==
[[File:1979 timetable002.jpg |thumb|300px|right|1979 timetable]]
During 1979 [[GWR 7802 Bradley Manor|7802 Bradley Manor]] arrived from Barry, assuming the title of 'last Barry engine to come in'.
'''March 1979''': Major work was again required to stabilise the line at [[Sterns]].
'''May 1979''': BR agreed to allow through excursions onto the SVR. The first such excursion, organised by the Monmouthshire Railway Society, arrived at [[Bewdley]] from Cardiff.
'''June 1979''': [[GWR 2857 Heavy Goods Loco|2857]] was steamed for the first time since restoration; the first Churchward 2-8-0 to do so.
'''July 1979''': The Didcot Great Western Society's veteran Wantage Tramway locomotive "Shannon" was used for filming scenes of the BBC children's drama television series ''[[God's Wonderful Railway]]'' on the SVR, but was not steamed while here, being propelled or pulled into shot.
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
Gods_Wonderful_Railway_Screenshot_Shannon1.jpg|Shanon as the contractors' locomotive
Gods_Wonderful_Railway_Screenshot_Shannon2.jpg|Shanon crossing Victoria Bridge
</gallery>
'''August 1979''':
:[[LNWR 3020 Cornwall]] arrived on 16 August. The locomotive was being lent to the SVR by the NRM for a 5 year period including restoration.
:As an experiment, BR ran a weekend DMU service from [[Kidderminster]] to Bewdley. The first services on 4 August utilised Class 116 DMU set formation TS545, with Bewdley station decked out in flags.
'''September 1979''': [[GWR 7812 Erlestoke Manor|7812]] was officially re-named "Erlestoke Manor" in a ceremony on 1 September.
'''December 1979''': [[Christmas services]] took place between [[Bridgnorth]] and [[Hampton Loade]].
==Locomotives used==
Mileages for steam locomotives used up to 1979 were as follows<ref>SVR News 58 Winter 1980/81, p.34., "Steam Locomotive Mileages for the Decade"</ref>:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| 46443 [[GWR 813 Saddle Tank|813]] || || || || || || style="text-align:right;" | 5|| style="text-align:right;" |-|| style="text-align:right;" | 2,082 -|| style="text-align:right;" |-|| style="text-align:right;" | -|| style="text-align:right;" | 5,155||
|-
| 48773 [[GWR 2857 Heavy Goods Loco|2857]]|| || || || || || || || || || style="text-align:right;" | 1,105 20|| style="text-align:right;" | 1,99020 ||
|-
| [[GWR 2251 Class 3205 |3205]] || style="text-align:right;" |900|| style="text-align:right;" |80|| style="text-align:right;" | 701 || style="text-align:right;" | 1745|| style="text-align:right;" | -|| style="text-align:right;" | -|| style="text-align:right;" | -|| style="text-align:right;" |-|| style="text-align:right;" | -|| style="text-align:right;" | 2|| style="text-align:right;" | 2,681428 ||
|-
| WD 193 Shropshire [[GWR Small Prairie 4566|4566]] || || || || || || style="text-align:right;" |3,310|| style="text-align:right;" | 3,400|| style="text-align:right;" | 701 4,410|| style="text-align:right;" | 13,810180|| style="text-align:right;" |4,120|| style="text-align:right;" | 18,420 ||
|-
| 5764 [[GWR 4930 Hagley Hall|4930 Hagley Hall]] || || || || || || || || || || style="text-align:right;" | 542 645|| style="text-align:right;" | 1,467645 ||
|-
| 45110 [[GWR Large Prairie 5164|5164]] || || || || || || || || || || style="text-align:right;" | 471 510|| style="text-align:right;" | 2,270510 ||
|-
| 600 Gordon[[GWR Pannier 5764|5764]] || || style="text-align:right;" |925|| style="text-align:right;" |542|| style="text-align:right;" |270|| style="text-align:right;" | 1,940|| style="text-align:right;" |1,385|| style="text-align:right;" |3,125|| style="text-align:right;" | 315 375|| style="text-align:right;" | 315-|| style="text-align:right;" |1,875|| style="text-align:right;" |10,437 ||
|-
| 686 The Lady Armaghdale[[GWR 6960 Raveningham Hall|6960 Raveningham Hall]] || || || || || || || || style="text-align:right;" | 195 380|| style="text-align:right;" | 4842,540|| style="text-align:right;" | 3,890|| style="text-align:right;" | 6,810 ||
|-
| 2047 Warwickshire [[GWR 7812 Erlestoke Manor|7812 Erlestoke Manor]] || || || || || || || || || || style="text-align:right;" | 182 465|| style="text-align:right;" | 378465 ||
|-
| 417 Invicta [[GWR 7819 Hinton Manor|7819 Hinton Manor]] || || || || || || || || style="text-align:right;" |1,415|| style="text-align:right;" | 4 ,875|| style="text-align:right;" |5,760|| style="text-align:right;" | 412,050 ||
|-
| Other[[LMS Ivatt Class 4 43106|43106]] || style="text-align:right;" | 1,340|| style="text- align:right;" |1,252|| style="text-align:right;" |-|| style="text-align:right;" |-|| style="text-align:right;" |3,760|| style="text-align:right;" | 2,596770|| style="text-align:right;" |3,425|| style="text-align:right;" | 1,650|| style="text-align:right;" |-|| style="text-align:right;" | -|| style="text-align:right;" |14,197 ||
|-
| <b>Total</b> [[LMS Stanier Class 5 45000|45000]] || || || || | style="text-align:right;" | <b>6,298</b> || style="text-align:right;" | <b>18,148</b>|} No further use of 417 Invicta was recorded before the locomotive left the SVR. ==1973== *January 1973: Four locomotives, 4141, 5164, 7819 Hinton Manor and 4930 Hagley Hall, all arrive on 6 January.*March 1973: Three more locomotives arrive; 78019 from Barry on 12 March, 7714 on 29 March, and 75069 on 31 March.*December 1973: 42968 arrives on 14 December. || WD 193 operates all the Santa services. <br>Locomotives used during the year and the mileages recorded were as follows: {| class="wikitable"| <b>Locomotive</b> || style="text-align:right;" | <b>1973</b> 1,650|| style="text-align:right;" | <b>Total</b>1,650 ||
|-
| 48773 [[LMS Stanier Class 5 45110|45110]] || style="text-align:right;" |398|| style="text-align:right;" |1,401|| style="text-align:right;" |471|| style="text-align:right;" | 1,320|| style="text-align:right;" |1,600|| style="text-align:right;" | 1,380 965|| style="text-align:right;" | 4,390|| style="text-align:right;" | 3,370405|| style="text-align:right;" | 3,270|| style="text-align:right;" |350|| style="text-align:right;" |18,570 ||
|-
| 45110 [[LMS Ivatt Class 2 46443|46443]] || style="text-align:right;" |2,104|| style="text-align:right;" |969|| style="text-align:right;" | 2,082|| style="text-align:right;" |190|| style="text-align:right;" |3,855|| style="text-align:right;" | 13,320 845|| style="text-align:right;" | 3,590865|| style="text-align:right;" |3,875|| style="text-align:right;" | 2,865|| style="text-align:right;" | 5,360|| style="text-align:right;" |29,010 ||
|-
| WD 193 Shropshire [[LMS Ivatt Class 2 46521|46521]] || || || || || style="text-align:right;" | 670|| style="text-align:right;" | 900 4,510|| style="text-align:right;" | 25,120|| style="text-align:right;" |1,005|| style="text-align:right;" |-|| style="text-align:right;" | -|| style="text-align:right;" | 11,710305 ||
|-
| 3205 [[LMS Jinty 47383|47383]] || || || || style="text-align:right;" | 20|| style="text-align:right;" | 745 635|| style="text-align:right;" | 2,426160|| style="text-align:right;" | -|| style="text-align:right;" | 3,440|| style="text-align:right;" | 2,230|| style="text-align:right;" |1,265|| style="text-align:right;" | 9,750 ||
|-
| 600 Gordon[[LMS Stanier 8F 48773|48773]] || style="text-align:right;" |445|| style="text-align:right;" | 670 440|| style="text-align:right;" | 9851,105|| style="text-align:right;" |1,380|| style="text-align:right;" | -|| style="text-align:right;" |2,505|| style="text-align:right;" | 10|| style="text-align:right;" | 3,545|| style="text-align:right;" |3,395|| style="text-align:right;" | 3,050|| style="text-align:right;" |15,875 ||
|-
| 5764 [[61994 The Great Marquess]] || || || || style="text-align:right;" |200|| style="text-align:right;" | -|| style="text-align:right;" | -|| style="text-align:right;" | -|| style="text-align:right;" | -|| style="text-align:right;" | 270 -|| style="text-align:right;" | 1,737-|| style="text-align:right;" | 200 ||
|-
| 61994 The Great Marquess [[BR Standard Class 7 70000 Britannia|70000 Britannia]] || || || || || || || || || style="text-align:right;" | 275|| style="text-align:right;" | 200 80|| style="text-align:right;" | 200355 ||
|-
| 46443 [[BR Riddles 4MT 80079|80079]] || || || || || || || || style="text-align:right;" | 190 2,775|| style="text-align:right;" | 5,345235|| style="text-align:right;" |1,935|| style="text-align:right;" | 9,945 ||
|-
| 2047 Warwickshire [[LMR 600 Gordon|600 Gordon]]|| || || style="text-align:right;" |315|| style="text-align:right;" | 670|| style="text-align:right;" | 1,405|| style="text-align:right;" |1,020|| style="text-align:right;" | 76 1,870|| style="text-align:right;" | 4541,720|| style="text-align:right;" |435|| style="text-align:right;" |630|| style="text-align:right;" |8,065 ||
|-
| 47383 [[686 The Lady Armaghdale]] || || style="text-align:right;" |289|| style="text-align:right;" |195|| style="text-align:right;" |-|| style="text-align:right;" | 20 -|| style="text-align:right;" | 20-|| style="text-align:right;" |-|| style="text-align:right;" |-|| style="text-align:right;" |-|| style="text-align:right;" |-|| style="text-align:right;" |484 ||
|-
| Other [[2047 Warwickshire]] || || style="text-align:right;" |196|| style="text-align:right;" | 182|| style="text-align:right;" | 76|| style="text-align:right;" | 82|| style="text-align:right;" | 20|| style="text-align:right;" | - || style="text-align:right;" | 3,082260|| style="text-align:right;" | -|| style="text-align:right;" | -|| style="text-align:right;" | 816 ||
|-
| <b>Total</b> [[WD 193 Shropshire]] || style="text-align:right;" | <b>51,771</b> 021|| style="text-align:right;" | <b>23,919</b>88||} The Great Marquess was steamed for the first time since arrival the previous year, but was found to exceed the current axle limit on the line, and was stored pending possible transfer to the NYMR. style="text-align:right;" |701|| style=1974"text-align:right;" |900|| style="text-align:right;" |1,830|| style=In this year the SVR begins services to Bewdley and increases the amount of daily running during summer, resulting in a near tripling of the miles covered. *March 1974"text-align: The Light Railway Transfer Order is granted to extend the line from Hampton Loade to Bewdley.*April 1974: Services begin between Hampton Loade and Highley. The first passenger service is the 09:30 from Bridgnorth with GWR Railcar 22right;" |1, followed by the 12905|| style="text-align:45 steam service hauled by No 600 Gordon.*May 1974right;" |960|| style="text-align: The line is opened from Highley to Arley and Bewdley. GWR Railcar 22 operates the first round trip between Bridgnorth and Bewdley, while the first steam services are hauled by No 5764 from the new MPD at Bewdley and No 43106 from Bridgnorth. Daily running during the summer season is extended to five weeks.<br>Locomotives used during the year and the mileages recorded were as follows: {right;" |950|| classstyle="wikitabletext-align:right;"| <b>Locomotive</b> 770|| style="text-align:right;" | <b>1974</b> 335|| style="text-align:right;" | <b>Total</b>9,460 ||
|-
| 46443 [[417 Invicta]] || || || style="text-align:right;" | 4|| style="text-align:right;" |- || style="text-align:right;" |- || style="text-align:right;" | 3,855 - || || || || || style="text-align:right;" | 9,2004 || Left in 1975
|-
| 43106 [[DRG 64 305|DB 64.305]] || || || || || || style="text-align:right;" | 3,760 5|| style="text-align:right;" | 6,352- || style="text-align:right;" |- || || || style="text-align:right;" |5 ||Left in 1977
|-
| 5764 [[Peckett 1738|1738]] || style="text-align:right;" | 1,940 2|| style="text-align:right;" | 3,677-|| style="text-align:right;" | -|| style="text-align:right;" | -|| style="text-align:right;" | -|| style="text-align:right;" | -|| style="text-align:right;" | -|| style="text-align:right;" | -|| style="text-align:right;" | -|| style="text-align:right;" | -|| style="text-align:right;" | 2 ||
|-
| WD 193 Shropshire <b>Total</b>|| style="text-align:right;" | 1<b>6,830 210</b>|| style="text-align:right;" | 4<b>5,540|-| 45110 640</b>|| style="text-align:right;" | 1<b>6,600 298</b>|| style="text-align:right;" | <b>5,190|-| 600 Gordon771</b>|| style="text-align:right;" | 1<b>15,405 777</b>|| style="text-align:right;" | 2<b>25,390|-| 46521 405</b>|| style="text-align:right;" | 670 <b>26,165</b>|| style="text-align:right;" | 670|-| 47383 || style="text-align:right;" | 635 || style="text-align:right;" | 655|-| 2047 Warwickshire || style="text-align:right;" | 82 || style="text-align:right;" | 536|-| Other || style="text-align:right;" | - <b>29,205</b>|| style="text-align:right;" | 6,486|-| <b>Total29,070</b> || style="text-align:right;" | <b>1531,777942</b> || style="text-align:right;" | <b>39181,696483</b>||
|}
==See also==
{{TimelineNavbox}}
==1975References==*July 1975: German 2-6-2T DB 64.305 arrives on 17 July.*August 1975: Four SVR engines attend the Rail 150 celebrations at Shildon. 600 Gordon travels to Shildon under its own power, later followed by 48233 and 43106 in convoy. 813, which has been cosmetically restored for the event, goes by road.*August 1975: 2857 and 9303 arrive Information is from Barry on 13 August.==1976==April 1976: 7812 Erlestoke Manor arrives on 23 April, having previously been at the Dowty R.P.S. site at Ashchurch.<br>Construction past editions of the loco shed at the Bridgnorth MPD begins during 1976. <br>Locomotives in use that year are 46521, 45110, 46443, 4566, 5764, 600, WD193 Severn Valley Railway News and LMS 8233. ==1977==*Spring 1977: 6960 Raveningham Hall arrives.*September 1977: Grand opening of the cast iron gentlemen’s toilet on Bewdley’s island platform, following its relocation from Melrose in Scotland.<br>45000 arrived on loan from the NRM during 1977. ==1978==*January 1978: 4150 arrives on 19/01/1978, having previously been at the Dean Forest sources listed under [[Severn Valley Railway. (4150 fund)*April 1978: A naming ceremony is held for WD 193, which is given the name ‘Shropshire’.*May 1978: 70000 Britannia returns to steam after 12 years, and is renamed on 20 May by Mr R A Riddles, the locomotive’s designer.During 1978 Pannier 3612 was purchased from Barry for sparesTimeline 1965-1969 | 1965-1969]].
