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A set of sidings between [[Highley]] and [[Hampton Loade]] opened on 30/01/1939, built to serve File:Alveley_Sidings-1959-10-07.jpeg|thumb|300px|right|6388 passes large numbers of coal wagons at Alveley Colliery, which was located across the river. The sidings were opened in the 1930s, and were kept Sidings in use beyond the closure of the line between October 1959 ([[BewdleySellick Collection]] and [[Shrewsbury)]] in 1963, accessed from Bewdley. However, the mine became uneconomical to work and was closed in 1969, with the sidings and line North of Bewdley being closed at the same time, as no other source of traffic remained.

== '''Alveley Sidings''' were located between [[Highley]] and [[Hampton Loade]], and opened on 30 January 1939 to serve [[Collieries served by the Severn Valley Railway#Alveley Colliery ==| Alveley Colliery]], which was located across the river. [[Alveley Miners Halt level crossing | Alveley Halt]], which was located at the south (Highley) end of the sidings, was used by miners travelling to the colliery by railway.

The shaft at Alveley was sunk sidings remained in 1935 to a depth use for coal traffic after the closure of 360 yards by the Highley Mining Companyline between [[Bewdley]] and [[Shrewsbury]] in 1963, and was connected with their workings accessed from their Highley shaftBewdley. However, which had proceeded under the river by this point. Initial mine became uneconomical to work was completed in 1937, and production starting in 1938. The new shaft replaced the one at Highley, which was closed in 19391969, with all production the sidings and line north of Bewdley being brought to closed at the surface at Alveleysame time, although the old shaft was retained for ventilation and as an emergency evacuation route. The workings were very modern, with full use being made no other source of electrical power, including completely mechanical working of the coal facetraffic remained.

Coal was brought across The area at the river by a rope-worked tramway across a bridge built north (Hampton Loade) end of the sidings is usually referred to serve the mine, which was later replaced with an aerial ropeway in 1961. This served on the washeries and sidingsRailway as '''Alveley Woods'''.

Production == Operations ==[[File:GWRplanAlveleySidings.jpg|thumb|300px|right|GWR plan of Alveley Sidings]]A concrete arched bridge was fairly consistentbuilt across the river Severn between 1936 and 1937. Coal was brought from the colliery to the sidings and colliery, reaching full output in 1944 with 275initially by a narrow gauge cable-worked tramway across the bridge,000 tons raisedand later by an aerial ropeway above it.<ref name ="Marshall101">[[Bibliography#Books | Marshall (1989)]] p. 101.</ref> The sidings were accessed via two ground frames, with that year's record being 5[[Alveley North ground frame|Alveley North]] and [[Alveley South ground frame|Alveley South]],547 tons which were unlocked by the [[Highley signal box|Highley]]-[[Hampton Loade signal box|Hampton Loade]] token. An intermediate token instrument was provided in one weeka cabin between the two ground frames, with direct telephone lines to Highley Signal Box and a peak of 300Hampton Loade Booking Office,000 tons per year reached as well as the Worcester Exchange-Bridgnorth Signal Box omnibus line. The intermediate instrument allowed trains to be locked in so that other traffic could pass on the main line whilst shunting took place in the late 1950ssidings. Employment was 741 in 1947 The layout on the GWR side consisted of a front loop line, with a capacity of 50 wagons, rising and a number of other sidings and headshunts. Two connections to over 1the private sidings were provided,250 in one at the South end leading to the mid 1950sempty wagon sidings, which held 40 wagons, and falling another at the North end leading to around 700 by the mine's closureloaded wagon sidings, holding 36 wagons. A major expansion was undertaken in The two rakes of private sidings were connected internally via the late 1950s and early 1960scoal screens, completed the large buildings visible in 1962the Sellick photograph, after large reserves of where coal were found to was loaded into the East of the current workingswagons. These GWR locomotives were purported to be enough used to last the mine between 50 set down and 100 yearspick up wagons on these sidings, but a drop were otherwise not allowed in the quality private sidings. ==Preservation==The sidings were acquired by the SVR as part of coal combined with a reduction the southern section of the line to [[Foley Park]] which was purchased from BR in demand forced December 1972, subject to Light Railway Orders being granted. In November 1973 the closure sidings was one of the mine locations used in 1969the television series [[Carrie's War]], with the last coal being lifted on the 31st of Januaryevacuees' train filmed making several run pasts there. The LRO allowing passenger services between Hampton Loade and Bewdley was eventually granted in May 1974.

A number of scenes featuring static rolling stock were also filmed at the sidings for the television series [[Survivors]], Season 3 episode 3 ‘Law of the Jungle’ (first broadcast 30 March 1977). The sidings were deemed unsuitable for the storage of SVR stock due to the remoteness of the location and the resultant risk of vandalism.<ref name == Operations =="Marshall101" /> They were therefore eventually dismantled, with much of the rail and point-work later being re-used elsewhere on the line.

The sidings were accessed via two ground framesIn 1996, [[Alveley North ground frame|Alveley NorthCountry Park Halt]] and was opened on the site. The river bridge linking the main country park on the east bank with the Halt on the SVR was replaced in 2006.<ref>[[Alveley South ground frame|Alveley South]https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/7072/highley-alveley-footbridge-shropshire News article on www.transportxtra.com], which were unlocked </ref> It is also used by the [[Highley signal box|HighleyNational Cycle Route 45]]-[[Hampton Loade signal box|Hampton Loade]] token. An intermediate token instrument was provided in a cabin between the two ground frames, with direct telephone lines to Highley Signal Box and Hampton Loade Booking Office, as well as the Worcester Exchange-Bridgnorth Signal Box omnibus line. The intermediate instrument to allow trains to be locked in so that other traffic could pass on the main line whilst the sidings were being shunted.

The layout on the GWR side consisted Following [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2020-2029#2020|extensive flooding in February 2020]] land movements were observed in Alveley Woods. {{As of |2020|6}} a front loop linedrainage scheme is planned, with to reduce the amount of water reaching the slip plane and take a capacity degree of 50 wagons, and pressure off the embankment. A second phase will include a number mixture of other sidings soil nailing and headshunts. Two connections to the private sidings were provided, one at the South end leading to partial replacement of the empty wagon sidings, which held 40 wagons, embankment material and another at the North end leading is likely to the loaded wagon sidings, holding 36 wagonstake place during 2021.<ref>[https://www. The two rakes of private sidings were connected internally via the coal screens, where coal was loaded into the wagonssvrlive. GWR locomotives were used to set down and pick up wagons on these sidingscom/bljun20 Branch Lines, but were otherwise not allowed June 2020] (Retrieved 26 June 2020)</ref> {{As of|2020|08}} a 5 mph temporary speed restriction is in force in the private sidingsaffected area.