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A set of sidings between [[Highley]] and [[Hampton Loade]], built to serve File:Alveley_Sidings-1959-10-07.jpeg|thumb|300px|right|6388 passes large numbers of coal wagons at Alveley Colliery, 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.
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 built across the river Severn between 1936 and 1937. Coal was fairly consistentbrought from the colliery to the sidings and colliery, reaching full output initially by a narrow gauge cable-worked tramway across the bridge, and 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, [[Alveley Sidings (North) ground frame|Alveley Sidings (North)]] and [[Alveley Sidings (South) ground frame|Alveley Sidings (South)]], which were unlocked by the [[Highley signal box|Highley]]-[[Hampton Loade signal box|Hampton Loade]] token. An intermediate token instrument was provided in 1944 a cabin between the two ground frames, with 275direct telephone lines to Highley Signal Box and Hampton Loade Booking Office,000 tons raisedas 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 sidings. The layout on the GWR side consisted of a front loop line, with that year's record being 5a capacity of 50 wagons, and a number of other sidings and headshunts. Two connections to the private sidings were provided,547 tons in one weekat the South end leading to the empty wagon sidings, which held 40 wagons, and a peak another at the North end leading to the loaded wagon sidings, holding 36 wagons. The two rakes of 300private sidings were connected internally via the coal screens,000 tons per year reached the large buildings visible in the late 1950sSellick photograph, where coal was loaded into the wagons. Employment GWR locomotives were used to set down and pick up wagons on these sidings, but were otherwise not allowed in the private sidings. ==Preservation==The sidings were acquired by the SVR as part of the southern section of the line to [[Foley Park]] which was 741 purchased from BR in 1947December 1972, rising subject to over 1,250 Light Railway Orders being granted. In November 1973 the sidings was one of the locations used in the mid 1950stelevision series [[Carrie's War]], and falling to around 700 by with the mineevacuees's closuretrain filmed making several run pasts there. A major expansion The LRO allowing passenger services between Hampton Loade and Bewdley was undertaken eventually granted in May 1974. A number of scenes featuring static rolling stock were also filmed at the sidings for the late 1950s and early 1960stelevision series [[Survivors]], completed in 1962, after large reserves Season 3 episode 3 ‘Law of coal the Jungle’ (first broadcast 30 March 1977). The sidings were found deemed unsuitable for the storage of SVR stock due to the East remoteness of the current workingslocation and the resultant risk of vandalism. These <ref name ="Marshall101" /> They were purported to be enough to last therefore eventually dismantled, with much of the mine between 50 rail and 100 yearspoint-work later being re-used elsewhere on the line. In 1996, but a drop in [[Country Park Halt]] was opened on the quality of coal combined with a reduction in demand forced site. The river bridge linking the closure of main country park on the mine in 1969, east bank with the last coal being lifted Halt on the 31st of JanuarySVR was replaced in 2006.<ref>[https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/7072/highley-alveley-footbridge-shropshire News article on www.transportxtra.com]</ref> It is also used by [[National Cycle Route 45]].
The sidings were access via two ground frames, ==See also==*[[Alveley North ground frameMiners Halt level crossing]]*[[Maps#Schematic maps of the pre-closure SVR |Alveley NorthPre-1963 map]] and *[[Alveley South ground frameList of signal boxes#List of historical Signal Boxes and Ground Frames |Alveley SouthList of historical Signal Boxes and Ground Frames]], which were unlocked by the Highley-Hampton token. An intermediate token instrument was provided to allow trains to be locked in, meaning that other traffic could pass on the main line whilst the sidings were being shunted.
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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.
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 drainage scheme is planned, to reduce the amount of water reaching the slip plane and take a degree of pressure off the embankment. A second phase will include a mixture of soil nailing and partial replacement of the embankment material and is likely to take place during 2021.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/bljun20 Branch Lines, June 2020] (Retrieved 26 June 2020)</ref> {{As of|2020|08}} a 5 mph temporary speed restriction is in force in the affected area. == Operations Photographs == <gallery>File:GWR_Alveley_Colliery_2.jpg|GWR Notice covering the opening and operation of Alveley Sidings. 1 of 2.File:GWR_Alveley_Colliery_1.jpg|GWR Notice covering the opening and operation of Alveley Sidings. 2 of 2.</gallery> * A series of photos of 1420 and 4555 with an SLS railtour at Alveley Sidings, by flickr user "ricsrailpics", 19/09/1965. [https://www.flickr.com/photos/16749798@N08/5300686174/in/photostream/ Image 1], [https://www.flickr.com/photos/16749798@N08/5300171333/ Image 2], [https://www.flickr.com/photos/16749798@N08/6393731807/in/photostream/ Image 3]. The sidings were still in use at this time.* A photo of the 4555 on the same railtour, by flickr user "Prof2940", 19/09/1965. [https://www.flickr.com/photos/78911862@N06/7837700982/ Link]. The sidings were still in use at this time.* A series of photos of the SVR, including six at Alveley Sidings, Alan Thwaites, 1974. [http://www.hatspics.co.uk/svr/svr_1974.php Link].* Two photos of 5764 and 45110 passing Alveley Sidings, RCTS Mystery Photographs. [http://www.rcts.org.uk/features/mysteryphotos/show.htm?img=G-245-10 Image 1], [http://www.rcts.org.uk/features/mysteryphotos/show.htm?img=G-245-07 Image 2].
== References ==
<references />
* "Alveley". Wikipedia article. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alveley Link]. Accessed 09/01/2015.
* "Alveley Colliery". Shropshire History article. [http://shropshirehistory.com/mining/mines/alveley.htm Link]. Accessed 09/01/2015.
* "Alveley Sidings at 144m 8 1/2c in the Section Highley-Hampton Loade". GWR Notice No. W472, 28/01/1939. [[:File:GWR_Alveley_Colliery_1.jpg|Part 1]] and [[:File:GWR_Alveley_Colliery_2.jpg|Part 2]].
* Leslie Oppitz. "The Severn Valley Railway". BBC Shropshire article. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/content/articles/2008/10/10/svr_railway_feature.shtml Link]. Accessed 09/01/2015.
* Transactions of the Alveley Historical Society, 1995-2003. [http://www.alveleyhistoricalsociety.co.uk Link]. Accessed 09/01/2015
* "Railways of Highley". Highley.org.uk article. [http://www.highley.org.uk/railhist.html Link]. Accessed 09/01/2015.
==Links==
[http://www.highley.org.uk/page31.html "Mines and miners" on www.highley.org.uk]
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