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A set of sidings '''Alveley Sidings''' were located between [[Highley]] and [[Hampton Loade]] , and opened on 30 January 1939, built to serve [[Collieries served by the Severn Valley Railway#Alveley Colliery | Alveley Colliery]], which was located across the river. The sidings were opened in the 1930s, and were kept in use beyond the closure of the line between [[BewdleyAlveley Miners Halt level crossing | Alveley Halt]] and [[Shrewsbury]] in 1963, accessed from Bewdley. However, the mine became uneconomical to work and which was closed in 1969, with located at the sidings and line North south (Highley) end of Bewdley being closed at the same timesidings, as no other source of traffic remainedwas used by miners travelling to the colliery by railway.
== Alveley Colliery ==The sidings remained in use for coal traffic after the closure of the line between [[Bewdley]] 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.
Production was fairly consistent, reaching full output in 1944 with 275,000 tons raised, with that year's record being 5,547 tons in one weekThe sidings were accessed via two ground frames, [[Alveley Sidings (North) ground frame|Alveley Sidings (North)]] and a peak of 300[[Alveley Sidings (South) ground frame|Alveley Sidings (South)]],000 tons per year reached in which were unlocked by the late 1950s[[Highley signal box|Highley]]-[[Hampton Loade signal box|Hampton Loade]] token. Employment An intermediate token instrument was 741 in 1947, rising to over 1,250 provided in a cabin between the mid 1950stwo ground frames, and falling with direct telephone lines to around 700 by the mine's closure. A major expansion was undertaken in the late 1950s Highley Signal Box and early 1960sHampton Loade Booking Office, completed in 1962, after large reserves of coal were found to as well as the East of the current workingsWorcester Exchange-Bridgnorth Signal Box omnibus line. These were purported The intermediate instrument allowed trains to be enough to last the mine between 50 and 100 years, but a drop locked in so that other traffic could pass on the quality of coal combined with a reduction main line whilst shunting took place in demand forced the closure of the mine in 1969, with the last coal being lifted on the 31st of Januarysidings.
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.
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[[File:Alveley_Sidings-1959-10-07.jpeg|thumb|200px300px|right|6388 passes large numbers of coal wagons at Alveley Sidings in October 1959([[Sellick Collection]])]]
The shaft area at Alveley was sunk in 1935 to a depth the north (Hampton Loade) end of 360 yards by the Highley Mining Company, and was connected with their workings from their Highley shaft, which had proceeded under the river by this point. Initial work was completed in 1937, and production starting in 1938. The new shaft replaced the one at Highley, which was closed in 1939, with all production being brought sidings is usually referred to on the surface at Railway as '''Alveley, although the old shaft was retained for ventilation and as an emergency evacuation route. The workings were very modern, with full use being made of electrical power, including completely mechanical working of the coal faceWoods'''.
== 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 brought across from the colliery to the river sidings and colliery, initially by a ropenarrow gauge cable-worked tramway across a the bridge built to serve the mine, which was and later replaced with by an aerial ropeway in 1961above it. This served the washeries and sidings<ref name ="Marshall101">[[Bibliography#Books | Marshall (1989)]] p. 101.</ref>
The layout on the GWR side consisted of a front loop line, with a capacity of 50 wagons, and a number of other sidings and headshunts. Two connections to the private sidings were provided, one at the South end leading to the empty wagon sidings, which held 40 wagons, and another at the North end leading to the loaded wagon sidings, holding 36 wagons. The two rakes of private sidings were connected internally via the coal screens, the large buildings visible in the Sellick photograph, where coal was loaded into the wagons. GWR locomotives were used to set down and pick up wagons on these sidings, but were otherwise not allowed in the private sidings. == Operations Preservation==The sidings were acquired by the SVR as part of the southern section of the line to [[Foley Park]] which was purchased from BR in December 1972, subject to Light Railway Orders being granted. In November 1973 the sidings was one of the locations used in the television series [[Carrie's War]], with the evacuees' 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 ="Marshall101" /> They were therefore eventually dismantled, with much of the rail and point-work later being re-used elsewhere on the line.
== Photographs ==
* 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].
==See also==
*[[Alveley Miners Halt level crossing]]
*[[Maps#Schematic maps of the pre-closure SVR | Pre-1963 map]]
*[[List of signal boxes#List of historical Signal Boxes and Ground Frames | List of historical Signal Boxes and Ground Frames]]
== 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.
* 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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