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Christmas services

Revision as of 20:44, 23 July 2020 by Patrick Hearn (talk | contribs) (→‎Early years)

The below is an incomplete page.

Christmas services are a huge part of the SVR’s services, accounting for approximately 35,000 of the 200,000 tickets sold annually. By tradition, the SVR's services close at the end of the services after New Year's Day and therefore includes the immediate post-Christmas trains.

Services are a volunteer lead project under a Santa committee, headed by Dianne Malyon. It is almost a twelve-month project: presents are ordered in March, and bands and choirs by May.[1]

Contents

Early years

The first visit by Santa was in 1968. Tony Bending recalls it was a staged affair organised by Dillons store in Bridgnorth High Street who wanted a novel way for Santa to arrive. 46443 drew a single coach out to Cleobury Road Bridge before the event and later on, at the appropriate time, rolled it back in. Having arrived at Bridgnorth by train Santa then travelled by horse and cart, before spending the day seeing children in the High Street shop.[2] The exhibition '50 Years of Steam at the Severn Valley Railway' records the event on 24 November 1968, David Williams records 46443 operating on 21 December 1968.[3]

The South Devon Railway relates that Kitson & Co 5474 'Carnarvon' carried Santa in 1969.[4] This was a similar event, there is picture by David Williams on 20 December 1969.[5]

There is no record of either event in SVR News or Severn Valley Railway Memories.[6] Since the Light Railway Order was only granted in 1970, they are considered a static event and so not classed as a 'Santa service'.

On 23 and 24 December 1973 'Santa Claus' specials ran with three coaches between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade, hauled by 'Austerity' 0-6-0ST WD 193. The weekend marked the SVR's first Santa services.[7]

On 20 December 1982 Santa arrived at Bewdley by helicopter, before travelling to his grotto at Arley by train.[8]

On 8 December 1990 the worst snowstorm for a decade affected the weekend's Santa services; only a small proportion of the 9,000 ticket holders were able to attend.[9]

The 2007 Storm Damage resulted in services being restricted to Kidderminster to Bewdley, where Santa was ensconced.

On 10 December 2017 all Santa Special services were cancelled in light of heavy snow overnight and complete loss of power at Arley Station.

Hired in locomotives

The SVR normally operates services using a working fleet drawn from its own steam locomotives. On several occasions it has been necessary to hire in locomotives from other railways to alleviate pressure on the fleet over the busy Christmas period.

Recent operation to 2018

The mainstay operation was the Santa Special operation. This operated half hourly all day, typically weekends from late November/early December until Christmas Eve. This necessitated a five-train operation, all steam hauled, with a sixth locomotive providing train pre-heating and acting as standby. The trains operated between Kidderminster and Santa's Grotto at Arley, with trains picking up and setting down at Bewdley on the return leg only. In addition the Class 108 DMU ran staff trains, and a late afternoon service for late-returning passengers.

Setting up took place at the beginning of October, with clearing away taking place before year end. A typical day's operation needed around 100 volunteers, excluding crew and signalmen. There were 96 Santa turns for the Santa Specials.

On 23 November 2018 the SVR made a 'Black Friday' discount offer of unsold Santa Special tickets.

A secondary operation was ‘Santa Heralds’, with Santa travelling on the train to distribute presents. These are typically steam-operated midweek services.

Carol Trains are an evening DMU service, running from Kidderminster to The Engine House. Christmas Carvery DMU services also run to The Engine House where a meal is provided. Dining Trains also operate. Schools steam services run in midweek.

Post-Christmas services normally begin on Boxing Day and run daily until at least New Years Day.

Stations and platforms at Kidderminster, Bewdley and Arley are decorated. At both Kidderminster and Arley live seasonal music is provided by local groups. Carriages are not usually decorated, locomotives may carry headboards, wreaths or other decoration.

It was also an important part of activities for other groups. SVR Apprentices dress in animal character costumes to entertain the waiting youngsters at Arley. Several preservation groups roast and sell chestnuts.

2019 operations

In June 2019 the SVR announced a refresh of Santa Specials, no longer featuring a Grotto but instead including:

  • Santa Specials from Kidderminster
  • Premium Santa Specials from both Kidderminster and Bridgnorth.

These services operate to Highley on a decorated steam train with Santa meeting every family on the train handing out gifts and posing for photographs. Operationally both are top and tailed, the Bridgnorth-originating services with steam and the Kidderminster services steam and diesel.

A 'Steam in Lights' evening illuminated steam service operates from Bridgnorth. This does not feature Santa.

Carol Trains, Christmas Carvery, Dining Trains, Schools steam services and post-Christmas services continue.

The Bridgnorth services are the first in many years, making use of the facilities afforded by the Bridgnorth development project.

Passenger numbers

Reported total passenger numbers for Christmas services are given below. In some cases these are approximations. Where totals only include Santa trains and exclude post-Christmas services, numbers are in italics.

Year No of passengers Location Reference Notes
1973 Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade. 1 weekend of Santa trains
1974 Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade.
1975 Bewdley to Arley 2 weekends of Santa trains.
1976 Bewdley to Arley 3 weekends of Santa trains.
1977 Bewdley to Arley 4 weekends of Santa trains.
1978 10,882 Bewdley to Arley SVR News 50 Total for Santa trains only, a 46% increase on 1977.
1979 Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade Repairs to Victoria Bridge.
1980 19,515 Bewdley to Arley SVR News 59/63 Santa trains 17,872
1981 16,378 Bewdley to Arley SVR News 63 All Santa services ran but numbers were affected by snow.
1982 22,005 Bewdley to Arley SVR News 67
1983 33,634 Bewdley to Arley SVR News 71 Santa trains 31,450, Mince pie specials 2,184
1984 34,628 Kidderminster to Arley SVR News 75 Santa trains 33,326, Mince pie specials 1,302
1985 30,975 Kidderminster to Arley SVR News 79 Santa trains 28,978, Mince pie specials 1,997
1986 37,369 Kidderminster to Arley SVR News 83 Santa trains 34,753, Mince pie specials 2,616.
1987 31,889 Kidderminster to Arley SVR News 87 Santa trains 29,634, Mince pie specials 2,255.
1988 41,496 Kidderminster to Arley SVR News 91 Santa trains 38,039, Mince pie specials 3,457.
1989 47,259 Kidderminster to Arley SVR News 95 Santa trains 42,602, Mince pie specials 4,657.
1990 40,935 Kidderminster to Arley SVR News 98 Adverse weather in early December.
1991 42,535 Kidderminster to Arley SVR News 102
1992 48,004 Kidderminster to Arley SVR News 106/109 Santa trains 42,660, Mince pie specials 5,344.[10]
1993 48,485 Kidderminster to Arley SVR News 109 Santa trains 41,501, Mince pie specials 6,984.
1994 Kidderminster to Arley Not reported in SVR News.
1995 Kidderminster to Arley SVR News 117 Predicted Santa trains 32,000; final number not reported.
1996 Kidderminster to Arley Not reported in SVR News.
1997 >33,000 Kidderminster to Arley SVR News 125
1998 >39,258 Kidderminster to Arley SVR News 129 December 38,258, plus >1k on New Years Day
1999 37,876 Kidderminster to Arley SVR News 132
2000 >33,000 Kidderminster to Arley SVR News 135 33,000 weekend Santas, other midweek services not reported.
2001 Kidderminster to Arley SVR News 139 Santa trains not reported; 5,100 after Christmas.
2002 Kidderminster to Arley Not reported in SVR News.
2003 Kidderminster to Arley Not reported in SVR News.
2004 ~43,500 Kidderminster to Arley SVR News 149 Santas 35.5k, Diners 1k, Other 7k (approx)
2005 ~43,200 Kidderminster to Arley SVR News 152 Santas and other 42k, Diners 1.2k (approx)
2006 Kidderminster to Arley SVR News 156 Not reported (Santas were 5k more than budget)
2007 Kidderminster to Bewdley 2007 Storm Damage. Numbers not reported.
2008 ~29,000 Kidderminster to Arley SVR News 164
2009 Kidderminster to Arley Not reported in SVR News.
2010 Kidderminster to Arley SVR News 172 26,529 advance tickets sold, final number not reported
2011 30,369 Kidderminster to Arley Pete Cherry Not reported in SVR News. Number of advance tickets sold for Santa Special, Herald and Sleigh services. Final number not reported
2012 47,038 Kidderminster to Arley SVR News 181
2013 33,205 Kidderminster to Arley Pete Cherry Not reported in SVR News. Number of advance tickets sold for Santa Special, Herald and Sleigh services. Final number not reported
2014 32,213 Kidderminster to Arley Pete Cherry Not reported in SVR News. Number of advance tickets sold for Santa Special, Herald and Sleigh services. Final number not reported
2015 33,319 Kidderminster to Arley [11]
2016 33,364 Kidderminster to Arley [11]
2017 31,962 Kidderminster to Arley [11] One day lost due to weather.
2018 36,104 Kidderminster to Arley [11]
2019 ' Bridgnorth and Kidderminster to Highley

See also

Santa's Grotto

References

  1. ↑ SVR News 171, 203
  2. ↑ '50 Years of Steam at the Severn Valley Railway', SVR website (Retrieved 22 May 2020)
  3. ↑ Tony Bending, David Williams by email
  4. ↑ South Devon Railway website
  5. ↑ Williams (1974) p. 23.
  6. ↑ Magner (1997).
  7. ↑ SVR News 29,32
  8. ↑ SVR News 67
  9. ↑ SVR News 98
  10. ↑ Originally reported as 37,316 + 4,021. 1993 comparatives used.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 SVR(H) AGM presentation

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Eardington is situated on Eardington Bank, mid-way between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade. In recent years, rebuilding the platform was completed in 2019 and the water tower was dismantled in 2021. Although the station no longer features in daily operations, it resumed use during gala events in 2023 more than 40 years since regular timetabled trains ceased. (Full article...)
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For 101 years between 1862 and 1963, the Severn Valley Railway formed part of the national railway network, running for 40 miles between Hartlebury and Shrewsbury. Established as a separate company, it was mainly operated by the Great Western Railway (GWRGreat Western Railway) and later by British Railways (BRBritish Rail or British Railways).

The present day Severn Valley Railway (SVRSevern Valley Railway) was established in 1965 to preserve part of the line as a heritage railway. Today it has six stations and two halts and runs for 16 miles along the Severn Valley between Bridgnorth in Shropshire and Kidderminster in Worcestershire, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route. Operations involve a mixture of steam and heritage diesel-hauled services.

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