Difference between revisions of "Severn Valley Railway Company Limited"

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Severn Valley Railway Company Limited is a Company Limited by Guarantee.  The Company was formed in May 1967 to negotiate the purchase of the line between [[Bridgnorth]] and [[Alveley Sidings]], and to obtain the Light Railway Order to operate the first section of line between [[Bridgnorth]] and [[Hampton Loade]].
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'''Severn Valley Railway Company Limited''' is a Company Limited by Guarantee (for which reason it is normally referred to on the SVR as "'''the Guarantee Company'''").
  
The next stages of development, including purchase of the line to [[Foley Park]] and [[Kidderminster]], required substantial investment.  A Public Company with a Share Capital was considered a more suitable vehicle for this, leading to the formation of [[Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC | Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) Ltd.]] ("SVR(H)") in March 1972.  
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==Early history==
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Attempts to preserve the Severn Valley Railway began in 1965 with [[Severn Valley Railway Society | The Severn Valley Railway Society]] (SVRS).  However for legal reasons it was necessary for a Company, rather than a Society, to acquire and operate the railway. The Guarantee Company was therefore formed in May 1967 to negotiate the purchase of the line between [[Bridgnorth]] and [[Alveley Sidings]], and to obtain the Light Railway Order (LRO) to operate the first section of line between [[Bridgnorth]] and [[Hampton Loade]].
  
Although it no longer owns the line, Severn Valley Railway Company Limited (often referred to as "the Guarantee Company”) is still an active part of the Severn Valley Railway. It remains as the SVR’s membership arm and provides volunteer staff to operate the railway (all volunteers must be members). The SVR has around 13,000 members and membership is by subscription. Members receive preferential rates of travel.  
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From 1967 to 1969 the Guarantee Company worked towards this end, while the SVRS remained the ‘public face’ of the SVR. By late 1979, with the legal process coming towards a conclusion, the membership agreed that the Guarantee Company was now the organisation with which to go forward, so the SVRS was merged into the Guarantee Company on 6th December that year.
  
The Guarantee Company maintains a shareholding of approximately 25% of SVR(H).  
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The SVR, operated by the Guarantee Company, began services in May 1970.  However the next stages of development, including purchase of the southern end of the line to [[Foley Park]] and ultimately [[Kidderminster]], required substantial investment.  A Public Company with a Share Capital was considered a more suitable vehicle for this, leading to the formation of [[Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC | Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) Ltd.]] ("SVR(H)") in March 1972.  
  
It publishes [[Severn Valley Railway News]], a quarterly magazine, free to members.
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When SVR(H) was formed, it was envisaged that the Guarantee Company would no longer be required, leading to the creation of another organisation, the [[Severn Valley Railway Association]] (SVRA). However it transpired that the existing LRO could not be transferred to SVR(H) at that time, so the Guarantee Company remained in existence. The activities of the SVRA were eventually merged into the Guarantee Company in October 1915.
  
In October 2015 the activities of the [[Severn Valley Railway Association]] were merged into the Guarantee Company.
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In due course SVR(H) assumed responsibility for the ownership of the infrastructure and operation of the SVR. 
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==Present day==
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Although it no longer owns the line, the Guarantee Company is still an active part of the Severn Valley Railway. It remains as the SVR’s membership arm and provides volunteer staff to operate the railway (all volunteers must be members). The SVR has around 13,000 members and membership is by subscription. Members receive preferential rates of travel.
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The Guarantee Company maintains a shareholding of approximately 25% of SVR(H). It also publishes [[Severn Valley Railway News]], a quarterly magazine, free to members.
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
 
[[The Severn Valley Railway in preservation#Current Organisation | The SVR Organisation]]
 
[[The Severn Valley Railway in preservation#Current Organisation | The SVR Organisation]]

Revision as of 15:15, 6 January 2017

Severn Valley Railway Company Limited is a Company Limited by Guarantee (for which reason it is normally referred to on the SVRSevern Valley Railway as "the Guarantee Company").

Early history

Attempts to preserve the Severn Valley Railway began in 1965 with The Severn Valley Railway Society (SVRSSevern Valley Railway Society). However for legal reasons it was necessary for a Company, rather than a Society, to acquire and operate the railway. The Guarantee Company was therefore formed in May 1967 to negotiate the purchase of the line between Bridgnorth and Alveley Sidings, and to obtain the Light Railway Order (LROLight Railway Order) to operate the first section of line between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade.

From 1967 to 1969 the Guarantee Company worked towards this end, while the SVRSSevern Valley Railway Society remained the ‘public face’ of the SVRSevern Valley Railway. By late 1979, with the legal process coming towards a conclusion, the membership agreed that the Guarantee Company was now the organisation with which to go forward, so the SVRSSevern Valley Railway Society was merged into the Guarantee Company on 6th December that year.

The SVRSevern Valley Railway, operated by the Guarantee Company, began services in May 1970. However the next stages of development, including purchase of the southern end of the line to Foley Park and ultimately Kidderminster, required substantial investment. A Public Company with a Share Capital was considered a more suitable vehicle for this, leading to the formation of Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) Ltd. ("SVRSevern Valley Railway(H)") in March 1972.

When SVRSevern Valley Railway(H) was formed, it was envisaged that the Guarantee Company would no longer be required, leading to the creation of another organisation, the Severn Valley Railway Association (SVRASevern Valley Railway Association). However it transpired that the existing LROLight Railway Order could not be transferred to SVRSevern Valley Railway(H) at that time, so the Guarantee Company remained in existence. The activities of the SVRASevern Valley Railway Association were eventually merged into the Guarantee Company in October 1915.

In due course SVRSevern Valley Railway(H) assumed responsibility for the ownership of the infrastructure and operation of the SVRSevern Valley Railway.

Present day

Although it no longer owns the line, the Guarantee Company is still an active part of the Severn Valley Railway. It remains as the SVRSevern Valley Railway’s membership arm and provides volunteer staff to operate the railway (all volunteers must be members). The SVRSevern Valley Railway has around 13,000 members and membership is by subscription. Members receive preferential rates of travel.

The Guarantee Company maintains a shareholding of approximately 25% of SVRSevern Valley Railway(H). It also publishes Severn Valley Railway News, a quarterly magazine, free to members.

See also

The SVR Organisation