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'''Severn Valley Railway Company Limited ''' is a Company Limited by Guarantee. The Company was formed in May 1967 (for which reason it is normally referred to negotiate on the purchase of SVR as "'''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]]Guarantee Company'''").
==Early history==Attempts to preserve the Severn Valley Railway began in 1965 with [[Severn Valley Railway Society | The next stages of developmentSevern Valley Railway Society]] (SVRS). However for legal reasons it was necessary for a Company, rather than a Society, including to acquire and operate the railway. The Guarantee Company was therefore formed in May 1967 to negotiate the purchase of the line to between [[Foley ParkBridgnorth]] and [[KidderminsterAlveley Sidings]], required substantial investment. A Public Company with a Share Capital was considered a more suitable vehicle for this, leading and to obtain the Light Railway Order (LRO) to operate the formation first section of line between [[Bridgnorth]] and [[Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC | Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) Ltd.Hampton Loade]] ("SVR(H)") in March 1972.
The SVR, operated by the Guarantee Company maintains , 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 shareholding of approximately 25% 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.
In October 2015 due course SVR(H) assumed responsibility for the activities ownership of the infrastructure and operation of the SVR. ==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 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. The Guarantee Company maintains a shareholding of approximately 25% of SVR(H). It also publishes [[Severn Valley Railway AssociationNews]] were merged into the Guarantee Company, a quarterly magazine, free to members.
==See also==
[[The Severn Valley Railway in preservation#Current Organisation | The SVR Organisation]]
