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→1965: SLS tour. Dave Hill noted "This was the first time I had heard of the proposal to buy & restore part of the Severn Valley line with leaflets being passed out on the train."
'''July 1965'''
[[File: The Coopers Arms, Canterbury Road, Kidderminster - geograph.org.uk - 1113269.jpg |thumb|300px|right| The Cooper's Coopers Arms (Geograph)]]:The formation of the Severn Valley Railway in preservation officially began on 6 July 1965. The public meeting proposed by Keith Beddoes took place at the Cooper’s Coopers Arms in Kidderminster, attended by around 50 people.
::Three possible locations were considered for the potential preserved railway, and the meeting spent some time discussing the merits of these. It was not considered feasible to use a section of the [[Wyre Forest Line | Tenbury Branch]] between [[Bewdley]] and [[Wyre Forest Line#Cleobury Mortimer | Cleobury Mortimer]] as BR were still using Bewdley station at that time and could not grant access. The [[Cleobury Mortimer and Ditton Priors Light Railway]] was also deemed unsuitable because of its remoteness and the relatively light axle load limits of the light railway. The Severn Valley Railway between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade was therefore chosen.
::Those present agreed to form the [[Severn Valley Railway Society]] (“the Society”). A committee of 8 was appointed, and the initial membership subscription was proposed as £1, but eventually set at 1 guinea (£1+1shilling) at the suggestion of [[John Garth]], in order to increase funds.<ref name = SVR191>SVR News 191, “Fifty Years Ago" (Christopher George)</ref>
:On Sunday 11 July the Society inspected the track from [[Hampton Loade]] to [[Bridgnorth]], noting that all the signals and most of the railway installations along the route had been removed.<ref name=Magner43>Magner (1997) pp. 43-46.</ref> While holding up the old station name board at Bridgnorth to take a photograph, they were challenged “What the hell do you think you are doing?” by a man with a shotgun. This turned out to be [[Tales from the Severn Valley#George_Thorpe.2C_licensee_of_The_Railwayman.27s_Arms|George Thorpe ]] (also known as ‘Elias’) who had continued to operate the station refreshment room after the station itself had shut. Once the Society explained their idea, they were quickly made welcome!
:On Sunday 25 July, the Society made a second visit to inspect the line between [[Hampton Loade]] and Bridgnorth. They discovered that since their first visit, BR had resumed the removal of track from Bridgnorth Station towards [[Kidderminster]]. The Society authorised [[John Garth]] to send a telegram to British Rail asking them to stop taking up the line. This was sent on Monday 26th, and at 5pm on 28 July BR agreed to a stay of execution while negotiations took place<ref name=Magner43/>.
[[File: S3641 SLS Special at Bewdley 1965.jpg |thumb|300px|right| The SLS special at Bewdley (David Cooke)]]
[[File:SVRSposterJonathanWilcox.jpg |thumb|300px|right| Early SVRS poster]]
:On 19 September 1965 GWR locomotives 4555 and 1420 visited [[Alveley Sidings]] with the Worcester - Wolverhampton - Worcester leg of the Stephenson Locomotive Society visited Alveley (Midland Area) 'The Restored Engines Tour'. This helped publicise the nascent preservation scheme, with a special leaflets being passed out on the train from . Later resident [[Bewdley61994 The Great Marquess| 3442 The Great Marquess]], hauled by GWR locomotives 4555 and 1420. This helped publicise the preservation schemeremainder of the tour.<ref name=Magner43>[https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/60s/650919sl.html Six Bells Junction</ref>
:The first working party took place at Bridgnorth station on Sunday 26 September.<ref name=Magner43/> Regular Sunday afternoon de-weeding of the track and painting of the buildings continued throughout the 1960s as the station was gradually restored to working condition.
'''October 1967'''
:The first full 'Steam Weekend' took place on 14-15 October. [[Carriages formerly resident on the SVR# Carriages scrapped while at the SVR|GWR Brake Third 5136]] had been installed in the cattle dock at Bridgnorth and was brought into use as a refreshment coach.<ref>SVR News 163</ref> 3205 and 46443 worked a four coach formation with the last train of the evening being double headed with five coaches. Operations at the time were under the direction of [[Bill Gillett|Mr W Gillett]], the Chief Operating Inspector of BR’s Birmingham Division, and he allowed a full service to [[Hampton Loade]] to be run. The Railway had not yet received the Light Railway Order allowing rides to be given to the general public. However SVR members could travel, so the Railway did a brisk trade in ‘Day Member’ tickets, while full membership of the [[Severn Valley Railway Society]] also benefited, passing the 1,000 mark by the end of the year.
:[[2047 Warwickshire|Manning Wardle contractors engine no 2047]] (later named Warwickshire) arrived on 22 October.
:On 7 September, work began to dismantle the signal box at Pensnett which over the following months would be dismantled and reassembled at Bridgnorth<ref name=SVRNews11>SVR News 11</ref>.
:In addition to the "Members' day ticket" type operations, a number of private parties were also carried on the SVR prior to opening. The 'Gilt Edge Carpet Special' with [[46443]] on 21 September 1968 was one such<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Williams (1974)]] p. 61.</ref>.
'''October 1968'''
'''April 1969'''
:The 'Easter steam gala' on Sunday 6 April saw Bridgnorth's four tender locos lined up in the yard (see photo)<ref>SVR News 13</ref>. Members' trains were not allowed following BR's ban, although 3205 was in steam and travelled light engine to Eardington to take water<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Williams (1974)]] p. 51.</ref>.
'''June 1969'''
'''September 1969'''
:A 9-vehicle convoy left Bridgnorth by rail to visit Birmingham Railway Museum at Tyseley for a special event. The convoy consisted of BR Brush Type 4 No. 1858, [[Carriages formerly resident on the SVR|GWR BTK 5787]], [[46443]], [[3205]], [[Railcar 22]], [[Carriages formerly resident on the SVR|Royal Saloon 9001]], [[Carriages formerly resident on the SVR|GWR BCK 7285]], [[GWR 6562 Brake Composite|GWR BCK 6562]] and a BR brake van<ref>SVR News 14</ref>.It won the [[Awards|cup for best exhibit]].<ref>SVR News 210</ref>
'''October 1969'''
