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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."
::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'''
