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Add history for 1982 and 1983. Details of locos used to follow
'''December 1981''':
:The Santa steam specials struggled thorough in the worst winter weather seen in 31 years, with snow and daytime temperatures of -25°C hampering operations.
:Filming for an episode of ITV’s ‘Game for a Laugh’ took place, involving musician and entertainer Joe Brown firing 80079, repeating a job he previously did for BR while a fireman at Plaistow.
==1982==
By May 1982 traffic from the BSC factory at Foley Park had ceased, and the Directors of the SVR were ‘keeping a close watch’ on the situation.
'''May 1982''': 7029 Clun Castle visited the railway for two weeks, including the Great Western Weekend.
'''September 1982''': 3020 Cornwall returned to York. The cost of repairs to the boiler, which had been condemned in May 1980, were deemed too expensive by the SVR and the Department of Education and Science.
'''November 1982''': The line was severed south of Bridgnorth as construction of the Bewdley Bypass began, involving construction of the new [[Bridgnorth Bypass Bridge]]. Work would continue throughout that winter.
'''December 1982''': The Santa services saw more than 20,000 passengers for the first time.
Locomotives used and mileages recorded were as follows:
[To follow]
==1983==
1983 was a year of anticipation, as the SVR moved ever closer to its goal of reaching Kidderminster.
'''March 1983''':
:Bridgnorth by-pass was completed on time and within budget. The line re-opened on 5 March 1983, with 80079 hauling the first passengers across the new bridge.
:30777 Sir Lamiel arrived for a one month visit to the SVR.
'''April 1983''': On Saturday 30 April, less than 2 months after re-opening, Bridgnorth was again isolated. A major collapse of the embankment occurred just south of the new Bridge, closing the line and the riverside road to Highley below it.
'''May 1983''':
:90220 Evening Star arrived for a two week visit. Fortunately Sir Lamiel was south of the embankment collapse at the time, so both visitors were able to work between Bewdley and Hampton Loade during their stay. The collapse also affected the Western Locomotive Association’s Spring Diesel Weekend. It was the third time in five years this had happened, following previous collapses at Sterns and Folly Point.
:Work took place 14 hours per day 7 days per week to repair the line. Shropshire County Council deployed their direct labour force on a ‘without prejudice’ basis and worked jointly with the SVR to reopen the line on Wednesday 18 May. 90220 Evening Star had the dubious honour of hauling the first service over the repaired embankment.
:Kidderminster Goods Depot was formally closed by BR on 16 May, and negotiations began in earnest with BR on leasing an area of land in the freight yard to establish the SVR’s proposed new station.
'''Late 1983''':
:The SVR launched a share issue to raise money for the new station. The initial target was £300,000 with a minimum of £90,000 by the end of February 1984. (£230,000 was achieved by the deadline, the total exceeded £370,000).
:The Board announced a number of changes to the locomotive fleet. 45690 Leander had been acquired from ‘Leander Locomotive Limited’ (LLL). The purchase also included unrestored sister 45699 Galatea, then at Carnforth, which could be restored or used as a source of spares for Leander. To finance the deal, the Ivatt Class 2 46443 had been sold to LLL and would move to Loughborough in June/July 1984. Finally WD 193, which had been on loan to Hereford since January 1981, was in the process of being sold.
'''December 1983''': Four locos hauled more than 30,000 passengers on the Santa services. A decade earlier a single saddle tank [[WD 193]] had done the job single-handed.
Locomotives used and mileages recorded were as follows:
[To follow]
