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→1983: added internal links
==1983==
1983 was a year of anticipation, as the [[Severn Valley Railway|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 [[BR Riddles 4MT 80079 |80079]] hauling the first passengers across the [[Bridgnorth Bypass Bridge|new bridge]].
:[[SR 30777 Sir Lamiel |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 Bridgebridge, closing the line and the riverside road to [[Highley ]] below it.
'''May 1983''':
:[[BR Standard Class 9 92220 Evening Star |92220 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|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. 92220 Evening Star had the dubious honour of hauling the first service over the repaired embankment.
'''Late 1983''':
:The [[Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC|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.
