Changes

Jump to: navigation, search

Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1990-1999

1,461 bytes added, 18:27, 11 October 2022
1996: The diesel gala included four hired in milk tankers, hired in to recreate WR scenes of the past. From a Facebook picyure 11.10.96
'''Summer 1990''': [[GWR 7812 Erlestoke Manor|7812 Erlestoke Manor]] left the SVR for overhaul at Swindon, becoming the first SVR locomotive not to be overhauled in the [[Bridgnorth Loco Works]].
 
'''August 1990''': :Saturday 25 August, the first day of the bank holiday weekend, saw [[Kidderminster Railway Museum]] open to the public for the first time.
'''September 1990''': 60103 Flying Scotsman (in LNER green livery as No 4472) arrived for the Jubilee Autumn Gala on 17 September, accompanied by owner Sir William McAlpine.
:Following ballasting and laying of sleepers and rails during the year, Platform 2 at Kidderminster was brought into use. This allowed two trains to be in Kidderminster Station at the same time. Previously, commissioning of the [[Kidderminster signal box]] in late 1987 had removed the ‘One Engine in Steam’ restriction on the Kidderminster to [[Bewdley South signal box|Bewdley]] section, but services had to cross in the passing loop outside the station.
:1990 saw new records for the number of passengers on the [[Christmas services|Santa Services Special services]] (42,602) and ticket sales in the year (209,837). Turnover exceeded £2m for the first time.
==1991==
'''Spring 1991''':
:'Black 5' [[LMS Stanier Class 5 45000|45000]] returned to the [[National Railway Museum | NRM]], together with coach 93619631, the “Clapham Buffet”. The latter had seen regular use, and correspondence in SVR news suggested its departure was regretted more than that of the Black 5!
:SVR News also noted that [[SR 34027 Taw Valley|34027 Taw Valley]], out on the main line at the time, was ‘unlikely to return’.
'''Summer 1991''': The Kidderminster Turntable Project was launched, seeking funds to install the [[Kidderminster Turntable|ex-Fort William 70ft turntable]] at [[Kidderminster]]. The smaller ex-Whitchurch turntable was still being considered for installation at [[Bridgnorth]], but as a lower priority.
'''August 1991''': :August bank holiday weekend saw [[Kidderminster Railway Museum]] open to the public for the first time. :[[BR Riddles 4MT 75069|75069]] and [[GWR 7819 Hinton Manor|7819 Hinton Manor]] took turns to work the Cambrian Coast Express between [[Shrewsbury]] and Barmouth.
'''September 1991''': The Autumn Steam Gala was repeat visits from 60103 Flying Scotsman and [[GWR 3717 City of Truro|3440 City of Truro]]. A total of 9 locomotives were used at the gala.
:[[Highley]] station was closed for 2 weeks; SVR News noted '''The deterioration of Highley Station Platform was felt to have gone far enough when a hole appeared in it''.'
:The [[SVR Apprentices|SVR Junior Club ]] did a full 32 mile return trip using the pump trolley to raise money for charity.
:The SVR experimented with a TV advertisement for the first time.
'''September 1992''': The Autumn Gala guest was LNER A4 pacific 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley (BR 60007); a total of 12 engines were in steam for the event.
 
'''October 1992''': During the [[Heritage buses and other vehicles#Prior events|annual Vintage Vehicle Rally]] on 11 October, a small line-up of diesel traction in Platform 2 included BR Class 58 no 58028 courtesy of BR Railfreight Coal at Bescot.<ref>SVR News 106</ref>
Locomotives hired out to other railways during the year were as follows:
==1993==
[[File:Archive poster 13.jpg|thumb|300px|right|1993 poster]]
1993 marked 25 years since the end of BR steam in 1968, and also 30 years since the last train from [[Bridgnorth]]. The recession continued to bite; the membership briefly dropped below 15,000 and the management began to review the ‘large engine’ policy.
==1994==
[[File:Archive poster 15.jpg|thumb|300px|right|1994 poster]]
'''Winter 1993/Spring 94''': Another major overhaul of Victoria Bridge was carried out, partly funded by English Heritage due to the bridge’s listed status. Repairs continued into the spring, with repainting completed in May.
==1995==
'''Spring 1995''':
:Over the winter ten feet of river bank was washed away at [[Sterns]], triggering further slippage. 3,000 tons of rock was deposited on the river bank as a temporary measure while a geological survey was undertaken.The other major engineering task was the reinforcement and strengthening of the abutments of the [[Underbridge at Hampton Loade]], during which the steelwork was taken to Bridgnorth to be needle gunned and repainted. A limited Sunday-only service operated between Kidderminster and Highley in January, February and March using the [[DMU]] and small tank engines with nearly 4,500 passengers being carried. The main season opened as planned on 1 April.<ref>SVR News 114</ref>
:Bridgnorth District Council announced a plan to build a halt at the Alverly Countryside Park, to be called [[Country Park Halt]]. Construction would take place in late 1995, and the Halt would be open in time for the 1996 season.
:80079 was one of three locomotives taking part in the ‘Steam on the Met’ festival organised by London Underground Limited (LUL). SVR personnel were allowed to drive and fire the locomotive under supervision of an LUL conductor. Preserved steam on the Metropolitan Line between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Amersham had started in 1989, and previous SVR participants were 46521 in 1993 and 80079 in 1984.
:The pilot episode of the TV sitcom "[[Oh, Doctor Beeching!]]" was filmed at Arley
'''June 1995''': The Railway’s ‘Steam School’ courses received a boost following the filming and broadcast of a feature on Blue Peter with presenter Diane-Louise Jordan.
'''May 1996''':
:Filming of the first series of ''Oh, Doctor Beeching! '' took place at Arley.
:7325 returned to steam following a major cylinder repair including welding and ‘stitching’, and took part in ‘Steam on the Met’.
'''September 1996''': The Autumn Steam Gala featured repeat visits from guests 5029 Nunney Castle and 6024 King Edward I, the latter having been shortened in height during a recent overhaul to improve gauge clearance.
 
'''October 1996''': The diesel gala included four hired in milk tankers, hired in to recreate WR scenes of the past.
'''Late 1996''':
:6960 Raveningham Hall left the Railway, following a change of ownership. The locomotive is now one of a number owned by Jeremy Hosking.
:A project was announced to build a new Carriage Shed, seeking financial assistance from [[:Category:Lottery funding#National_Lottery_Heritage_Fund|National Lottery ]] funding.
==1997==
:A new mezzanine storage and office area was constructed in Bridgnorth Loco Works. ‘Tranter Towers’ as it became known was removed in 2014 to provide additional locomotive working space.
:52044 (L&Y 2F 0-6-0 no 957) arrived on the SVR from the KWVR for a planned two year restoration to running order.<ref>SVR News 122</ref>.
'''May 1997''': Filming of the second series of ''Oh, Doctor Beeching! '' took place at Arley.
'''Summer 1997''':
'''September 1998''': A special event took place to mark the 20th anniversary of the arrival of Western Diesels D1013 Western Ranger and D1062 Western Courier twenty years earlier.
 
'''October 1998''': A Great Western 2+8 HST worked a Cheshire Railtours trip from Exeter at Bridgnorth on a filthy 31 October.<ref>[http://www.hatspics.co.uk/type_years_photos.php?type=SVR&year=1998 Images on Alan Thwaites' hatpics website] (Retrieved 28 September 2022)</ref>
'''November 1998''': Hunslet 0-6-0 No 686 The Lady Armaghdale celebrated her 100th birthday. The locomotive was briefly painted into her original black livery as Manchester Ship Canal No 32, before returning to Thomas duties.
'''September 1999''':
:The Railway was saw an unusual visitor on 18 September with a through Bridgnorth - Paignton excursion using a BR HST.
:Contractors Carrillion Construction arrived on site on 20 September to begin work on the new Carriage Shed. This spurred a marathon of junk moving by the PW staff and volunteers – more than a mile of old track was recovered!
Trustworthy, administrator
6,649
edits

Navigation menu