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:SVR Patron H.R.H. The Duke of Gloucester was unable to attend the official opening of The Engine House due to illness. The ceremony went ahead with The Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire officiating. :The boiler of 7714 had for some time been giving concern, having been a ‘quick fix’ during the boiler crisis of 2000. In addition, 5164 was out of service for a mid-term overhaul. As a result, [[GWR 4936 Kinlet Hall|4936 Kinlet Hall ]] joined the SVR on hire from Tyseley for the summer and autumn.
→2002: add link
'''March 2000''': The ‘Branch Line Weekend’ saw two visitors, South Devon Railway’s GWR 0-4-2T no 1420 with auto coach and Mid Hants Railway’s LMS Ivatt 2-6-2T no 41312.
'''April 2000''': The keys to newly completed [[Kidderminster Carriage Shed]] were formally handed to the SVR by the Carillion site manager on 19 April 2000. The same day saw the first rake of carriages propelled onto Road 1. '''May 2000''': [[GWR 2251 Class 3205 | 3205]] re-visited the Railway, pulling a 30th Anniversary Special on 23 May. '''June 2000''': Laying of track in Kidderminster Carriage Shed by the P-Way staff was completed during the month.
'''Summer 2000''': The railway experienced a succession of boiler failures, decimating the normal working fleet. Even 813 was pressed into service, hauling a number of 4-coach trains. The railway managed (just!) to include steam on every weekend, but the Diesel fleet was heavily used. A number of reasons for the crisis were later identified, including a combination of water quality (despite the use of approved chemical treatment), type of coal used, and methods of firing. The failures had a ‘domino effect’ as remaining locos were used harder, so failing in turn.
:Coincidentally 25 November, the first day of through working after the repairs at Knowlesands, saw 8F 48773 involved in collision with a van on [[Level crossing at Hill Farm, Northwood Lane | Northwood Crossing]], fortunately with no fatalities involved. HM Railway Inspectorate later confirmed that the Railway was not at fault, independent witnesses having testified that the driver had passed the flashing red lights when the train was only a few yards from the crossing. Damage to the Astra van was rather more severe than to the 8F.
'''December 2000''': Concern at the fragile state of the fleet led to BR Standard 9F 92212 arriving on hire for the [[Christmas services|Santa ServicesSpecial services]].
==2001==
:Water quality was being constantly monitored, with samples taken for testing each time a loco was filled. ‘Reverse Osmosis’ water treatment equipment had been ordered, and was in course of being installed.
:Last year’s poor weather had resulted in a rock slide in Eyemore [[Eymore Cutting]], just south of Victoria Bridge. Permanent repairs were undertaken in the summer once approval had been received from English Nature, the area being a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
'''March 2001''': 9F 92212 attended the Spring Gala before leaving at the end of its hire period. Following the Gala, Bewdley Station was closed for 3 weeks for repairs to the [[Bewdley Station Footbridge|footbridge ]] and platform canopies.
'''April 2001''':
:Visitors to the Railway included another HST on a Barnstaple to Bridgnorth excursion. Smaller locomotives guested at the Branch Line Weekend, with South Devon’s 1420 making a return visit accompanied by Auto Coach W225, and [[GWR Large Prairie 4144 ]] attending from Didcot.
:34027 Taw Valley returned to the Severn Valley Railway, with former owner Bert Hitchen selling the locomotive to the SVR’s Phil Swallow. 34027 had been painted as ‘Hogwarts Express’ at the time, to promote the fourth Harry Potter book ‘''Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire''’.
:8F 48773 became the first SVR locomotive to achieve 100,000 miles in preservation, a feat at that time only achieved by two locomotives on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
'''May 2001''' On 23 May 2001 The [[:Category:Lottery funding#National_Lottery_Heritage_Fund|Heritage Lottery Fund]] awarded the [[Kidderminster Railway Museum]] Trust Limited £177,500 for roof and canopy restoration, to provide additional storage space for the museum's collections and release further floorspace for new displays.<ref>[https://www.hlf.org.uk/our-projects/kidderminster-railway-museum-roof-and-canopy-restoration HLF] (retrieved 27 December 2016)</ref>
'''August 2001''': An area of land at Highley which was previously the colliery sidings came up for auction and was acquired by the SVR. This area is now the site of [[The Engine House]].
:The Spring Gala had a ‘Somerset & Dorset’ theme, with locomotives renumbered as former S&DJR inhabitants. Standard 4MT 75014 was the guest.
:On 24 March, L&Y class 25 0-6-0 No. 957 (BR 52044) worked the 1.00 pm Kidderminster to Bridgnorth service, double headed with [[46443]].<ref>SVR News 140</ref> The test run followed a contract restoration which began in summer 1997<ref>SVR News 122</ref>. :The SVR hosted more unusual visitors in the form of a 4-car Virgin Voyager which was clearance-tested along the SVR line, and a [[Other rolling stock visiting the SVR |PPM50 Parry People Mover ]] (later Class 999 No. 999900) which spent 2 months being tested (the PPM is now . It was used from 2006-2008 on the Network Rail branch line from Stourbridge Junction to Stourbridge Town). It visited again for testing in [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2020-2029#2020|2020]].
'''June 2002''': English, Welsh & Scottish Railway Class 60 locomotive No 60089 was named "The Railway Horse" in a ceremony at Bewdley on 8 June 2002.<ref>Information displayed in The Engine House</ref>.
'''Summer 2002''': An application was made to the [[:Category:Lottery funding|Heritage Lottery Fund ]] for grant aid for a new museum and storage building at Highley (this would become [[The Engine House]] later in the 1980s).
'''September 2002''': To celebrate the Royal Jubilee, the guests at the Autumn Steam Gala were 46233 Duchess of Sutherland and 46201 Princess Elizabeth.
'''December 2002''': The year closed with a record number of 236,704 passengers carried.
==2003==
'''April 2003''': 61994 The Great Marquess was bought by John Cameron from the family of the late Earl of Lindsay. Plans were announced that the locomotive would be overhauled at the SVR, including the repair of the driving axle which had failed in 1997.
'''May 2003''': A ceremony was held at [[Bridgnorth|Bridgnorth Station]] on 1 May to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the closure of [[RAF Bridgnorth]], the former RAF national service training centre at Stanmore Park<ref>SVR News 144</ref>
'''Summer 2003''': The SVR News ‘Boardroom Notes’ stated: ''“Although we will continue to monitor the position, the possibility of a connection to Ironbridge is now unlikely since the BR Residual Property Board has apparently concluded that there is no requirement for a railway north of Bridgnorth and has put Bridgnorth tunnel up for sale.”'' The Railway was commited to an number of other capital projects at the time, including Highley Museum, for which Stage 1 Heritage Lottery Fund approval had recently been received, and construction of the final wing of Kidderminster Station.
:Locomotive 5164 entered service for the first time since 1984 after completion of overhaul.
:[[Bridgnorth Station Footbridge | Bridgnorth station footbridge]] was re-installed. It had previously been taken down and moved to the boiler shop for shot-blasting and repainting.
'''August 2004'''. Steeplejack and TV personality Fred Dibnah arrived at the SVR complete with traction engine, riding van and BBC film crew. He spent a considerable time in the machine shop and boiler shop, so much so that he missed the chance of a footplate ride! The visit was featured in the series [[List of film and TV productions filmed on the Severn Valley Railway#TV Documentary | Fred Dibnah's Made in Britain]].
'''September 2004''': The Autumn Steam Gala saw 12 locomotives in use, including visitors SR Maunsell V ‘Schools’ class 4-4-0 No 30926 Repton and SR USA Porter ‘Dock Tank’ 0-6-0T No 30070 liveried as DS 238.
'''October 2004''': The SVR staged ‘Railcar 50’ '[[Railcar50]]' to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the introduction of Diesel Multiple Unit traction by BR in 1954. The SVR’s 5-car DMU was joined by [[Diesel Locomotives visiting the SVR for galas#2004|16 visiting cars ]] representing 12 classes of DMU. The highlight of the event was the formation of a 12-car DMU set which ran to Bridgnorth on the evening of Saturday 16th, eclipsing the previous 9-car record for the longest DMU in preservation which had been set two days earlier.
==2005==
2005 marked the 40th year of the SVR in preservation.
'''February 2005''': The line was closed for two days between Bewdley and Highley following a rockfall in Eyemore [[Eymore Cutting]]. The fall was discovered by the crew of a footplate experience course special, who found the track blocked by a 'standard gauge' 4ft 8½ ins wide boulder.
'''March 2005''': The Spring Steam Gala took a Branch Line theme with guests GWR Hawksworth 1600 class pannier tank 0-6-0PT no 1638 from the Kent & East Sussex Railway and LBSCR Billington Billinton E4 0-6-2T No 32473 Birch Grove from the Bluebell Line.
'''Spring 2005''':
:Pannier 5764 hauled an excavator from Eardington to Country Park Halt for the firm constructing the nearby pedestrian/cycle-way bridge across the river. This was probably the first steam-hauled revenue earning freight since the closure of the line in the 1960s.
:80079 was cosmetically restored and lent to the [[National Railway Museum | NRM ]] for display at Shildon pending completion of the Engine House.
'''May 2005''': 686 The Lady Armaghdale made another overseas trip, this time for a ‘Thomas’ event in Krefeld, Germany.
:The SVR announced the news that Heritage Lottery Fund approval had been given for The Engine House. In addition to HLF funding of £3,364k, £948k was received from the European Union Regional Development Fund and £200k from Advantage West Midlands.
: 34027 (Running as 34036 "Westward Ho") made its last runs on public passenger trains during the '[[Christmas services|Santa Special' seasonservices]]. She finally bowed out in early January 2006 on a private charter.
==2006==
:Following the previous year’s “GWR” gala, 2006 saw an LMS theme with visiting locomotives LNWR Beames 7F Super D 0-8-0 No 49395, LMS Stanier 8P Coronation 4-6-2 No 46233 Duchess of Sutherland and LMS Stanier 8P Princess Royal 4-6-2 No 46201 Princess Elizabeth.
:[[Colin Binch]] left the position of [[The Severn Valley Railway in preservation#General_Manager|SVR General Manager]] after a short reign. Mr Binch was succeeded by a committee of three volunteers (Mike Ball, Roger Smith and Tony Bending) while a replacement was appointed.
'''November 2006''':
:The Board formally adopted a maximum permitted line speed of 40kph (about 25mph). The year had seen the issue of ‘The Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations 2006’ (‘ROGS’) in response to an EU safety directive and the outcome of recent high profile rail accident enquiries. ROGS allowed a number of concessions to ‘low risk’ heritage railways, provided they formally resolved to comply with the definition in ROGS and limit maximum line speeds accordingly.
:Shareholders in the two companies owning the SVR's [[Diesel Locomotives | Class 50 Diesels]], [[The Fifty Fund]] and Project Defiance, agreed to a merger. The new organisation, [[Class 50 Alliance Limited | The Class 50 Alliance]], assumed responsibility for maintaining and operating the locomotives from January 2007.
==2007==
:4930 Hagley Hall returned from display in Swindon ready to be displayed in The Engine House.
:The Board announced the appointment of [[Nick Ralls ]] as SVR [[The Severn Valley Railway in preservation#General_Manager|General Manager ]] with effect from 25 June. SVR News also announced that the Engine House would open in August 2007 ‘barring a major unforeseen problem’. The new GM’s arrival would be less than one week after the worst event in SVR history.
<div id="Storm damage"></div>'''June – July 2007''':
:Although a massive rebuilding exercise began at once[1], the line did not reopen fully until 21 March 2008. The damage also caused the opening of The Engine House at Highley, planned for 2007, to be delayed until the following year. For a more detailed description of these events, see [[2007 Storm Damage]].
'''September 2007''': An Autumn Steam Gala was held using the only section of line available, Kidderminster to Bewdley. However with the assistance of Network Rail and Tyseley Locomotive Works, [[GWR 4936 Kinlet Hall |4936 Kinlet Hall]] and 4953 Pitchford Hall were able to make runs from Bewdley through to Birmingham Snow Hill. LNER Gresley V2 60800 Green Arrow was another gala visitor. Bridgnorth staged a ‘mini-gala’ with cab rides aboard 42968 on the only 600 yards of track then available for use.
==2008==
:The Engine House had received around 60,000 visitors by 3 November, well in excess of the budgeted number of 37,000.
:The frames for new build 82045 returned to Bridgnorth on 25 November following drilling at Boro’ Foundry in Lye.
The SVR's success in recovering from the storm damage was marked by a number of awards in 2008, including the Transport Trust's 'Preservationist of the Year 2007', the Ian Allen Publishing 'Heritage Railway of the Year 2008' and the Heart of England Tourist Board 'Best Tourism Experience of the Year 2008'.
'''March 2009''': Unusually the Spring Steam Gala, rather than the Autumn Steam Gala, saw larger engines visiting. The visitors for the ‘Festival of Steam’ event were GWR 5029 Nunney Castle, LNER Gresley A4 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley, BR Standard 8P 71000 Duke of Gloucester and BR Standard 7MT 70013 Oliver Cromwell.
'''April 2009''': SVR Patron H.R.H. The Duke of Gloucester was unable to attend the official opening of [[The Engine House]] due to illness. The ceremony went ahead with The Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire officiating.
'''Summer 2009''':
:An appeal was launched for funds to acquire and install a wheel-drop which had been located at the Leicester Midland MPD (shed 15C).
'''July 2009''': 7802 Bradley Manor carried a headboard bearing the legend ‘100,000 miles, Still Going Strong’ to celebrate achieving that mileage in preservation.
:43106 was steamed again after a lengthy restoration. As 43106 entered service, 7714’s boiler finally gave out.
:On 19 August, the ‘rolling chassis’ of GWR 0-6-2T No 6634 arrived at Bridgnorth. SVR News announced that the SVR had reached an agreement with owners [[The Waterman Railway Heritage Trust ]] to complete the overhaul of the ‘bottom end’ while Crewe completed the repair of the boiler. The SVR would then bring the locomotive into use; with it being run on the SVR for ‘a period deemed fair by both parties’. The deal appeared favourable to the SVR as it would not involve the boiler shop or require space in the works on the jacks.
'''September 2009''':
:The Autumn Steam Gala had a “Tank Engines” theme, with visitors GWR Collett 0-6-2T No 5643 from Llangollen, LMS Ivatt 2MT No 41241 from the Worth Valley Railway and GNR Gresley N2 No 1744 (BR 69523) from the Great Central Railway. [[GWR 4936 Kinlet Hall |4936 Kinlet Hall]] also took part.
:On 28 September 2009, the Monday after the Gala, 43106’s tender became derailed as it approached Hampton Loade station hauling a passenger train. There were no injuries. The RAIB later reported that the immediate cause of the accident was the flange of the leading right-hand wheel of the tender climbing over the right-hand rail. The contributory factors were that a spring had been replaced on the tender with one which was not of the correct type and that the track in the area had become distorted<ref> [http://www.raib.gov.uk/publications/investigation_reports/reports_2010/report072010.cfm | RAIB Report] Retrieved 19 February 2015</ref>.
| 686 The Lady Armaghdale || style="text-align:right;" | || style="text-align:right;" | 11 || style="text-align:right;" | 2,293 || style="text-align:right;" | 1,937 || style="text-align:right;" | 2,272 || style="text-align:right;" | X || style="text-align:right;" | X || style="text-align:right;" | X || style="text-align:right;" | X || style="text-align:right;" | X ||
|-
| [[GWR 4936 Kinlet Hall |4936 Kinlet Hall]] (Hire in) || style="text-align:right;" | || style="text-align:right;" | || style="text-align:right;" | || style="text-align:right;" | || style="text-align:right;" | || style="text-align:right;" | || style="text-align:right;" | || style="text-align:right;" | || style="text-align:right;" | || style="text-align:right;" | X ||
|-
| Guests and others || style="text-align:right;" | 2,545 || style="text-align:right;" | 4,568 || style="text-align:right;" | 1,012 || style="text-align:right;" | 1,213 || style="text-align:right;" | 396 || style="text-align:right;" | X || style="text-align:right;" | X || style="text-align:right;" | X || style="text-align:right;" | X || style="text-align:right;" | X ||
