Changes

==2000==

'''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.

'''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.

'''October / November 2000''':

:October and November went on to be the wettest since records began 250 years earlier, with the Severn 22 feet above its normal level. November saw a stream at the top of Eardington Bank burst through its banks, with the resulting flood washing through the drainage in Knowlesands Tunnel. On 5 November this was overwhelmed, causing a major landslip at the Bridgnorth end with 3 lengths of track left hanging in space and the embankment spread across the field below. Repairs started once the stream was diverted, with the line re-connected around 3 weeks later.

==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.

'''April 2001''':

: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.

'''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]].

'''September 2001''': The Autumn Steam Gala featured the Princess Royal Locomotive Trust’s Stanier 8P Coronation class 46233 Duchess of Sutherland, LMS Hughes ‘Crab’ 42765 from the ELR and Dennis Howells’ Pannier 9466.

==2002==

'''March 2002''':

:The Spring Gala had a ‘Somerset & Dorset’ theme, with locomotives renumbered as former S&DJR inhabitants. Standard 4MT 75014 was the guest.

'''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.

'''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.

'''September 2003''':

Autumn Steam Gala visitors were LBSCR Stroudley A1X Terrier ‘Knowle’ (BR 32678) from the Kent & East Sussex Railway and BR Standard 5MT 4-6-0 no 73096 from the Mid Hants Railway. 6201 Princess Elizabeth was also on the Railway at the time.

==2004==

'''May 2004'''

'''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.

==2005==

2005 marked the 40th year of the SVR in preservation.

'''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.

'''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.

==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.

'''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.

==2007==

'''March 2007''': The Spring Steam Gala saw a return of former resident GWR Collett 5101 'Large Prairie' No 4141. 4141 was at the SVR between 1973 and 1988, but without being restored to working order. The Gala also saw a return visit from Somerset & Dorset Fowler 7F No 88 (BR 53808) from the West Somerset Railway. 600 Gordon was newly repainted pending a move into The Engine House later in the year.

:4930 Hagley Hall returned from display in Swindon ready to be displayed in The Engine House.

<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]].

==2008==

'''March 2008''':

:On 10 March, the full length of the line was re-connected for the first time since the floods in June 2007. The last section to be completed was near Borle Viaduct.

:Friday 14 March saw Jinty no 47383 become the first engine to be moved into [[The Engine House]]. Two days later another 6 engines were moved in, numbers 7325, Midland Compound 1000 (on loan from the NRM), 600 Gordon, 4930 Hagley Hall, 80079 and 1501. Space was left for the final exhibit, 8F no 48773 which would be moved in later in the year after retiring from service.

'''Spring 2008''': Ownership of 600 Gordon was transferred from the British Army to the Severn Valley Railway. A formal presentation ceremony later took place on Friday 25 July.

:10 June saw the Railway visited by Their Royal Highnesses Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall. The Royal Train was hauled from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth by 6024 King Edward 1, as the SVR had no working locomotive equipped to work with air-braked stock. The Bridgnorth MPD had just carried out a successful emergency repair to 6024’s front bogie, so 6021 Princess Elizabeth was also present at Kidderminster as stand-by locomotive.

'''July 2008''': Partially completed replica locomotive ‘[[Catch Me Who Can]]’ was steamed in Severn Park at the ‘Trevithick 200 Rally’. A number of other working replicas attributed to Trevithick and his associates also took part. The locomotive also attended an open day at Barrow Hill Roundhouse.

'''September 2008''':

:Guests at the Autumn Steam Gala were two GWR Small Prairies numbers 5526 and 5542 (both of which worked with Auto Coach W228), and the two GWR double-framed 4-4-0 locomotives ‘Dukedog’ 9017 Earl of Berkeley and 3440 [3717] City of Truro. New build replica 'Catch Me Who Can' had been fitted with its crosshead and ancillary controls, enabling it to operate statically in Bridgnorth yard with the driving wheels jacked off the rails. Hampton Loade’s Paddock Railway celebrated its 21st birthday since construction began with an assembly of 54 live 16mm scale steam locomotives.

:The Engine House had received around 60,000 visitors by 3 November, well in excess of the budgeted number of 37,000.

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'.

==See also==