Trustworthy, administrator
11,924
edits
Changes
add history for 2004 and 2005
During the year the total mileage since opening day in 1970 exceeded 1.5 million miles.
Another year of record passenger numbers saw more than 248,000 carried.
==2004==
'''Spring 2004''':
:Victoria Bridge was closed until April for a major overhaul, which included replacing the 1970s bridge deck timbers with reinforced steel mesh. The closure of this section of the line meant no Spring Gala was held, and ultimately resulted in a fall in the number of passengers carried compared with the previous year’s record. The bridge was re-opened by a young lady named … Victoria Bridge!
: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]].
==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 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 E4 0-6-2T No 32473 Birch Grove from the Bluebell Line.
'''Spring 2005''':
:61994 The Great Marquess left the SVR, moving to Crewe/Bury. The overhaul could not be completed by the SVR within the timescale required by owner John Cameron.
:The SVR’s set of Gresley Teak carriages were lent to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for a celebration of the anniversary of Sir Nigel Gresley’s appointment as Carriage and Wagon Engineer on the Great Northern Railway.
: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 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.
'''September 2005''': The Autumn Steam Gala was a predominantly Great Western Railway themed affair with six guest locomotives. These were:
*Collett 1366 class 0-6-0PT Dock Shunter No 1369 from the South Devon Railway (the only other Pannier Tank with outside cylinders apart from the SVR’s 1501).
*Collett 1400 class 0-4-2T No 1450 with Auto Coach 178 from the Dean Forest Railway (now resident on the SVR)
*Collett 5600 class 0-6-2T No 6619 from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
*Hawksworth 6959 class 4-6-0 Modified Hall No 7903 Foremark Hall from the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway
*GWR Collett 5101 class No 9351 (rebuilt by West Somerset Railway as a tender engine)
*BR(W) Hawksworth 9400 class 0-6-0PT No 9466 courtesy of Dennis Howell.
Taw Valley made a last appearance (as “Westward Ho”) before expiry of her boiler certificate.
'''December 2005''': 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.
