Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2000-2009

Significant events in the history of the Severn Valley Railway in preservation between 2000 and 2009 are set out below. This page is currently under construction.

2000

2000 saw the railway hit by a ‘boiler crisis’.

March 2000: The ‘Branch Line Weekend’ saw two visitors, South Devon Railway’s GWRGreat Western Railway 0-4-2T no 1420 with auto coach and Mid Hants Railway’s LMSLondon Midland & Scottish Railway IvattHenry George Ivatt, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway 1946-1948. CME of BR (London Midland Region) 1948-1951 2-6-2T no 41312.

May 2000: 3205 re-visited the Railway, pulling a 30th Anniversary Special on 23 May.

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.

September 2000: The boiler crisis had become so serious that the September Autumn Steam Gala was cancelled. September also saw picketing of oil refineries and fuel depots in protest at rising fuel prices (unleaded petrol having reached 80p per litre for the first time!).

October / November 2000:

The October ‘Thomas’ weekend survived, with Jinty 47383 assuming the role of ‘Thomas’ and also featuring a rare appearance in steam of Peckett 1738.

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.

Coincidentally 25 November, the first day of through working after the repairs at Knowlesands, saw 8FThe British Railways system of classifying steam locomotives by power using a number from 0, least powerful, to 9, most powerful, followed by either F for freight, P for Passenger or MT for Mixed Traffic. 48773 involved in collision with a van on 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 8FThe British Railways system of classifying steam locomotives by power using a number from 0, least powerful, to 9, most powerful, followed by either F for freight, P for Passenger or MT for Mixed Traffic..

December 2000: Concern at the fragile state of the fleet led to BRBritish Rail or British Railways Standard 9FThe British Railways system of classifying steam locomotives by power using a number from 0, least powerful, to 9, most powerful, followed by either F for freight, P for Passenger or MT for Mixed Traffic. 92212 arriving on hire for the Santa Services.

(Details of locomotives used to follow)

2001

The SVRSevern Valley Railway began the year anticipating a poor year financially, with the ‘boiler crisis’ affecting the capacity for previously profitable contract work. This was quickly exacerbated by the ‘Foot and Mouth’ crisis, with Government publicity initially advising the public to ‘stay away’. Advice later changed to ‘visit countryside attractions but don’t stray onto farmland’, but early season visitor numbers were badly affected.

January 2001: All SVRSevern Valley Railway trains became non-smoking on 1 January 2001. 8 man-hours per week for 7 weeks were required to apply period style transfers to the windows of the coach fleet.

Spring 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 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: 9FThe British Railways system of classifying steam locomotives by power using a number from 0, least powerful, to 9, most powerful, followed by either F for freight, P for Passenger or MT for Mixed Traffic. 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 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 GWRGreat Western Railway Large PrairieLocomotive with a 2-6-2 wheel configuration 4144 attending from Didcot.

34027 Taw Valley returned to the Severn Valley Railway, with former owner Bert Hitchen selling the locomotive to the SVRSevern Valley Railway’s Phil Swallow. 34027 had been painted as ‘Hogwarts Castle’ at the time, to promote the fourth Harry Potter book ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’.

The April Diesel Gala saw a visit from Virgin Trains’ Class 47 no 47827 which was given the name “Severn Valley Railway”.

8FThe British Railways system of classifying steam locomotives by power using a number from 0, least powerful, to 9, most powerful, followed by either F for freight, P for Passenger or MT for Mixed Traffic. 48773 became the first SVRSevern Valley Railway 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 SVRSevern Valley Railway. This area is now the site of The Engine House.

September 2001: The Autumn Steam Gala featured the Princess Royal Locomotive Trust’s StanierWilliam Stanier, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway 1932-1944 8PThe British Railways system of classifying steam locomotives by power using a number from 0, least powerful, to 9, most powerful, followed by either F for freight, P for Passenger or MT for Mixed Traffic. Coronation class 46233 Duchess of Sutherland, LMSLondon Midland & Scottish Railway Hughes ‘Crab’ 42765 from the ELS and Dennis Howells’ Pannier 9466.

(Details of locomotives used to follow)

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

Freak thunderstorms on 19 June and 20 July 2007 caused massive damage to the SVRSevern Valley Railway. The line was breached in 45 separate locations between Bridgnorth and Northwood Halt, embankments collapsed, cuttings were filled with debris, Highley UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) starting signal slid down the embankment, and much other destruction took place. Only the section between Bewdley and Kidderminster remained relatively unaffected. ( BBC photo )

Although a massive rebuilding exercise began at once, 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.

2008

2009

See also

The Severn Valley Railway in preservation
( 1990-1999 ) ( 2010 to date )

Sources

SVRSevern Valley Railway News unless otherwise stated.