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 former resident Peckett 1738 Hams Hall No 4 re-visiting as 'Percy'.

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 Express’ 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 ELREngineer's Line Reference, East Lancashire Railway and Dennis Howells’ Pannier 9466.

(Details of locomotives used to follow)

2002

February 2002: D1015 Western Champion became the first ex-Western Region diesel hydraulic to make a main line comeback, hauling a Paddington – Bristol- Gloucester – Paddington rail tour.

Spring 2002: A new loco pit was constructed at Bewdley. The previous pit was not sufficiently deep to allow MPDMotive Power Depot staff to stand underneath the locomotives, and was prone to flooding. A similar enlargement of the Bridgnorth loco pit had taken place the year before.

March 2002:

The Spring Gala had a ‘Somerset & Dorset’ theme, with locomotives renumbered as former S&DJRSomerset & Dorset Joint Railway, jointly operated by the London and South Western and Midland Railways (later Southern and London Midland and Scottish Railways) inhabitants. Standard 4MTThe 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. 75014 was the guest.

The SVRSevern Valley Railway hosted more unusual visitors in the form of a 4-car Virgin Voyager which was clearance-tested along the SVRSevern Valley Railway line, and a Parry People Mover which spent 2 months being tested (the PPM is now used on the Network Rail branch line from Stourbridge Junction to Stourbridge Town).

Summer 2002: An application was made to the 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.

October 2002: 686 The Lady Armaghdale travelled to Holland for the first ever continental ‘Thomas’ event.

December 2002: The year closed with a record number of 236,704 passengers carried.

(Details of locomotives used to follow)

2003

March 2003: The Spring Gala was based on a Welsh Branch Line theme. Visiting locomotives were Taff Vale Railway 0-6-2T no 85 from the Worth Valley Railway and GWRGreat Western Railway CollettCharles Benjamin Collett, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the Great Western Railway 1922-1941 5600 class 0-6-2T no 5637 from the East Somerset Railway.

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 SVRSevern Valley Railway, including the repair of the driving axle which had failed in 1997.

Summer 2003: The SVRSevern Valley Railway News ‘Boardroom Notes’ stated: “Although we will continue to monitor the position, the possibility of a connection to Ironbridge is now unlikely since the BRBritish Rail or British Railways 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.

Autumn 2003: Considerable discussion took place with Shropshire County Council over plans to build part of the National Route 45 Cycle Path on the SVRSevern Valley Railway property between Hampton Loade and Highley. Agreement was eventually reached for this to proceed.

September 2003: Autumn Steam Gala visitors were LBSCRLondon Brighton & South Coast Railway Stroudley A1X Terrier ‘Knowle’ (BRBritish Rail or British Railways 32678) from the Kent & East Sussex Railway and BRBritish Rail or British Railways Standard 5MTThe 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. 4-6-0 no 73096 from the Mid Hants Railway. 6201 Princess Elizabeth was also on the Railway at the time.

SVRSevern Valley Railway locomotives used during the year and mileages recorded were as follows:

Locomotive	Mileage	Comment
813	980
1501	8,303
5764	6,163
7714	4,163
7802	10,797
34027 Taw Valley	4,302
42968	11,268
45110	5,439
46443	8,730
48773	8,609
60009 Union of South Africa	6,234
686 The Lady Armaghdale	1,937
Total	76,923

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!

May 2004

Locomotive 5164 entered service for the first time since 1984 after completion of overhaul.

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 SVRSevern Valley Railway 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 Fred Dibnah's Made in Britain.

September 2004: The Autumn Steam Gala saw 12 locomotives in use, including visitors SRSouthern Railway MaunsellRichard Maunsell, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway from 1913-1923, and of the Southern Railway 1923-1937. V ‘Schools’ class 4-4-0 No 30926 Repton and SRSouthern Railway USA Porter ‘Dock Tank’ 0-6-0T No 30070 liveried as DS 238.

October 2004: The SVRSevern Valley Railway staged ‘Railcar 50’ to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the introduction of Diesel Multiple Unit traction by BRBritish Rail or British Railways in 1954. The SVRSevern Valley Railway’s 5-car DMUDiesel Multiple Unit was joined by 16 visiting cars representing 12 classes of DMUDiesel Multiple Unit. The highlight of the event was the formation of a 12-car DMUDiesel Multiple Unit set which ran to Bridgnorth on the evening of Saturday 16th, eclipsing the previous 9-car record for the longest DMUDiesel Multiple Unit in preservation which had been set two days earlier.

2005

2005 marked the 40th year of the SVRSevern Valley Railway 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 GWRGreat Western Railway HawksworthFrederick Hawksworth, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the Great Western Railway 1941-1948 1600 class pannier tank 0-6-0PT no 1638 from the Kent & East Sussex Railway and LBSCRLondon Brighton & South Coast Railway Billington E4 0-6-2T No 32473 Birch Grove from the Bluebell Line.

Spring 2005:

61994 The Great Marquess left the SVRSevern Valley Railway, moving to Crewe/Bury. The overhaul could not be completed by the SVRSevern Valley Railway within the timescale required by owner John Cameron.

5 carriages of the SVRSevern Valley Railway’s set of GresleySir Nigel Gresley, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the London & North Eastern Railway 1923-1941 Teak set were hired to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for a celebration of the anniversary of Sir Nigel GresleySir Nigel Gresley, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the London & North Eastern Railway 1923-1941’s appointment as Carriage and Wagon Engineer on the Great Northern Railway, in return the NYMR sent 5 BRBritish Rail or British Railways(W) Mk1's in Chocolate and Cream livery to cover whilst the Teaks were away.

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 NRMThe Railway Museum, formerly the National Railway Museum 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:

• CollettCharles Benjamin Collett, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the Great Western Railway 1922-1941 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 SVRSevern Valley Railway’s 1501).
• CollettCharles Benjamin Collett, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the Great Western Railway 1922-1941 1400 class 0-4-2T No 1450 with Auto Coach 178 from the DeanWilliam Dean, Chief Locomotive Engineer of the Great Western Railway 1877-1902 Forest Railway (now resident on the SVRSevern Valley Railway)
• CollettCharles Benjamin Collett, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the Great Western Railway 1922-1941 5600 class 0-6-2T No 6619 from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
• HawksworthFrederick Hawksworth, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the Great Western Railway 1941-1948 6959 class 4-6-0 Modified Hall No 7903 Foremark Hall from the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway
• GWRGreat Western Railway CollettCharles Benjamin Collett, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the Great Western Railway 1922-1941 5101 class No 9351 (rebuilt by West Somerset Railway as a tender engine)
• BRBritish Rail or British Railways(W) HawksworthFrederick Hawksworth, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the Great Western Railway 1941-1948 9400 class 0-6-0PT No 9466 courtesy of Dennis Howell.

Taw Valley made a last gala appearance (as 34036 “Westward Ho”) before expiry of her boiler certificate.

December 2005: The SVRSevern Valley Railway announced the news that Heritage Lottery Fund approval had been given for The Engine House. In addition to HLFHeritage Lottery Fund (National Lottery Heritage Fund from 2019) 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 'Santa Special' season. She finally bowed out in early January 2006 on a private charter.

2006

March 2006:

Construction of The Engine House began.

The Spring Steam Gala featured guest GWRGreat Western Railway CollettCharles Benjamin Collett, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the Great Western Railway 1922-1941 5101 Large PrairieLocomotive with a 2-6-2 wheel configuration No 5199 from the Llangollen Railway.

June 2006: 6024 King Edward I visited the line for 4 days for a “Big Engine Weekend” which also featured one of the last appearances of 60009 Union of South Africa.

Autumn 2006:

John Cameron’s LNERLondon & North Eastern Railway A4 60009 Union of South Africa left the SVRSevern Valley Railway to join his other locomotive 61994 The Great Marquess in Scotland.

The new Carriage Washing Plant adjacent to Kidderminster Carriage Shed was commissioned.

September 2006:

The final ‘east wing’ of Kidderminster Station building was completed, together with the concourse roof.

Following the previous year’s “GWRGreat Western Railway” gala, 2006 saw an LMSLondon Midland & Scottish Railway theme with visiting locomotives LNWRLondon & North Western Railway BeamesHewitt Pearson Montague Beames, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the London and North Western Railway 1920-1922. 7FThe 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. Super DAn LNWR 0-8-0 goods engine 0-8-0 No 49395, LMSLondon Midland & Scottish Railway 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 4-6-2 No 46233 Duchess of Sutherland and LMSLondon Midland & Scottish Railway 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. Princess Royal 4-6-2 No 46201 Princess Elizabeth.

2007

March 2007: The Spring Steam Gala saw a return of former resident GWRGreat Western Railway CollettCharles Benjamin Collett, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the Great Western Railway 1922-1941 5101 'Large PrairieLocomotive with a 2-6-2 wheel configuration' No 4141. 4141 was at the SVRSevern Valley Railway between 1973 and 1988, but without being restored to working order. The Gala also saw a return visit from Somerset & Dorset FowlerHenry Fowler, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the Midland Railway 1909-1923, and of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway 1923-1933 7FThe 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. No 88 (BRBritish Rail or British Railways 53808) from the West Somerset Railway. 600 Gordon was newly repainted pending a move into The Engine House later in the year.

April 2007: The frames were cut for new build locomotive no 82045.

May 2007:

4566 was used on another steam-hauled revenue earning freight charter, taking a load of pipes to Trimpley Reservoir for Severn Trent Water. The 6-ton Smiths, Rodley steam crane was also used to unload the pipes.

The Railway purchased ‘Hanbury Cottage’ adjacent to the Bridgnorth yard.

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 SVRSevern Valley Railway General Manager with effect from 25 June. SVRSevern Valley Railway 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 SVRSevern Valley Railway history.

June – July 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 with an hourly service between the stations. ( BBC photo )

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, 4936 Kinlet Hall and 4953 Pitchford Hall were able to make runs from Bewdley through to Birmingham Snow Hill. LNERLondon & North Eastern Railway GresleySir Nigel Gresley, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the London & North Eastern Railway 1923-1941 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

2009

See also

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

Sources

SVRSevern Valley Railway News unless otherwise stated.