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Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2020-2029

4,774 bytes added, 13:56, 30 June 2020
2020: info added
'''January 2020'''
:Winter works included track relaying to effectively join up the two previous relayings between [[Bewdley Tunnel]] and Falling Sands Viaduct. The opprtunity opportunity was taken to install a new point at [[Foley Park]] as part of a long term plan to develop the area.
:3 January was the 50th anniversary of the final regular timetabled BR passenger services between Bewdley and Hartlebury and Kidderminster.
:A new buffet building was installed at [[Bewdley]].
'''February 2020'''
:The [[Bridgnorth#Footbridge_outside_Bridgnorth_Station|Footbridge outside Bridgnorth Station]] was closed for repairs to the damaged holding down bolts discovered in [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2010-2019#2018|2018]].
:Storm Dennis, with heavy rain falling on already saturated ground, contributed to record highs on the [[River Severn]] and consequent widespread flooding. The SVR was fortunately mostly unscathed, although access Access to the SVR was disrupted during half-term running from 15 to 23 February, with lower than usual passenger numbers. Flooding caused land movements at [[Sterns]] and [[Alveley Sidings|Alveley Woods]]. :On 25 February [[Other rolling stock visiting the SVR‎ |PPM50 Parry People Mover Class 999 No. 999900 ]] visited for testing. It was previously tested in [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2000-2009#2002|2002]].
:On 27 February [[WD 71516 Welsh Guardsman]] arrived at Bridgnorth.
 
'''March 2020'''
:Specialist contractors removed asbestos from around the cylinder block of [[GWR Large Prairie 4150]].<ref>[http://www.4150.org.uk/news/4150_mar20.html 4150 Fund March 2020 restoration update] (Retrieved 2 April 2020)</ref>
:A new pair of cylinder blocks for [[GWR 7802 Bradley Manor]] were poured, believed to be the first 7800 class cylinder blocks to be cast for 70 years.<ref>[https://www.erlestokemanorfund.co.uk/march-2020-update/ Erlestoke Manor Fund March 2020 update] (Retrieved 2 April 2020)</ref>
:Brush Class 47 Co-Co 47773 [D1755] arrived at the SVR from Tyseley for contract bodywork repairs in the [[Diesel Depot]].
:A severe acute respiratory syndrome, [[2020 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic|coronavirus disease (COVID-19)]], was declared a pandemic. It caused widespread disruption and international travel restrictions. On 18 March the SVR cancelled all services and closed [[The Engine House]] and refreshment rooms throughout March and April. It cancelled the following events: Easter Holidays, [[Spring Steam Gala]], [[Open House Weekend]], Spring Diesel Festival and 50th Anniversary Event. On 20 March it announced it would close the Railway's two pubs in line with a measure announced by the Government that day, and the shops followed on 24 March.
:The combination of February's flooding, the continuing planned work at Falling Sands, coronavirus and land movements meant the SVR was faced with a serious financial challenge. On 20 March the Railway launched an Emergency Appeal for £250,000 to help the SVR through the emergency, which raised £50,000 in the first four days.
 
'''April 2020'''
:By 2 April the emergency appeal total reached £120,000.
:The Coronavirus pandemic lead to further total closures until the end of June and the cancellations of the 1940s weekends.
:A minimal contract engineering presence saw tests on the [[Bridgnorth Loco Works#New_boiler_assembly_and_production|second of five new boilers for the Isle of Man Railway]].
:On 15 April [[Ruston and Hornsby 165hp Diesel Shunter D2960|D2960 Silver Spoon]] took [[GWR 9055 Nondescript Saloon]] for a test after overhaul, running within the confines of the section signal at Kidderminster. The line to Bewdley remained severed for the winter works, interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
:The SVR reported an increase in trespassing during the closure.<ref>[https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/bridgnorth/2020/04/29/warning-to-trespassers-on-severn-valley-railway/ Shropshire Star 29 April 2020] (Retrieved 29 April 2020)</ref>
:[[John Leftwich]], interim chairman of the [[Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust Ltd|SVR Charitable Trust]], died.
:On 30 April the renamed Fight Back Fund total passed £650,000.
 
'''May 2020'''
:Kidderminster station was lit to honour the NHS during the COVID-19 pandemic.
:On 15 May the second [[Bridgnorth Loco Works#New_boiler_assembly_and_production|Isle of Man boiler]] built at Bridgnorth was despatched following completion and testing.
:Phase 2 of the [[Falling Sands Viaduct]] work commenced on 18 May while the railway was closed to other traffic, involving replacing damaged brickwork and corbelling, and repointing throughout.
:On 28 May 47593 and 47805 delivered nine HST trailers to Kidderminster from Crewe for storage, and moved one stored sleeper out.
 
'''June 2020'''
:By 1 June the Fight Back Fund reached £745,000.
:The Railway was granted by HSBC a £1.5 million loan under the CBILS scheme, which alongside its existing overdraft facility would mean £3 million available. The SVR Charitable Trust applied for a [[:Category:Lottery funding|National Lottery Heritage Fund]] grant to support the reopening of the Railway.
:The Railway detailed remedial work planned for landslips at [[Sterns]] (water managenent and drainage) and [[Alveley Sidings|Alveley woods]] (drainage scheme, soil nailing and partial replacement of the existing ash embankment material)<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/epjun20 Express Points, June 2020]</ref>.
:On 26 June [[BR Class 33 33108|33108]] took a train of 19 coaches as part of a stock move from Bewdley to Kidderminster, for maintenance and turning and reforming to prepare the sets as all compartment rakes for August reopening. The line had been breached for nearly six months.
==Steam locomotives used==
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| [[GWR 6960 Raveningham Hall|6960 Raveningham Hall]]
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| On hire 2020
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| [[7714]]
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| [[GWR 6960 Raveningham Hall|6960 Raveningham HallWD 71516 Welsh Guardsman]] | style="text-align:right;" | X
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| On hire 2020
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