Difference between revisions of "Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2020-2029"

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'''March 2020'''
 
'''March 2020'''
:Brush Class 47 Co-Co 47773 [D1755] arrived at the SVR from Tyseley for bodywork repairs in the [[Diesel Depot]].
+
: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 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 Railways two pubs in line with a measure announced by the Government that day.
+
: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>
: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 funds to help the SVR through the emergency.
+
: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/bljun20 Branch Lines, 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.
 +
 
 +
'''July 2020'''
 +
:26 July saw the final testing and commissioning of the new S&T equipment between Kidderminster and Bewdley, including the new [[Ground Frames at Foley Park|ground frame at Foley Park]].<ref name="blaug20"/> 
 +
:On 27 July the first services ran on the SVR since the closedown in March. The passengers were SVR staff and volunteers, the intention being to test social distancing and other arrangements ahead of a public opening on 1 August.
 +
:[[The Erlestoke Manor Fund]] announced it was in discussion with [[The 5164 Preservation Group]] and the SVR regarding the proposed transfer of [[GWR Large Prairie 5164]] to the EMF.<ref>[https://www.erlestokemanorfund.co.uk/announcement-gwr-5164/ EMF announcement]</ref>
 +
:The value of the [[Diesel Depot]] as a revenue earning resource was demonstrated by contract work on [[BR Class 37 37308]], [[Clayton Class 17 Bo-Bo D8568]], [[Other rolling stock visiting the SVR|PPM50 Parry People Mover No 999 900]] and 47773.<ref name="blaug20">[https://www.svrlive.com/blaug20 Branch Lines, August 2020]</ref>
 +
:[[WD 71516 Welsh Guardsman]] steamed for the first time on the SVR, tested to ensure it to be fit to run if needed, or should the owner should have a request for it to work elsewhere.<ref name="blaug20"/>
 +
:The [[Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust Ltd|Charitable Trust]] agreed grants of £120,000 for repair work at [[Sterns]] and £12,000 to complete the restoration of [[GWR 2242 Corridor Brake Third]]. The work at Sterns completed on 29 July.<ref name="blaug20"/>
 +
:The long running project to replace the lighting at [[Bridgnorth]] progressed with the erection of four of lamp standards along the embankment side of the car park<ref name="blaug20"/>. 
 +
 
 +
'''August 2020'''
 +
:On Saturday 1 August passenger services restarted as planned, with the day being a sell-out.
 +
:The [[Stanier 8F Locomotive Society]] announced it had raised £60,000 towards the costs of the next overhaul, against a stretching target of £250,000.<ref name="blaug20"/>
 +
:On 2 August arsonists attacked and badly damaged [[Country Park Halt‎]],.<ref>[https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/bridgnorth/2020/08/02/arsonists-wreck-roof-at-severn-valley-railway-site/ Shropshire Star,'Arsonists wreck roof at Severn Valley Railway site', 2 August 2020] (Retrieved 2 August 2020)</ref>
 +
:By 6 August the Fight Back Fund reached £900,000.
 +
:From 13 August locos in service [[2857]], [[7714]] and [[75069]] carried wreaths in memory and support of those who were involved in the previous day's collision at Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire.<ref name="blsep20">[https://www.svrlive.com/blsep20 Branch Lines, September 2020]</ref>
 +
:Access to the [[Bewdley South signal box#Signalling_controlled_from_the_Box|large bracket outside of Bewdley South signal box]] was prohibited due to rot, with a temporary replacement prepared<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/epsep20 Express Points newsletter, September 2020] (Retrieved 29 August 2020)</ref>.
 +
:During a test run on 24th August with [[1501]], a crack was discovered in the right hand return crank. Luckily no further damage was caused.<ref name="blsep20"/>
 +
:Restoration work to repair the brickwork at [[Falling Sands Viaduct]] restarted after the discovery of bats<ref name="blsep20"/>.
 +
 
 +
'''September 2020'''
 +
:On 1 September the PPM50 Parry People Mover (see February) departed on a low loader.
 +
:On 4 September the first advertised passenger diesel trains of the decade ran.
 +
:On 23 September the film [[Enola Holmes]], filmed partly on the SVR the previous year, was released
 +
:Wyre Forest District Council awarded the Railway £50,000 under its discretionary business grant scheme for [[2020 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic|COVID-19]] relief.<ref name="bloct20">[https://www.svrlive.com/bloct20 Branch Lines, October 2020]</ref>
 +
:Bewdley station hosted a VIP delegation that included the Mayor of Bewdley and the High Sheriff of Worcestershire to show support and appreciation for the efforts made following the February floods and the coronavirus pandemic<ref name="bloct20"/>.
 +
 
 +
'''October 2020'''
 +
:On 1 October [[Bewdley South signal box|Bewdley South wooden bracket signal]] was taken down due to rot in the post. A temporary replacement was installed.<ref name="bloct20"/>
 +
:On 7 October SR Bulleid West Country class Pacific 34046 Braunton arrived with the Saphos Trains 'Severn Valley Enterprise' railtour. The locomotive was declared a failure on arrival at Kidderminster due to a hot box on a driving wheel axle, and remained at Bridgnorth MPD for some days after moving there light engine. 34027 Taw Valley hauled the tour from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth and back to Bewdley, from where Class 47 47805 made the return trip to Crewe.
 +
:On 9 October the SVR was awarded a £906,000 grant from the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage.<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/445-heritage-organisations-saved-by-103-million-investment-from-government Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport] (Retrieved 9 October 2020)</ref> Nigel Huddlestone MP, The Minister for Sport, Tourism and Heritage visited the SVR.
 +
:More than a mile of track that was removed as part of the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension was donated to the SVR by Transport for West Midlands and the Midland Metro Alliance.
 +
 
 +
'''November 2020'''
 +
:On 5 November a second national lockdown in England came into effect, and services suspended for four weeks.  
  
 
==Steam locomotives used==
 
==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 Hall]]  
+
| [[WD 71516 Welsh Guardsman]]  
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Revision as of 22:25, 8 November 2020

Significant events in the history of the Severn Valley Railway in preservation between 2020 and the present date are set out below.

Information on current events on the SVRSevern Valley Railway can be found here.

2020

2020 saw the 50th anniversary of the official opening of the SVRSevern Valley Railway. A ‘must-do’ engineering project was starting, an overhaul of Falling Sands Viaduct, with trains restricted to the Bridgnorth to Bewdley section from 30 December 2019.

January 2020

Winter works included track relaying to effectively join up the two previous relayings between Bewdley Tunnel and Falling Sands Viaduct. The 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 BRBritish Rail or British Railways passenger services between Bewdley and Hartlebury and Kidderminster.
A new buffet building was installed at Bewdley.
New cylinder patterns were produced for 7802 Bradley Manor.
The SVRSevern Valley Railway announced a new Loyalty Pass to replace the Annual Family Pass, now available to individuals, couples, less-able visitors or families.

February 2020

The Footbridge outside Bridgnorth Station was closed for repairs to the damaged holding down bolts discovered in 2018.
Storm Dennis, with heavy rain falling on already saturated ground, contributed to record highs on the River Severn and consequent widespread flooding. Access to the SVRSevern Valley Railway 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 Woods.
On 25 February PPM50 Parry People Mover Class 999 No. 999900 visited for testing. It was previously tested in 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.[1]
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.[2]
Brush Class 47 Co-Co 47773 [D1755] arrived at the SVRSevern Valley Railway from Tyseley for contract bodywork repairs in the Diesel Depot.
A severe acute respiratory syndrome, coronavirus disease (COVID-19), was declared a pandemic. It caused widespread disruption and international travel restrictions. On 18 March the SVRSevern Valley Railway 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 SVRSevern Valley Railway was faced with a serious financial challenge. On 20 March the Railway launched an Emergency Appeal for £250,000 to help the SVRSevern Valley Railway 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 second of five new boilers for the Isle of Man Railway.
On 15 April 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 SVRSevern Valley Railway reported an increase in trespassing during the closure.[3]
John Leftwich, interim chairman of the 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 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 CBILSCoronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, a government backed loan scheme scheme, which alongside its existing overdraft facility would mean £3 million available. The SVRSevern Valley Railway Charitable Trust applied for a 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 woods (drainage scheme, soil nailing and partial replacement of the existing ash embankment material).[4]
On 26 June 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.

July 2020

26 July saw the final testing and commissioning of the new S&TSignals & Telegraph equipment between Kidderminster and Bewdley, including the new ground frame at Foley Park.[5]
On 27 July the first services ran on the SVRSevern Valley Railway since the closedown in March. The passengers were SVRSevern Valley Railway staff and volunteers, the intention being to test social distancing and other arrangements ahead of a public opening on 1 August.
The Erlestoke Manor Fund announced it was in discussion with The 5164 Preservation Group and the SVRSevern Valley Railway regarding the proposed transfer of GWR Large Prairie 5164 to the EMF.[6]
The value of the Diesel Depot as a revenue earning resource was demonstrated by contract work on BR Class 37 37308, Clayton Class 17 Bo-Bo D8568, PPM50 Parry People Mover No 999 900 and 47773.[5]
WD 71516 Welsh Guardsman steamed for the first time on the SVRSevern Valley Railway, tested to ensure it to be fit to run if needed, or should the owner should have a request for it to work elsewhere.[5]
The Charitable Trust agreed grants of £120,000 for repair work at Sterns and £12,000 to complete the restoration of GWR 2242 Corridor Brake Third. The work at Sterns completed on 29 July.[5]
The long running project to replace the lighting at Bridgnorth progressed with the erection of four of lamp standards along the embankment side of the car park[5].

August 2020

On Saturday 1 August passenger services restarted as planned, with the day being a sell-out.
The Stanier 8F Locomotive Society announced it had raised £60,000 towards the costs of the next overhaul, against a stretching target of £250,000.[5]
On 2 August arsonists attacked and badly damaged Country Park Halt‎,.[7]
By 6 August the Fight Back Fund reached £900,000.
From 13 August locos in service 2857, 7714 and 75069 carried wreaths in memory and support of those who were involved in the previous day's collision at Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire.[8]
Access to the large bracket outside of Bewdley South signal box was prohibited due to rot, with a temporary replacement prepared[9].
During a test run on 24th August with 1501, a crack was discovered in the right hand return crank. Luckily no further damage was caused.[8]
Restoration work to repair the brickwork at Falling Sands Viaduct restarted after the discovery of bats[8].

September 2020

On 1 September the PPM50 Parry People Mover (see February) departed on a low loader.
On 4 September the first advertised passenger diesel trains of the decade ran.
On 23 September the film Enola Holmes, filmed partly on the SVRSevern Valley Railway the previous year, was released
Wyre Forest District Council awarded the Railway £50,000 under its discretionary business grant scheme for COVID-19 relief.[10]
Bewdley station hosted a VIP delegation that included the Mayor of Bewdley and the High Sheriff of Worcestershire to show support and appreciation for the efforts made following the February floods and the coronavirus pandemic[10].

October 2020

On 1 October Bewdley South wooden bracket signal was taken down due to rot in the post. A temporary replacement was installed.[10]
On 7 October SRSouthern Railway BulleidOliver Vaughan Snell Bulleid, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the Southern Railway 1937-1948 West Country class PacificLocomotive with a 4-6-2 wheel configuration 34046 Braunton arrived with the Saphos Trains 'Severn Valley Enterprise' railtour. The locomotive was declared a failure on arrival at Kidderminster due to a hot box on a driving wheel axle, and remained at Bridgnorth MPDMotive Power Depot for some days after moving there light engine. 34027 Taw Valley hauled the tour from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth and back to Bewdley, from where Class 47 47805 made the return trip to Crewe.
On 9 October the SVRSevern Valley Railway was awarded a £906,000 grant from the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage.[11] Nigel Huddlestone MP, The Minister for Sport, Tourism and Heritage visited the SVRSevern Valley Railway.
More than a mile of track that was removed as part of the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension was donated to the SVRSevern Valley Railway by Transport for West Midlands and the Midland Metro Alliance.

November 2020

On 5 November a second national lockdown in England came into effect, and services suspended for four weeks.

Steam locomotives used

A table of steam locomotives used since 2020 is shown below. Where detailed mileage records were not published in SVRSevern Valley Railway News, locomotives used are marked 'X'. For locomotives hired in, the table identifies whether they were present either for the Summer (S) or Winter (W).

Locomotive 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 Comment
813 X
1450 X
1501 X
2857 X
6960 Raveningham Hall X On hire 2020
7714 X
7802 Bradley Manor
7812 Erlestoke Manor
34027 Taw Valley X
13268
43106 X
WD 71516 Welsh Guardsman
Total

See also


References

SVRSevern Valley Railway News unless otherwise stated.

  1. 4150 Fund March 2020 restoration update (Retrieved 2 April 2020)
  2. Erlestoke Manor Fund March 2020 update (Retrieved 2 April 2020)
  3. Shropshire Star 29 April 2020 (Retrieved 29 April 2020)
  4. Branch Lines, June 2020
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Branch Lines, August 2020
  6. EMF announcement
  7. Shropshire Star,'Arsonists wreck roof at Severn Valley Railway site', 2 August 2020 (Retrieved 2 August 2020)
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 Branch Lines, September 2020
  9. Express Points newsletter, September 2020 (Retrieved 29 August 2020)
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 Branch Lines, October 2020
  11. Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (Retrieved 9 October 2020)