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: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 Fighting 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.:[[Helen Smith]] and [[Diane Malyon]] became the first women to join the board of [[SVR(H)]].<ref name="bldec20">[https://www.svrlive.com/bldec20 Branch Lines, December 2020]</ref>:The [[Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust Ltd]] produced a [https://www.fallingsandsviaduct.org.uk/remembering-the-severn-valley. podcast of oral histories from some of the founding volunteers] as part of the [[Falling Sands Viaduct]] project<ref name="bldec20"/>. '''December 2020''':[[Christmas services]] ran to [[Arley]] for the Railway’s first-ever Christmas show, ''Jingle, Jangle and the Christmas Cookbook''.<ref name="bldec20"/>:On 5 December a power-twin set of vehicles 50933 and 52064 became the first [[Class 108 DMU|DMU]] to operate for two years following bogie repairs, when it operated the Christmas staff train.<ref name="bldec20"/> :On 9 December a special autotrain ran with [[GWR 1450|1450]] and [[GWR 178 Autotrailer Third]] for several trips between Bridgnorth and Highley for the [[Pull Push Limited|owner]] to mark the end of the locomotive's boiler ticket.<ref name="bldec20"/> :The civil engineering work on Falling Sands Viaduct was completed in mid-December with the final piece of corbelling being slotted into place.<ref name=bljan21>[https://www.svrlive.com/bljan21 Branch Lines, January 2021]</ref> :On 17 December [[4930| 4930 Hagley Hall]]’s boiler arrived back from Northern Steam Engineering following its extensive overhaul.:On 29 December snowfall resulted in the day's services bring cancelled.:On 31 December COVID-19 restrictions resulted in services being suspended for the third time. ==2021==2021 started in a third English national lockdown for the COVD-19 pandemic. All non-essential voluntary work was prohibited and vulnerable staff and volunteers required to 'shield', by staying at home. Vaccines were being rolled out to the population, with the most vulnerable (elderly and front line workers) being given priority. Many SVR staff were furloughed. SVR public trains had been cancelled and The Engine House, the pubs, refreshment rooms and shops closed, with services hoped to recommence in April 2021. '''January 2021'''*A reduced programme of winter works commenced consolidating works undertaken in 2020, with major works deferred.<ref name=bljan21/>*On 14 January [[John Hill]] died. He had the honour of driving the first passenger train out of Bridgnorth in 1967. '''February 2021'''*On 11 February, during the third COVID-19 lockdown, a particularly egregious act of trespass occurred and was reported in the media. Two trespassers were disturbed by an engineers' train on [[Victoria Bridge]], with abseiling equipment. The police were informed.<ref>[https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/severn-valley-loco-makes-emergency-19825592 Brock, Alexander, 'Severn Valley loco makes emergency stop to avoid trespasser "set to climb off edge of bridge"', Birmingham Mail, 12 February 2021] (Retrieved 15 February 2021)</ref>*On 15 February locomotive 66702 hauled newly converted 69001 from Longport (Stoke) to Kidderminster, for the delayed commencement of a testing contract.*New build 2999 ''Lady of Legend'', GWR Churchward 2900 Saint class 4-6-0, was announced for the 2021 Spring Steam Up event which replaced the Spring Steam Gala. It had been announced for the 2020 event, cancelled due to COVID-19. '''March 2021'''*The SVR announced an end to lineside passes and privately-run photo charters as income received is insignificant when compared to the potential risk these activities naturally contain.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/blmar21 Branch Lines, March 2021] (Retrieved 7 March 2021)</ref>*Thieves on 29 and 30 March stole 23 metal signs from [[Arley]].*On 30 March [[4150|GWR Large Prairie 4150]] was shunted out of [[Bewdley Down Yard]] after more than 43 years there, in preparation for a move to [[Bridgnorth Loco Works]] for restoration to be completed. '''April 2021'''*On 2 April Arts Council England awarded [[Kidderminster Railway Museum|Kidderminster Railway Museum Trust Ltd]] £19,025 through the Government's Culture Recovery Fund.
==Steam locomotives used==
A table of steam locomotives used since 2020 is shown below. Where detailed mileage records were not published in SVR News, locomotives used are marked 'X'. For [[Steam Locomotives hired by the SVR|locomotives hired in]], the table identifies whether they were present either for the Summer (S) or Winter (W). The table does not include locomotives visiting only for rail tours or test running such as 34046 ''Braunton'' and 46100 ''Royal Scot'' in 2020.
{| class="wikitable"
| <b>Locomotive</b>
|-
| [[813]]
| style="text-align:right;" | X347
| style="text-align:right;" |
| style="text-align:right;" |
|-
| [[1450]]
| style="text-align:right;" | X213
| style="text-align:right;" |
| style="text-align:right;" |
| style="text-align:right;" |
| style="text-align:right;" |
| Out of ticket 2020
|-
| [[1501]]
| style="text-align:right;" | X1,264
| style="text-align:right;" |
| style="text-align:right;" |
|-
| [[2857]]
| style="text-align:right;" | X2,235
| style="text-align:right;" |
| style="text-align:right;" |
|
|-
| [[7714]] | style="text-align:right;" | X| style="text-align:right;" || style="text-align:right;" || style="text-align:right;" || style="text-align:right;" || style="text-align:right;" || style="text-align:right;" | | style="text-align:right;" | | style="text-align:right;" | | style="text-align:right;" | | |- | [[7802GWR 6960 Raveningham Hall|7802 Bradley Manor6960 Raveningham Hall]] | style="text-align:right;" | 705
| style="text-align:right;" |
| style="text-align:right;" |
| style="text-align:right;" |
| style="text-align:right;" |
|On hire 2020-21. Out of ticket 2021
|-
| [[7812|7812 Erlestoke Manor7714]] | style="text-align:right;" | 2,935
| style="text-align:right;" |
| style="text-align:right;" |
| style="text-align:right;" |
|
|-
| [[34027|34027 Taw Valley]]
| style="text-align:right;" | X1,437
| style="text-align:right;" |
| style="text-align:right;" |
|
|-
| [[42968|1326843106]] | style="text-align:right;" | 1,870
| style="text-align:right;" |
| style="text-align:right;" |
|
|-
| [[4310675069]]| style="text-align:right;" | X3,941
| style="text-align:right;" |
| style="text-align:right;" |
|
|-
| [[GWR 6960 Raveningham Hall|6960 Raveningham HallWD 71516 Welsh Guardsman]] | style="text-align:right;" | X393
| style="text-align:right;" |
| style="text-align:right;" |
| style="text-align:right;" |
| style="text-align:right;" |
| On hire 2020
|-
| <b>Total</b>
| style="text-align:right;" | 15,340
| style="text-align:right;" |
| style="text-align:right;" |
