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[[File: Exhibition_20170618.jpg |thumb|300px|right|Poster for '2007 Storm Damage – 10 Years on' Exhibition]]{{As of|20182019}} current exhibitions are: *[[2007 Storm Damage|2007 Storm Damage 'Severn Valley Railway – 10 Years on]] Journey Through Time' (20172019- ) – a look back at the damage inflicted by a freak weather event in the summer A timeline of 2007. The exhibition looks at the damage Severn Valley and its railway from 1760 to the extensive work present day, funded and funding involved to rebuild created by the railway[[Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust Ltd|Charitable Trust]].*Exhibition 'Bewdley Ducks' (2019-) – an exhibition of work by renowned railway local artistNick Ashby.*'L95, John Austin A Locomotive History from London to the Severn Valley Railway' (20182019) - )a display of pictures and documents relating to [[GWR Pannier 5764|L95]] in London Underground service and preservation on the SVR.
Forthcoming exhibitions are:
*An exhibition on [[LMS Stanier Class 5 45110]] and the end of steam on British Railways (Opening date tba)
{{As of|2017}} other Other events held at The Engine House include:
File:Hugh llewelyn 7325 (6240789503).jpg | 7325 (Wikimedia Commons)
Category added
[[File:SVR Engine Shed - geograph.org.uk - 864988.jpg|thumb|300px|right|View of The Engine House from Highley Station (Wikimedia Commons)]]
The Engine House at Highley is the SVR's main museum, Visitor and [[SVR Education Services|Education Centre]]. It is situated approximately 200 yards from [[Highley | Highley Station]], on the site of the former sidings of [[Collieries served by the Severn Valley Railway#Highley Colliery | Highley Colliery]]. The [[Kidderminster Railway Museum]] is the other major museum on the railway, being run by separate charitable organisation.
Entry to the Engine House is usually free with possession of a valid ‘Freedom of the line’ ticket or Annual Family [[Loyalty Pass]]; otherwise an admission fee is payable. Also based here are the [[SVR Archives]].
==History==
The Engine House was originally conceived as a simple storage building to house "out-of-ticket" engines under cover in order to reduce the damage done by the weather. However for various reasons, including attracting external funding, the project morphed into the visitor museum and education centre that stands today, whilst still achieving the original aim of storing locomotives. Funding received towards its construction included £3,363k from the [[:Category:Lottery funding#National_Lottery_Heritage_Fund|Heritage Lottery Fund]], £948k from the European Union Regional Development Fund and £200k from Advantage West Midlands.<ref name = "SVR152">SVR News 152</ref>
The "modern" architectural design of the building has attracted polarised comments. Prior to construction, the SVR noted that <i>The Engine House will be of modern design, and will use modern materials in its construction. The reasons for this decision are many, but cost was a particular factor as was the stability of the ground on the Landsale Yard site. Geological factors and old mine and quarry workings are all factors here. The ground, the Engineers tell us, is ‘challenging’ to say the least.</i><ref name = "SVR152" />
The Engine House was scheduled to open in the summer of 2007. However Highley was one of the locations which suffered significant damage in the [[2007 Storm Damage | freak storms in June and July]] of that year. As a result, opening to the public was delayed until Good Friday, 21 March 2008; the day which also saw the resumption of services over the full length of the line.
An opening ceremony was held in summer on 28 April 2009with visiting BR Riddles Standard 8P class Pacific 71000 'Duke of Gloucester' hauling a special train from [[Kidderminster]], carrying guests for the ceremony. <ref>[http://www.sharpos-world.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/CFN11982.jpg Sharpo's World image]</ref> However the SVR’s patron H.R.H. The Duke of Gloucester was unable to attend due to illness, so The Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire carried out the official duties in his place. The Duke finally visited the Engine House on 21 October 2009, when he also carried out the opening ceremony for the new [[Highley Station Footbridge | Highley footbridge]].
There were over 120,000 visitors to the Engine House during the first 2 years of opening<ref>SVR News 168</ref>.
Before the opening of the Engine House, [[BR 80300 Post Office Sorting Van]] was used as the visitor centre.
===HLF Legal Charge===
On 26 February 2016 the The Trustees of the National Heritage Memorial Fund (HLF) took a legal charge code 0104 6274 0017 over the Engine House.<ref>[https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/01046274/charges Companies House, Legal Charge]</ref>
==Items on display==
{{As of|20182020}} , [[Steam Locomotives |steam locomotives]] on display while awaiting overhaul are:*[[GWR Mogul 7325Small Prairie 4566]] *[[GWR Pannier 5764|LT Pannier L95 (footplate accessible, including for the less ableGWR 5764)]]*[[LMS Stanier Class 5 45110GWR 7819 Hinton Manor]]- the 'footplate' is accessible to allow visitors to climb aboard and learn how to operate a steam locomotive, and for weddings and civil ceremonies.
*[[LMS Ivatt Class 2 46443]]
*[[LMS Jinty 47383]]
*[[LMR 600 Gordon]]
*[[686 The Lady Armaghdale | Hunslet 686 The Lady Armaghdale]]
*[https://www.rhdr.org.uk/locomotives/typhoon/ Greenly Pacific No.7 'Typhoon'], a 15-inch gauge locomotive from the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway
[[Carriages]] and [[Goods Wagons | goods wagons]] on display include:
*[[BR 80300 Post Office Sorting Van | Travelling Post Office (TPO) 80300]] (interior accessible)
*[[LNER 223162 Mineral Wagon]]
===Locomotives formerly on display===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Original owner !! Wheel Arrangement !! Class or type !! Number !! Name !! Built !! Owner !! Date entered !! Date left !! Notes
|-
| BR || 0-6-0PT || 1500 || [[GWR Pannier 1501|1501]] || || 1949 || [[1501 Pannier Tank Association]] || data-sort-value="1/3/2008" | March 2008|| data-sort-value="1/10/2009" | March 2009||
|-
| GWR ||0-6-0PT ||5700 Class Pannier|| [[GWR Pannier 7714|7714]] || || 1930|| [[SVR Pannier Tank Fund]] || ||data-sort-value="1/4/2012" | April 2012||
|-
| GWR ||4-6-0 || 4900 Class Hall|| [[GWR 4930 Hagley Hall |4930]] ||Hagley Hall || 1929|| [[Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC | SVR(H)]]|| data-sort-value="1/3/2008" | March 2008 || data-sort-value="6/10/2013" | October 2013 ||
|-
| GWR ||2-6-0 || 4300 Class Mogul|| [[GWR Mogul 7325|7325]] || || 1932|| [[Great Western (SVR) Assoc.]] ||data-sort-value="1/3/2008" | March 2008 || data-sort-value="5/3/2019" | March 2019|| The 'footplate' was accessible to allow visitors to climb aboard and learn how to operate a steam locomotive, and for weddings and civil ceremonies.
|-
| LMS ||4-6-0 || 5MT Black Five|| [[LMS Stanier Class 5 45110|45110]] || || 1932 || [[Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC | SVR(H)]] || data-sort-value="6/10/2013" | October 2013|| data-sort-value="4/8/2018" | August 2018||
|-
| Corris Railway ||0-4-2ST || || 3 || Sir Haydn || 1932 || Talyllyn Railway || data-sort-value="6/10/2013" | 2013|| data-sort-value="1/1/2014" | 2014|| 2 ft 3 in gauge. ‘Sir Haydn’ travelled the line as part of the freight workings at the 2013 [[Autumn Steam Gala]] and would later spend the winter on display in The Engine House.
|-
| MR || 4-4-0 || Johnson 4P Midland Compound || [[MR Midland Compound 1000 | 1000]] || || 1902 || NRM ||data-sort-value="1/1/2007" | 2007 || data-sort-value="1/1/2011" | 2011 || On loan from the NRM for display in the Engine House.
|-
|}
===Other rolling stock formerly on display===
*[[LMS 730866 Goods Brake Van]]<ref>SVR News 205, p.40</ref>.
===Railway Royal Engineers' Roll of Honour===
Locomotive [[LMS Stanier 8F 48773]] is dedicated as a Memorial to those military railwaymen of the Corps of Royal Engineers (Transportation) who lost their lives in World War II. In 2002 the [[Stanier 8F Locomotive Society]] compiled a Roll of Honour and Books of Remembrance commemorating known casualties. Since 2008 it has been on display with the Roll of Honour at the Engine House and an additional Roll of Honour was unveiled by Brigadier Mike Stephens at a ceremony at the Engine House in 2011, together with a Roll of Honour commemorating the six Railway Sappers killed in an accident on the Longmoor Military Railway in 1956. Over 200 ex-servicemen, family members and visitors were present. Visitors can see the Rolls of Honour and information panels describing the history of the Railway Royal Engineers alongside the locomotive.<ref>[https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/84398 War Memorials online] (Retrieved 22 April 2018)</ref>.
==="Helping hands for Falling Sands" donation wall===
A donation was unveiled in August 2019 by the [[Charitable Trust]] acknowledging contributions to the "Helping hands for Falling Sands" appeal in aid of the restoration of [[Falling Sands Viaduct]]. The Trust's appeal had secured £397,000 in donations from individuals, community organisations, businesses, trusts and foundations<ref>[https://www.svrtrust.org.uk/index.php?page=Falling%20Sands%20Viaduct Charitable Trust 'Falling Sands' page] (retrieved 20 August 2019)</ref>.
<gallery>
Donation_Wall_20190817.jpg|The donation wall
Donation_Wall_detail_20190817.jpg|Donation wall detail
</gallery>
==Current exhibitions==
*Peter’s Railway Young Engineers’ Centre (2014- ) - An exhibition that explains about railway engineering and how a steam locomotive works, for "any young steam fans and budding engineers." It is based on the Peter’s Railway series of children's books written by Christopher Vine, a Chartered Engineer, about Peter and his Grandpa building and operating a miniature steam railway on a farm.<ref>[http://petersrailway.com/ Peter's Railway website] (retrieved 7 January 2017)</ref>
*2020 [[Falling Sands Viaduct]] exhibition, part of The [[:Category:Lottery funding#National_Lottery_Heritage_Fund|National Lottery Heritage Fund award]] for its repair.
There are numerous other exhibits, video features and interactive items.
===Former exhibitions===[[File: Exhibition_20170618.jpg |thumb|300px|right|Poster for '2007 Storm Damage – 10 Years on' Exhibition]]
*Terence Cuneo - The Man and His Mouse (2016) showcasing the work of the famous railway artist.
*Severn Valley Railway - Our first 50 years (2015-16) celebrating in words and pictures 50 years of the Severn Valley Railway.
*The Art of the Railway Poster (2017) – telling the story of how the ‘big four’ railway companies looked for ways of promoting travel by train to the general public, showcasing original posters of the era.
*Signs of the Times (2017) - a display of London Underground and Great Western Railway signs, courtesy of London Transport Museum and [[Kidderminster Railway Museum]].
*[[2007 Storm Damage|2007 Storm Damage – 10 Years on]] (2017-2018) – a look back at the damage inflicted by a freak weather event in the summer of 2007.
*Exhibition of work by renowned railway artist, [[Paintings of the Severn Valley Railway#John Austin|John Austin]] (2018)
*An exhibition on [[LMS Stanier Class 5 45110]] and the end of steam on British Railways (2018)
==Events==
The Engine House is licensed for civil marriage and civil partnership ceremonies which can be conducted in a variety of railway themed locations.<ref>[http://www.svr.co.uk/Weddings.aspx SVR website] (retrieved 7 January 2017)</ref>
*Children's 'Family Fun' events are held during half-terms and school holidays.
*Open House Weekend
*'Peppa Pig and George'*'Paw Patrol'
*Christmas Gift Fayre
*Christmas Carol Trains
*Christmas carvery
===Manchester Model Tramway===
The [http://www.manchestersbigtrams.co.uk/ Manchester Model Tramway Group] operates a 1949-built fully-operating miniature tramway layout. It was the brainchild of George Oakley, who had a keen interest in both the Manchester and Llandudno & Colwyn Bay tramway systems.
It has been displayed at The Engine House most years since at least 2014, either in the February half-term service or [[Open House Weekend]]<ref>[https://forum.svr-online.org.uk/viewtopic.php SVR Forum]</ref>.
==Facilities==
===Restaurant===
Until 2012 ‘Buffers’ restaurant offered a table service. In 2012 a refurbishment took place with the creation of a self-service 'The Flag & Whistle Food Stop'.<ref>SVRLive</ref>. In addition there is a [[List of shops | gift shop]] and an outdoor children's play area. The restaurant balcony and outdoor picnic areas overlook the line and give good views of trains leaving and arriving at Highley.
===Commemorative Garden===
In October 2017 the [[Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust Ltd|Charitable Trust]] announced it was establishing an In Memory Garden for SVR supporters, close to the Engine House. The area is directly beneath the gallery, on level ground below the retaining slope. Its design has been generously donated by Arup’s landscape architecture team. It will also feature an indoor commemorative area on the balcony inside The Engine House. This will be a screened-off area, with scrolls of honour and a memory book.<ref>[https://svrtrust.org.uk/downloads/Platform%202018%20web%20version-1.pdf 'Platform' magazine, 2018 Issue 4, p.16]</ref>
Initial work involved fencing off the area and creating a set of access steps, before landscaping and designing the garden layout and planting scheme.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/memorial-garden Memorial Garden - Landscaping garden design expertise needed, SVRLive, 16 October 2017] (Retrieved 14 July 2018</ref>. By July 2018 vegetation clearance was underway.
===Anderson shelter===
[[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2010-2019#2018|In 2018]] the Postcode Lottery awarded a grant for the construction of a shelter to enhance the [[SVR Education Services|facilities for children to learn]] about air raids and experience.
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Longmoor Military Railway Gordon Severn Valley Railway.jpg | 600 Gordon
File:LadyA 20120512.jpg | 686 The Lady Armaghdale
[[Highley]]<br>
[[Kidderminster Railway Museum]]<br>
[[Dogs on the SVR]]<br>[[Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust Ltd]]<br>[[SVR Archives]]
==References==
[[Category:Lottery funding]]
[[Category:European Union (and predecessors) funding]]
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