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[[File:Sterns_20180325.jpg|thumb|300px|right| The telegraph pole at Sterns (spring)]]'''Sterns''' is situated between [[Hampton Loade]] and [[Bridgnorth]] at the foot of [[Eardington Bank]], at approximately [[Gradient profile and mileages|milepost 147]]. It is at a place where the [[River Severn]] approaches close to the railway at almost 90 degrees before turning away southwards towards Bewdley, and is notorious as a maintenance trouble spot due to the ground regularly slipping towards the river on numerous occasions over the history of the railway. During the last Ice Age, the valley of the River Severn was scoured out by glacial action and bands of different types of material were deposited at varying depths. This subsequently resulted in the formation of 'slip-planes' where the different layers can slide over each other, particularly when placed under a load such as the presence of a railway line and especially after periods of heavy rain. Slip-planes exist throughout most of the valley but have resulted in areas of majorinstability major instability at [[Jackfield Halt|Jackfield]] and Sterns.<ref name=Sowden>[[Bibliography#Books|Sowden (2012)]] pp. 12-14.</ref>

===2020-2022===[[File:Sterns_20200808.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Lineside view of the drainage ditch and repair works uphill from it, looking north]][[File:Sterns_Drone.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Aerial view of the repair works at Sterns in summer 2020looking south (River Severn to the left)]]Following [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2020-2029#2020|extensive flooding in February 2020]] land movements were again observed. A comprehensive drainage network was proposed to collect rainwater and transport it to the river in an efficient manner before it could get down to the slip planes and exacerbate the problem.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/bljun20 Branch Lines, June 2020] (Retrieved 26 June 2020)</ref> Contractors Walsh Construction completed this water management work by 29 July as planned, with the final item being the lining of the existing drainage ditch with concrete canvas. The work was funded by £120,000 from the [[Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust Ltd|SVR Charitable Trust]].<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/blaug20 Branch Lines, August 2020] (Retrieved 3 August 2020)</ref> In spring of 2022 Walsh and SVR staff undertook a further project. A deep area of ballast had developed from successive tamping over the years. 300 cubic metres of embankment comprising around 150 tonnes of ballast and 650 tonnes of fill material were replaced with around 400 tonnes of Leca (lightweight expanded clay aggregate) and 40-60 tonnes of ballast. This reduced the weight on the embankment, thereby lessening the progressive movement.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/blfeb22 Branch Lines, February 2022] (Retrieved 7 March 2021)</ref> Both projects are hoped to mitigate the problems, but neither is intended to provide a lasting solution. Electronic ‘tilt monitoring’ equipment was fitted in February 2021<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/blmar21 Branch Lines, March 2021] (Retrieved 7 March 2021)</ref>. Following the insolvency of the provider this was taken out of use in 2023.