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Revision as of 21:06, 17 May 2016
The Engine House at Highley is the SVRSevern Valley Railway's main museum. It is situated approximately 200 yards from Highley Station, on the site of the former sidings of Highley Colliery. The Kidderminster Railway Museum is the other major museum on the railway, being run by separate charitable organisation.
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 Heritage Lottery Fund, £948k from the European Union Regional Development Fund and £200k from Advantage West Midlands.[1]
The "modern" architectural design of the building has attracted polarised comments. Prior to construction, the SVRSevern Valley Railway noted that 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.[1]
The main contractor for construction was George Law & Co. Ltd, the company who also built Bridgnorth Cliff Railway in the 1890s.[2] Construction of The Engine House began in 2006. The hillside behind the building was graded and stabilised using soil nailing, parts of the old mine workings underneath were grouted, and a large retaining wall was built. More soil nailing was carried out in front of the building to ensure no lateral pressure would be placed on the railway embankment. For the building itself, some 120 piles up to 15 metres deep were sunk and tied together by beams cast in reinforced concrete.[2]
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 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 2009. However the SVRSevern Valley Railway’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 footbridge.
There were over 120,000 visitors to the Engine House during the first 2 years of opening[3]. Before the opening of the Engine House, BR 80300 Post Office Sorting Van was used as the visitor centre.
Items on display and facilities
Steam locomotives currently on display while awaiting overhaul are:
- GWR Mogul 7325 (footplate accessible, including the less able)
- LMS Stanier Class 5 45110
- LMS Ivatt Class 2 46443
- LMS Jinty 47383
- LMS Stanier 8F 48773
- BR Riddles 4MT 80079
- LMR 600 Gordon
- Hunslet 686 The Lady Armaghdale
Carriages and goods wagons on display include:
- Royal Coach 798 (Internal viewing may be available, ask staff for details)
- Travelling Post Office (TPO) 80300 (interior accessible)
- LNER 223162 Mineral Wagon
In 2015 a new display was introduced celebrating 50 years of the Severn Valley Railway. There are numerous other exhibits, video features and interactive items.
Facilities at The Engine House include the 'Flag & Whistle Food Stop' restaurant, a 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.
Entry to the Engine House is free with possession of a valid ‘Freedom of the line’ ticket; otherwise an admission fee is payable.
Gallery
LMSLondon Midland & Scottish Railway StanierWilliam Stanier, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway 1932-1944 8FThe British Railways system of classifying steam locomotives by power using a number from 0, least powerful, to 9, most powerful, followed by either F for freight, P for Passenger or MT for Mixed Traffic. 48773 (Wikimedia Commons)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 SVRSevern Valley Railway News 152
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 SVRSevern Valley Railway News 154
- ↑ SVRSevern Valley Railway News 168
Links
The Engine House on www.svr.co.uk