The Severn Valley Railway in preservation
Contents
History
Services on the SVR began progressively as follows:
- May 1970: Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade. This section had been closed by BR in 1963.
- May 1974: Hampton Loade to Bewdley (services as far as Highley began a month earlier). The SVR also acquired the line between Bewdley and Foley Park, although this was only used on special occasions such as 'Enthusiasts Events'. BR’s use of Bewdley Station and the Foley Park connection had ended in 1970 when onward services from Bewdley ceased.
- July 1984: Bewdley to Kidderminster. Use of the last portion under BR ownership for commercial traffic from Foley Park to Kidderminster had ended in 1982. BR would continue to use the existing station at Kidderminster as part of the Birmingham Snow Hill to Worcester line. As it was not feasible to share this station, the SVR built their own adjacent station, Kidderminster Town.
Follow the links below to see a timeline of the SVR in preservation.
1965-1969 The Severn Valley Railway Company is formed and the first locomotives arrive.
1970-1979 The SVR opens between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade in 1970 and reaches Bewdley in 1974, while the locomotive fleet grows.
1980-1989 The SVR reaches Kidderminster in 1984.
1990-1999
2000-2009
2010 to date
The Severn Valley Railway on the main line SVR locomotives working on the main line.
Tales from the Severn Valley Sundry stories and reminiscences from the history of the SVR.
List of film and TV productions filmed on the Severn Valley Railway
Current Organisation
The present day Severn Valley Railway (SVR) is made up of three companies:[1]
- Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC, usually abbreviated to “SVR(H)”, is the public company that owns the railway’s infrastructure. SVR shareholders own shares in this company.
- Severn Valley Railway Company Limited, commonly referred to as “the Guarantee Company”, is the SVR’s membership arm and provides the staff (mainly volunteers) to operate the railway. The Guarantee Company owns approximately 25% of SVR(H). The SVR has around 13,000 members, who are automatically members of this company (all volunteers must be members).
- Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust Ltd, “the Charitable Trust”, raises funds to support the SVR. The ongoing objective is to raise funds for the long-term preservation of rolling stock belonging to the trust, while other recent initiatives have included funding for the SVR’s Heritage Skills Training Academy, and arranging Heritage Lottery support for the restoration of 4930 Hagley Hall and for the SVR Future Fund Endowment.[2]
The Severn Valley Railway Association, “SVRA” is run by working volunteers with the objective of providing support to the SVR membership, and particularly the working volunteers. It is currently proposed to merge the activities of the Guarantee Company and the SVRA.[3]
Internally the SVR is organised into a number of departments, principally as follows:
Motive Power Department (MPD)
- Bridgnorth Locomotive Works
- Bridgnorth Boiler Shop
- Locomotive Crew
Operating Department
- Train crew
- Signalling
- Station personnel
- Booking office personnel
Permanent Way Department (P.W. Department)
Carriage and Wagon Department
Signalling and Telecomunications
References
Links
SVR Organisation (under ‘Consolidation…’)
SVR Charitable Trust website
SVRA website