Difference between revisions of "The Severn Valley Railway on the main line"

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For many years the SVR was closely associated with steam excursions on the main line.  In the mid-1970s, even before the company acquired the final section of the line from Foley Park, the SVR set out to become a ‘BR approved’ steam centre, supplying locomotives and rolling stock overhauled to BR standards  for use on main line excursions and charters.
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[[File:Flying_Pig_Railtour.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Brochure for SVR Railtours' 1981 "The Flying Pig" railtour]]For many years the SVR was closely associated with steam excursions on the main line.  In the mid-1970s, even before the company acquired the final section of the line from Foley Park, the SVR set out to become a ‘BR approved’ steam centre, supplying locomotives and rolling stock overhauled to BR standards  for use on main line excursions and charters.
  
The normal arrangement was that locomotives would leave the SVR and travel to other steam centres, in particular the Bulmers Railway Centre at Hereford, to run tours from there. The time spent away could vary from days to months.  In between, locomotives would return to the SVR for repairs and overhauls, as well as working services on the SVR itself. The SVR also organised some of of these railtours.
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The normal arrangement was that locomotives would leave the SVR and travel to other steam centres, in particular the Bulmers Railway Centre at Hereford, to run tours from there. The time spent away could vary from days to months.  In between, locomotives would return to the SVR for repairs and overhauls, as well as working services on the SVR itself. The SVR also organised some of of these railtours.
  
The first recorded use of the SVR's rolling stock on the main line was an excursion from Bridgnorth to Paddington on 13 November 1976. This was hauled by a BR Western Class diesel locomotive from Bewdley, and later by a Class 47 Diesel. ([http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/70s/761113sv.html Railtour details on Six Bells Junction])
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The first recorded use of the SVR's rolling stock on the main line was an excursion from Bridgnorth to Paddington on 13 November 1976. This was hauled by 25292 and 25272 from Bewdley to Kidderminster, and by 47120 to Paddington.<ref>[http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/70s/761113sv.html Railtour details on Six Bells Junction]</ref><ref>[http:/http://www.hatspics.co.uk/type_years_photos.php?type=SVR&year=1976 Alan Thwaites images on hatspics]</ref>
  
 
The first recorded use of an SVR based locomotive in revenue-earning service on the main line was [[Former Residents|6960 Raveningham Hall]], which hauled the ‘Cathedrals Express’ from Hereford to Chester on 8 April 1978.  ([http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/70s/780408fw.htm Railtour details on Six Bells Junction])
 
The first recorded use of an SVR based locomotive in revenue-earning service on the main line was [[Former Residents|6960 Raveningham Hall]], which hauled the ‘Cathedrals Express’ from Hereford to Chester on 8 April 1978.  ([http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/70s/780408fw.htm Railtour details on Six Bells Junction])
 
  
 
==SVR-based locomotives which hauled revenue-earning services on the main line==
 
==SVR-based locomotives which hauled revenue-earning services on the main line==
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*[[BR Class 50 50044 Exeter]]
 
*[[BR Class 50 50044 Exeter]]
 
*[[BR Class 50 50049 Defiance]]
 
*[[BR Class 50 50049 Defiance]]
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*[[BR Class 52 D1015 Western Champion]]
  
  
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*Clapham Buffet 9631
 
*Clapham Buffet 9631
 
*[[LMS 26986 Brake Third Corridor | LMS 26986]]
 
*[[LMS 26986 Brake Third Corridor | LMS 26986]]
*LNER Passenger Brake 4236
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*[[LNER 4236 Gangwayed Passenger Brake]]
  
 
===The SVR GWR set===
 
===The SVR GWR set===
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*23 April 1977: Bridgnorth-Hereford-Chester<ref>SVR News 46</ref> [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/70s/770423sv.html link]
 
*23 April 1977: Bridgnorth-Hereford-Chester<ref>SVR News 46</ref> [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/70s/770423sv.html link]
 
*3 July 1977: Paddington-Newport-Shrewsbury<ref name="SVR45">SVR News 45 </ref>[http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/70s/770703la.html link]
 
*3 July 1977: Paddington-Newport-Shrewsbury<ref name="SVR45">SVR News 45 </ref>[http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/70s/770703la.html link]
*15 October 1977: ??-Liskeard<ref name="SVR45" />  
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*15 October 1977: ' The Severn Valley Limited', itinerary included Plymouth and Liskeard.<ref name="SVR45" /><ref>[http://taillampphotography.com/47100_47199.htm Taillamp Photography] (Retrieved 7 October 2019)</ref>  
 
*6 May 1978: Bewdley-Kingswear<Ref>SVR News 48</ref> [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/70s/780506sv.html Link]
 
*6 May 1978: Bewdley-Kingswear<Ref>SVR News 48</ref> [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/70s/780506sv.html Link]
 
*4 November 1978: Bridgnorth-Pwllheli<ref>SVR News 50</ref>
 
*4 November 1978: Bridgnorth-Pwllheli<ref>SVR News 50</ref>
  
However their use on the main line was short-lived; the C&W notes in SVR News for summer 1980, reporting on the SVR coaches attending the Rainhill celebrations, ended with the comment “What a pity the whole train cannot go out again”<ref>SVR News 56</ref>.  
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However their use on the main line was short-lived as BR then introduced an annual inspection fee of £1,000 per coach which made their use uneconomical.<ref>SVR News 157</ref> The C&W notes in SVR News for summer 1980, reporting on the SVR coaches attending the Rainhill celebrations, ended with the comment “What a pity the whole train cannot go out again”<ref>SVR News 56</ref>.  
  
 
===Rocket 150, Rainhill 1980===
 
===Rocket 150, Rainhill 1980===
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==SVR Wagons used on the main line in preservation==
 
==SVR Wagons used on the main line in preservation==
As part of the 1985 GWR 150 celebrations, the SVR was asked to produce a demonstration goods train to be taken on the main line to Newport, hauled by [[GWR 2857 Heavy Goods Loco | GWR 2857]].  BR C&W inspectors approved 25 wagons to run, the eventual line-up being as follows<ref>SVR News 78</ref>:
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[[File:2857 mainline Dave Hill 2.jpg|thumb|300px|right|2857 near Newport]]
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As part of the 1985 GWR 150 celebrations, the SVR was asked to produce a demonstration goods train to be taken on the main line to Newport, hauled by [[GWR 2857 Heavy Goods Loco | GWR 2857]].  The train left Kidderminster late on 9th September, stayed overnight at Hereford, then continued on to Newport early on the 10th, returning to Kidderminster later that evening. BR C&W inspectors approved 25 wagons to run, the eventual line-up being as follows<ref>SVR News 78</ref>:
  
 
*[[GWR 65801 Mogo Van]]
 
*[[GWR 65801 Mogo Van]]
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*[http://www.ws.vintagecarriagestrust.org/ws/WagonInfo.asp?Ref=7475 LNER NE 274231 Coke Hopper] (Now scrapped?)  
 
*[http://www.ws.vintagecarriagestrust.org/ws/WagonInfo.asp?Ref=7475 LNER NE 274231 Coke Hopper] (Now scrapped?)  
 
*[http://www.ws.vintagecarriagestrust.org/ws/WagonInfo.asp?Ref=7461 LNER NE 307306 Coke Hopper] (Now scrapped?)  
 
*[http://www.ws.vintagecarriagestrust.org/ws/WagonInfo.asp?Ref=7461 LNER NE 307306 Coke Hopper] (Now scrapped?)  
*[[London Transport ‘Herring’ Ballast Hopper Wagons | LT Ballsat Hopper Wagon 436 ]]  
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*[[London Transport ‘Herring’ Ballast Hopper Wagons | LT Ballast Hopper Wagon 436 ]]  
*[[London Transport ‘Herring’ Ballast Hopper Wagons | LT Ballsat Hopper Wagon 410]]  
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*[[London Transport ‘Herring’ Ballast Hopper Wagons | LT Ballast Hopper Wagon 410]]  
 
*[[GWR 40554 Chaired Sleeper Wagon]]  
 
*[[GWR 40554 Chaired Sleeper Wagon]]  
 
*[[GWR 42272 'Loriot L' Machinery Truck]]  
 
*[[GWR 42272 'Loriot L' Machinery Truck]]  
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*[[Regent Oil & Texaco 431 Aviation Fuel Tank Wagon]]  
 
*[[Regent Oil & Texaco 431 Aviation Fuel Tank Wagon]]  
  
A BR Brake van was provided at the rear.  The return trip took place in September 1985.
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A BR Brake van was provided at the rear.  Six loaded BR open wagons were also used to provide a fitted head for part of the journey.
  
 
Three BR Flat ED wagons were supplied by Universal Pictures for [[The Seven-Per-Cent Solution]].  They were originally classified as 'Horse Box Underframe of unknown ID'<ref>SVR Stock Book v7</ref>, and given the temporary numbers SV14191, SV14192 and SV14193.  Later research proved their identities to be [[BR 906811 Flat ED | 906811]], [[BR 906825 Flat ED | 906825]] and [[BR 906830 Flat ED | 906830]]<ref>SVR Stock Book v9</ref>, although it is not clear which two took part in the goods train.
 
Three BR Flat ED wagons were supplied by Universal Pictures for [[The Seven-Per-Cent Solution]].  They were originally classified as 'Horse Box Underframe of unknown ID'<ref>SVR Stock Book v7</ref>, and given the temporary numbers SV14191, SV14192 and SV14193.  Later research proved their identities to be [[BR 906811 Flat ED | 906811]], [[BR 906825 Flat ED | 906825]] and [[BR 906830 Flat ED | 906830]]<ref>SVR Stock Book v9</ref>, although it is not clear which two took part in the goods train.

Revision as of 22:48, 27 June 2020

Brochure for SVRSevern Valley Railway Railtours' 1981 "The Flying Pig" railtour
For many years the SVRSevern Valley Railway was closely associated with steam excursions on the main line. In the mid-1970s, even before the company acquired the final section of the line from Foley Park, the SVRSevern Valley Railway set out to become a ‘BRBritish Rail or British Railways approved’ steam centre, supplying locomotives and rolling stock overhauled to BRBritish Rail or British Railways standards for use on main line excursions and charters.

The normal arrangement was that locomotives would leave the SVRSevern Valley Railway and travel to other steam centres, in particular the Bulmers Railway Centre at Hereford, to run tours from there. The time spent away could vary from days to months. In between, locomotives would return to the SVRSevern Valley Railway for repairs and overhauls, as well as working services on the SVRSevern Valley Railway itself. The SVRSevern Valley Railway also organised some of of these railtours.

The first recorded use of the SVRSevern Valley Railway's rolling stock on the main line was an excursion from Bridgnorth to Paddington on 13 November 1976. This was hauled by 25292 and 25272 from Bewdley to Kidderminster, and by 47120 to Paddington.[1][2]

The first recorded use of an SVRSevern Valley Railway based locomotive in revenue-earning service on the main line was 6960 Raveningham Hall, which hauled the ‘Cathedrals Express’ from Hereford to Chester on 8 April 1978. (Railtour details on Six Bells Junction)

SVRSevern Valley Railway-based locomotives which hauled revenue-earning services on the main line

Listings of railtours and other significant main line appearances are included on the relevant page for each SVRSevern Valley Railway locomotive as follows:

The listings are an attempt to collate information from a number of sources, none of which provides a complete list. Many of the tours are listed on Six Bells Junction (SBJ); links have been included to those that are where normally more information on the precise route and timing for the specific tour may be found. UK Steam is another useful resource, with reasonably complete lists of railtours since 1996. Where railtours were mentioned in SVR News, the issue number and page has been shown.

Other locomotives still resident on the SVRSevern Valley Railway which have worked on the main line in preservation are:


(lists to be added)

SVRSevern Valley Railway Carriages used on the main line in preservation

The following carriages travelled on the main line while based at the SVRSevern Valley Railway, either as part of revenue-earning rail tours or to attend celebratory events:

Rail 150, Shildon 1975

The SVRSevern Valley Railway GWRGreat Western Railway set

In the mid to late 1970s the SVRSevern Valley Railway provided a rake of GWRGreat Western Railway carriages for use on mainline excursions. The first rail tour used 10 carriages, subsequent excursions normally featured a rake of 11. The following carriages were used[3]:

Rail tours recorded in SVRSevern Valley Railway News as using the SVRSevern Valley Railway rolling stock included the following (external links are to tour details on www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk where listed there):

  • 13 November 1976: Bewdley to Paddington[3] link
  • 23 April 1977: Bridgnorth-Hereford-Chester[5] link
  • 3 July 1977: Paddington-Newport-Shrewsbury[6]link
  • 15 October 1977: ' The Severn Valley Limited', itinerary included Plymouth and Liskeard.[6][7]
  • 6 May 1978: Bewdley-Kingswear[8] Link
  • 4 November 1978: Bridgnorth-Pwllheli[9]

However their use on the main line was short-lived as BRBritish Rail or British Railways then introduced an annual inspection fee of £1,000 per coach which made their use uneconomical.[10] The C&WCarriage & Wagon notes in SVRSevern Valley Railway News for summer 1980, reporting on the SVRSevern Valley Railway coaches attending the Rainhill celebrations, ended with the comment “What a pity the whole train cannot go out again”[11].

Rocket 150, Rainhill 1980

Main line support coaches

GWR 6913 Brake Composite was overhauled to main line standard in 1985 for use as a support coach for SVRSevern Valley Railway locos working on the main line. The first trip following the overhaul was with 7819 Hinton Manor[12].

SVRSevern Valley Railway Wagons used on the main line in preservation

2857 near Newport

As part of the 1985 GWRGreat Western Railway 150 celebrations, the SVRSevern Valley Railway was asked to produce a demonstration goods train to be taken on the main line to Newport, hauled by GWR 2857. The train left Kidderminster late on 9th September, stayed overnight at Hereford, then continued on to Newport early on the 10th, returning to Kidderminster later that evening. BRBritish Rail or British Railways C&WCarriage & Wagon inspectors approved 25 wagons to run, the eventual line-up being as follows[13]:

A BRBritish Rail or British Railways Brake van was provided at the rear. Six loaded BRBritish Rail or British Railways open wagons were also used to provide a fitted head for part of the journey.

Three BRBritish Rail or British Railways Flat ED wagons were supplied by Universal Pictures for The Seven-Per-Cent Solution. They were originally classified as 'Horse Box Underframe of unknown ID'[14], and given the temporary numbers SV14191, SV14192 and SV14193. Later research proved their identities to be 906811, 906825 and 906830[15], although it is not clear which two took part in the goods train.

References

  1. Railtour details on Six Bells Junction
  2. [http:/http://www.hatspics.co.uk/type_years_photos.php?type=SVR&year=1976 Alan Thwaites images on hatspics]
  3. 3.0 3.1 SVRSevern Valley Railway News 41
  4. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 44
  5. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 46
  6. 6.0 6.1 SVRSevern Valley Railway News 45
  7. Taillamp Photography (Retrieved 7 October 2019)
  8. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 48
  9. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 50
  10. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 157
  11. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 56
  12. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 77
  13. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 78
  14. SVRSevern Valley Railway Stock Book v7
  15. SVRSevern Valley Railway Stock Book v9