The Severn Valley Railway on the main line
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.
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. (Railtour details on Six Bells Junction)
The first recorded use of an SVR 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)
Contents
SVR-based locomotives which hauled revenue-earning services on the main line
Current SVR locomotives
- 4930 Hagley Hall
- 7802 Bradley Manor
- 7812 Erlestoke Manor
- 7819 Hinton Manor
- 34027 Taw Valley
- 42968
- 43106
- 45110
- 46443
- 48773
- 75069
- 80079
- BR Class 50 50031 Hood
- BR Class 50 50035 Ark Royal
- BR Class 50 50044 Exeter
- BR Class 50 50049 Defiance
Former residents
(list to be added)
SVR Carriages used in revenue-earning services on the main line
In the mid-1970s the SVR provided a rake of GWR 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[1]: