The Severn Valley Railway on the main line

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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 a BRBritish Rail or British Railways 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 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.

The tables below will be moved to the individual loco pages in due course.

2857

Date Tour name Route Notes Web SVRSevern Valley Railway News
10 Sep 1985 GW 150 Freight Demo Kidderminster-Hereford-Newport + return 25 SVRSevern Valley Railway wagons also used 78-17

7325

Date Tour name Route Notes Web SVRSevern Valley Railway News
19 May 1995 Kidderminster-Newport-Gloucester-Worcester D/H with 7802 from Gloucester. L/E from Worcester due to hot box on tender. 115-44
04 Nov 1995 Stourbridge - Bristol - Swansea Possible duplicate of 11 November[1]
11 Nov 1995 Stourbridge - Bristol - Swansea D/H with 70000 Britannia from Bristol 117-2
18 May 1996 Steam on the Met London Underground 'Steam on the Met' (2 weekends) SBJ
19 May 1996 Steam on the Met London Underground 'Steam on the Met' (2 weekends) SBJ
25 May 1996 Steam on the Met London Underground 'Steam on the Met' (2 weekends) SBJ 119-58
26 May 1996 Steam on the Met London Underground 'Steam on the Met' (2 weekends) SBJ
27 May 1996 Steam on the Met London Underground 'Steam on the Met' (2 weekends) SBJ
11 Jan 1997 Taffy Apple Worcester-Hereford-Swansea-Gloucester-Worcester D/H with 42968 122-4
25 Oct 1997 Meldon Meanderer Bristol - Exeter - Meldon Quarry D/H with 42968 125-70
08 Nov 1997 Pilgrims Progres Exeter - Plymouth - Bristol D/H with 42968 125-70
15 Nov 1997 Hardy Flyer Bristol Temple Meads - Yeovil Pen Mill - Bristol D/H with 42968 126-48
22 Nov 1997 Lickey Incliner Bristol-Bromsgrove-Stourbridge-Gloucester D/H with 42968, first preserved steam on the Lickey Incline 126-2
31 Jan 1998 Inclined Salopian Gloucester - Lickey Incline - Bescot D/H with 42968 126-49
21 Mar 1998 Chester Chuffer Bescot-Chester + return SBJ

7802 Bradley Manor

Date Tour name Route Notes Web SVRSevern Valley Railway News
29 Mar 1995 Bristol-Paignton + return Test trip prior to summer season (Pete Waterman) 114-59
19 May 1995 Gloucester-Worcester-Kidderminster D/H with 7325 to Worcester. 115-44
14 Oct 1995 Duchy Explorer Bristol-Penzance D/H with 70000 Britannia 117-2
20 Jan 1996 Teign Valley Wanderer Stourbridge - Newton Abbot 117-7
17 Feb 1996 Newton Abbot-Plymouth D/H with 5029 Nunney Castle PSOV
24 Feb 1996 Plymouth-Newton Abbot D/H with 5029 Nunney Castle PSOV 119-39
16 Mar 1996 Totnes-Worcester (single headed) PSOV 119-39
22 Jan 2000 Flying Dutchman Bristol Temple Meads - Plymouth - Bristol Temple Meads SBJ
10 Aug 2003 Torbay Express Bristol Temple Meads - Paignton - Kingswear failed with hot box at Kingswear SBJ 145-31
31 Aug 2003 Torbay Express Bristol-Kingswear + return UKS 145-31
07 Sep 2003 Torbay Express Bristol-Kingswear + return UKS 145-31
23 Oct 2004 Cambrian Coast Express Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury SBJ
28 Feb 2005 Staite Pullman Taunton - Paignton - Tanton D/H with 6024 SBJ
12 Mar 2005 Cambrian Coast Express Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury Replaced 42968 SBJ
16 Sep 2006 Cambrian Coast Express Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury EMF
10 Mar 2007 Cider Express Hereford - Bishops Lydeard - Minehead - Bishops Lydeard SBJ
28 Mar 2007 Severn Valley Wanderer Bristol Temple Meads - Kidderminster SBJ

7812 Erlestoke Manor

Date Tour name Route Notes Web SVRSevern Valley Railway News
17 Apr 1982 Welsh Marches Express Hereford - Newport - Hereford D/H with 4930 Hagley Hall 64-28
24 Apr 1982 Welsh Marches Pullman Shrewsbury - Hereford D/H with 4930 Hagley Hall SBJ 64-29
05 May 1982 Welsh Marches Express Hereford - Chester 66-9
05 Jun 1982 Shrewsbury-Newport D/H with 43106

7819 Hinton Manor

Date Tour name Route Notes Web SVRSevern Valley Railway News
07 Apr 1985 Great Western Limited Bristol - Taunton (1) - Tiverton Jn(2) - Exeter St Davids(3) - Plymouth(4) (1)D/H with 6000, (2)Solo, (3)Diesel Assisted, (4)L/E SBJ 76-12
08 Apr 1985 Great Western Limited Plymouth - Bristol Temple Meads D/H with 4930 Hagley Hall SBJ 76-12
26 May 1985 GW150 Portishead Shuttles Bristol Temple Meads - Portishead return Hauled first Steam Special on Spring Bank Holiday wekend 80-40
13 Aug 1985 GW150 Celebrations Excursions Swindon Gloucester - Swindon Various other runs around this time (pool of 7 locos used) SBJ
21 Aug 1985 GW150 Celebrations Excursions Swindon Gloucester - Swindon
24 May 1987 Machynlleth - Barmouth + return Supplement to longer railtour 86-37
25 May 1987 Cardigan Bay Express Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2 SBJ 85-33
26 May 1987 Cardigan Bay Express Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2 85-33
27 May 1987 Cardigan Bay Express Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2 SBJ 85-33
31 May 1987 Barmouth Bay Express Machynlleth - Barmouth + return Supplement to longer railtour SBJ 85-33
20 Jul 1987 Cardigan Bay Express Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2 86-38
21 Jul 1987 Cardigan Bay Express Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2 85-11
22 Jul 1987 Cardigan Bay Express Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2 85-11
26 Jul 1987 Cardigan Bay Express Machynlleth - Pwllheli + return 85-11
02 Aug 1987 Cardigan Bay Express Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2 SBJ 86-39
16 Aug 1987 Cardigan Bay Express Machynlleth - Aberystwyth + return 86-39
19 Aug 1987 Cardigan Bay Express Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2 86-40
23 Aug 1987 Cardigan Bay Express Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2 SBJ
30 Aug 1987 Cardigan Bay Express Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2 SBJ
16 Jun 1991 Cambrian Limited Shrewsbury - Barmouth (75069 worked the return leg) SBJ 100-38
23 Jun 1991 Cambrian Limited Shrewsbury - Barmouth (75069 worked the return leg) SBJ 100-38
29 Sep 1991  ?? Via Talerddig 101-25

42968

In 2001 the StanierWilliam Stanier, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway 1932-1944 MogulLocomotive with a 2-6-0 wheel configuration Fund produced “A Pictorial History of 2968 The Mighty MogulLocomotive with a 2-6-0 wheel configuration”. This includes comprehensive reports and pictures of the locomotive’s main line tours. Copies of this publication may still be available from the SMF’s sales stand.

Date Tour name Route Notes Web SVRSevern Valley Railway News
31 Aug 1996 Kidderminster-Gloucester + return Test run with support coach 121-44
07 Dec 1996 Lyndum Fayre Dorridge - Lincoln - Dorridge SBJ
21 Dec 1996 Cumbrian Mountain Express Crewe - Carlisle Deputising for 60009 Union of South Africa
04 Jan 1997 Cumbrian Mountain Express Carlisle - Crewe Deputising for 60009 Union of South Africa SBJ 122-4
11 Jan 1997 Taffy Apple Worcester Shrub Hill - Swansea - Worcester D/H with 7325 UKS 122-4
08 Mar 1997 MogulLocomotive with a 2-6-0 wheel configuration Mountaineer Crewe - Copy Pit - York SBJ 123-7
18 Oct 1997 Welsh Dragon Port Talbot - Shrewsbury Gross load 365 tons, or 50% overload SBJ 125-9
19 Oct 1997 Ynys Mon Express Crewe - Holyhead - Crewe SBJ 126-46
25 Oct 1997 Meldon Meanderer Bristol - Exeter - Meldon Quarry D/H with 7325, replacing 7802 (failed with hot box at Bristol) SBJ 125-70
08 Nov 1997 Pilgrims Progres Exeter - Plymouth - Bristol D/H with 7325 SBJ 125-70
15 Nov 1997 Hardy Flyer Bristol Temple Meads - Yeovil Pen Mill - Bristol D/H with 7325 SBJ 126-48
22 Nov 1997 Lickey Incliner Bristol-Bromsgrove-Stourbridge-Gloucester D/H with 7325, first preserved steam on the Lickey Incline SBJ 126-2
12 Dec 1997 Chester Chuffer Wolverhampton - Chester - Wolverhampton UKS 126-49
03 Jan 1998 Central Wales Adventurer Shrewsbury - Llandrindod Wells* - Craven Arms* - Gloucester *Tour re-routed due to flooding UKS 126-50
31 Jan 1998 Inclined Salopian Gloucester - Lickey Incline - Bescot D/H with 7325 UKS 126-49
16 May 1998 Steam on the Met Amersham-Watford shuttles UKS
17 May 1998 Steam on the Met Amersham-Watford shuttles UKS 127-15
23 May 1998 Steam on the Met Amersham-Watford shuttles UKS
24 May 1998 Steam on the Met Amersham-Watford shuttles UKS
25 May 1998 Steam on the Met Amersham-Watford shuttles UKS 127-32

43106

After travelling on the main line to both the 1975 Rail 150 celebrations at Shildon and the 1980 Rocket 150 celebrations at Rainhill, LMS Ivatt Class 4 43106 made a number of other solo and double-headed appearances during the early 1980s.

Date Tour name Route Notes Web SVRSevern Valley Railway News
11 Aug 1975 Rail 150 Shildon Kidderminster-Shildon With 48773 37-24
01 Sep 1975 Rail 150 Shildon Shildon-Kidderminster With LMR 600 37-24
19 May 1980 Rocket 150 Rainhill Bridgnorth-Bold Colliery L/S, with 3205 and D1062 56-9
09 Jun 1980 Rocket 150 Rainhill Bold-Colliery-Bridgnorth D/H + LMSLondon Midland & Scottish Railway coach 56-9
27 Sep 1980 Tyseley - Dorridge - Didcot + return 57-9
11 Oct 1980 Welsh Dragon Shrewsbury - Hereford - Newport - Hereford D/H with 45000 SBJ 58-16
11 Apr 1981 Flying Pig Didcot - Knowle - Didcot 65-16
05 May 1982 Welsh Marches Express Hereford - Chester 66-9
05 Jun 1982 Shrewsbury-Newport D/H with 7812 Erlestoke Manor
19 Feb 1983 Welsh Marches Pullman Shrewsbury - Craven Arms - Leominster - Hereford D/H with 80079 SBJ 68-30
26 Feb 1983 Welsh Marches Pullman Hereford - Newport - Hereford D/H with 80079 SBJ 67-31

45110

In 1968, StanierWilliam Stanier, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway 1932-1944 ‘Black 5’ 45110 was the last BRBritish Rail or British Railways-owned standard gauge steam locomotive to haul a service on the national network. She returned to the main line between 1998 and 2000.

Date Tour name Route Notes Web SVRSevern Valley Railway News
26 Sep 1998 Rose of Shires Bescot - York + return UKS 129-13
17 Oct 1998 Blackpool Five Shrewsbury-Blackpool + return UKS 128-76
24 Oct 1998 Royal Duchy Exeter - Plymouth-Newquay D/H with 48773 UKS 129-12
31 Oct 1998 Stannary Staniers Ealing Broadway-Penzance D/H with 48773 UKS
07 Nov 1998 Staffordshire Terrier Brimingham -Chester-Wolverhampton UKS 128-76
14 Nov 1998 Colne Dee Express Nottingham-Chester + return UKS
28 Nov 1998 Lakes Express Crewe-Shap-Carlisle + return D/H with 45407 UKS 129-12
05 Dec 1998 Linolnian Dorridge-Lincoln + return UKS
19 Dec 1998 Christmas Chester Chuffer Birmingham Int'l-Chester + return UKS
30 Jan 1999 Merseyman Bescot-Crewe-Liverpool-Crewe-Walsall-Bescot UKS 129-52
07 Mar 1999 Ynys Mon Express Crewe-Holyhead + return UKS 129-13
21 May 1999 Private Charter Harrow-Amersham (2 trips) UKS
22 May 1999 Steam on the Met Amersham-Watford shuttles UKS
23 May 1999 Steam on the Met Amersham-Watford shuttles UKS
29 May 1999 Steam on the Met Amersham-Watford shuttles UKS
30 May 1999 Steam on the Met Amersham-Watford shuttles UKS
31 May 1999 Steam on the Met Amersham-Watford shuttles UKS 130-38
15 Aug 1999 Mayflower Bristol-Plymouth-Bristol D/H with 45407, ran as scheduled UKS
02 Oct 1999 Welsh Dragon Birmingham Int-Bescot- Llandrindod- Port Talbot-Newport Ran as scheduled UKS
23 Oct 1999 Fishburn Flyer Crewe-Carnforth-Crewe To be confirmed UKS
13 Nov 1999 North Wales Venturer Crewe-Holyhead-Crewe To be confirmed UKS
11 Dec 1999 Midlander Nuneaton-Lickey-Gloucester+return, Bromsgrove-Blackwell* 80079 as banker UKS 132-46
18 Dec 1999 Christmas Chester Chuffer Birmingham Int-Rugeley-Chester -Wrexham-Birmingham Int UKS
05 Feb 2000 Peak Forester Derby - Buxton - Crewe SBJ
27 May 2000 Laird of Stranraer Day 1 Crewe - Carnforth (tender swap)-Glasgow D/H with 45407. Borrowed tender from 48151 SBJ
29 May 2000 Laird of Stranraer Day 3 Glasgow Central - WCML - Lockerbie UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) Passenger Loop* *Failed with leaking tubes (SBJ has date as 28th) SBJ 133-29

46443

Although rated only 2MTThe 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. by BRBritish Rail or British Railways, LMS Ivatt Class 2 46443 made a number of main line appearances including deputising for 75069 on the Cardigan Bay Expresses.

Date Tour name Route Notes Web SVRSevern Valley Railway News
02 Jun 1985 GW150 Portishead Shuttles Bristol Temple Meads - Portishead return 79-2
21 Jul 1985 GW150 Portishead Shuttles Bristol Temple Meads - Portishead return 77-38
15 Sep 1985 GW150 Portishead Shuttles Bristol Temple Meads - Portishead return Spent total of 3 weeks in Bristol SBJ 79-26
22 Sep 1985 Wapping Wharf Steam Shuttles Bristol Temple Meads - Bristol Harbour (Wapping Wharf) SBJ
27 Jul 1987 Cardigan Bay Express Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2 46443 first trip 85-11
28 Jul 1987 Cardigan Bay Express Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2
29 Jul 1987 Cardigan Bay Express Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2
05 Aug 1987 Cardigan Bay Express Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2 86-42
10 Aug 1987 Cardigan Bay Express Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2 86-36
12 Aug 1987 Cardigan Bay Express Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2 SBJ
24 Aug 1987 Cardigan Bay Express Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2 86-43
25 Aug 1987 Cardigan Bay Express Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2 86-40
26 Sep 1987 Bham Moor St - Dorridge Shuttles, also Bham -Stratford Last day of the old Moor Street Station 87-34

48773

LMS Stanier 8F 48773 appeared on the main line both as LMSLondon Midland & Scottish Railway 8233 and 48773. The Stanier 8F Locomotive Society website has a gallery of photographs which includes a number of these main line tours.

Date Tour name Route Notes Web SVRSevern Valley Railway News
11 Aug 1975 Rail 150 Shildon Kidderminster-Shildon As LMSLondon Midland & Scottish Railway 8233, with 43106 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. 37-24
06 Sep 1975 Rail 150 Shildon York-Kidderminster Darlington to York some days earlier 37-24
03 Oct 1987 Cotswold Engineer Honeybourne - Long Marston - Honeybourne As LMSLondon Midland & Scottish Railway 8233 SBJ 86-26
03 May 1989 Cumbrian Mountain Express Carlisle-Shap-Crewe UKS
21 Sep 1991 Welsh Marches Express Hereford - Crewe As LMSLondon Midland & Scottish Railway 8233. Also had visited Derby, Sheffield, Worcester 101-50
01 Feb 1992 Lancastrian Shrewsbury - Bolton? - Blackburn Photo at Manchester with this headboard on 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. web site SBJ
16 May 1998 StanierWilliam Stanier, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway 1932-1944 Hind Bristol-Exeter-Plymouth Photos on 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. web site SBJ 127-3
12 Sep 1998 Central Wales Adventurer II Newport-Shrewsbury Photos on 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. web site UKS, 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. 132-46
24 Oct 1998 Royal Duchy Exeter - Plymouth-Newquay D/H with 45110 UKS 129-12
31 Oct 1998 Stannary Staniers Ealing Broadway-Penzance D/H with 45110 UKS
02 Jan 1999 Midlander Gloucester-Lickey-Tyseley-Kidderminster-Gloucester Photo at Gloucester on 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. web site UKS, 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. 133-40
16 Jan 1999 Barrow Hill Collier Nottingham-Chesterfield-Nottingham Photo light engine but with tour headboard UKS, 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.
10 Apr 1999 Copy Pitfinder Crewe-Copy Pit-Pontefract-York UKS 130-56
17 Apr 1999 Cotton Weaver York-Copy Pit-Crewe D/H with 45407, photo on 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. web site UKS, 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.
24 Apr 1999 Cumbrian Mountain Express Crewe-Shap-Carlisle D/H with 45407, photo on 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. web site UKS, 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.
05 Sep 1999 Midland Devonian Gloucester-Stourbridge Jct-Bescot D/H with 6024 UKS, 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.
01 Apr 2000 Buxton Peaks Crewe-Manchester Vic-Buxton-Derby SBJ 133-29


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

  • Clapham Buffet 9631
  • LMS 26986
  • LNERLondon & North Eastern Railway Passenger Brake 4236

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[2]:

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[2] link
  • 23 April 1977: Bridgnorth-Hereford-Chester[4] link
  • 3 July 1977: Paddington-Newport-Shrewsbury[5]link
  • 15 October 1977: ??-Liskeard[5]
  • 6 May 1978: Bewdley-Kingswear[6] Link
  • 4 November 1978: Bridgnorth-Pwllheli[7]

However their use on the main line was short-lived; 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”[8].

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[9].

SVRSevern Valley Railway Wagons used on the main line in preservation

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. BRBritish Rail or British Railways C&WCarriage & Wagon inspectors approved 25 wagons to run, the eventual line-up being as follows[10]:

A BRBritish Rail or British Railways Brake van was provided at the rear. The return trip took place in September 1985.

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'[11], and given the temporary numbers SV14191, SV14192 and SV14193. Later research proved their identities to be 906811, 906825 and 906830[12], although it is not clear which two took part in the goods train.

References

  1. Shown as 4 November in Siviter (2008)
  2. 2.0 2.1 SVRSevern Valley Railway News 41
  3. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 44
  4. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 46
  5. 5.0 5.1 SVRSevern Valley Railway News 45
  6. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 48
  7. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 50
  8. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 56
  9. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 77
  10. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 78
  11. SVRSevern Valley Railway Stock Book v7
  12. SVRSevern Valley Railway Stock Book v9