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==Construction: 1858-1861==
When the contractors [[Peto, Brassey and Betts ]] began construction, a completion date of October 1860 was announced. However during construction a number of unstable areas of ground were discovered, while landslips also took place on completed areas of the line, the most significant north of Highley resulted in a change to the line’s route. The foundation stone for Victoria Bridge at Arley was laid on 24 November 1859 by [[Henry Orlando Bridgeman]].
During 1860, while construction of the line was still in progress, the Severn Valley Railway changed hands twice in two days. On 14 June 1860 an act of Parliament confirmed a 999 year lease of the Company to the OW&W who agreed to run the line. On 16 June 1860 another Act authorised a three-way amalgamation of the OW&W with the Newport, Abergavenny & Hereford Railway and the Worcester & Hereford Railway to form the West Midlands Railway. This company was formed on 1 July 1860.
