Vintage transport events
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As of 2022 the SVRSevern Valley Railway's Vintage Transport Extravaganza is its main event celebrating vintage transport. Classic vehicles are displayed at stations along the line. It combines elements of previous Steam on the Road, Classic Car Day and On the Buses events.
Early events
The SVRSevern Valley Railway's first Kidderminster-based heritage bus-themed gala event, the "Kidderminster Historic Road/Rail Rally" was held on 12 October 1985. It was organised by The Erlestoke Manor Fund in aid of the restoration of 7802 Bradley Manor and featured over 70 vehicles including vintage cars and other commercial vehicles as well as buses. A vintage bus service operated at half-hourly intervals between Kidderminster and Bewdley using a 1940 Trent single deck bus and a 1950 Bedford Duple coach.[1]
Similar events hosted by the EMF were then held annually at Kidderminster until 1990, becoming known as the 'Classic Vehicle Day' or 'Vintage Vehicle Day'. In 1988 the SVRSevern Valley Railway ran a separate 'Classic Vehicle Day' for the first time, it having previously been combined with the autumn diesel gala.[2]
Classic Vehicle Day 1991-2002
In 1991 the event was organised jointly by the SVRSevern Valley Railway and the Worcester Bus Preservation Society. The second such event, the 1992 'Vintage Vehicle Rally' on 11 October at Kidderminster, was attended by more than 100 classic vehicles including some seventy buses, thirty cars and a dozen commercial vehicles. Eight single decker and four double decker buses provided a shuttle between Kidderminster and Bewdley.[3]
The joint SVRSevern Valley Railway / Worcester Bus Preservation Society events continued in the same format until the twelfth and final 'Classic Vehicle Day' which was held on 14 October 2001. It included "...the usual 'Bewdley Shuttle' and Green Street 'Park & Ride' services".[4] The latter service allowed the SVRSevern Valley Railway public to park in a hired car park in the town and catch a classic bus to the Railway, while the classic vehicle event took place on the station car park.
In early 2002 the agreement to use the town car park was withdrawn and the October 2002 event was reduced in scope, becoming a "Classic Car & Bike Day" with no buses.[5] Shortly before that time, a passenger was injured after falling from the platform of a bus as it was pulling away, caused by them doing something unexpected and that they should not have been doing or even considering. This uncovered an issue about the responsibility of insurance cover for the buses and other vehicles attending the festival, which contributed to its demise[6].
On the Buses
In 2009 the SVRSevern Valley Railway ran a trial event to see if there was an appetite for a 'busfest' type event. From 2010 the SVRSevern Valley Railway held annual 'On the Buses' events from Bewdley and Kidderminster. Typically it featured visiting heritage or celebrity buses on display or offering rides between stations or around the local area, together with sales and information stands selling a range of bus related items and memorabilia.
(Article under construction)
See also
References
- ↑ SVRSevern Valley Railway News 78
- ↑ SVRSevern Valley Railway News 86
- ↑ SVRSevern Valley Railway News 106
- ↑ SVRSevern Valley Railway News 139
- ↑ SVRSevern Valley Railway News 142
- ↑ SVR Forum thread (Retrieved 18 July 2020)
