Severn Valley Railway
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The Severn Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Shropshire and Worcestershire, England. The 16-mile line runs along the Severn Valley from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route. Trains services are hauled by both steam and diesel locomotives, and also the line's diesel multiple unit.
The railway is one of the most popular heritage railways in the country. It hosts numerous special events throughout the year, including both steam and diesel galas, Thomas the Tank Engine events, and Santa Specials. In October 2004, the line hosted the Railcar 50 event, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the introduction of diesel multiple units by British Railways.
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[edit] Operations
SVR trains operate over the whole line length calling at all stations. Dining trains (normally on Sundays) include the Severn Valley Limited and the Severn Valley Venturer which are the principle dining car trains.
Occasionally special gala days are held, often with visiting engines and rolling stock from other heritage lines. These and other attractions have seen visitor numbers exceed 250,000 per year.
A diesel multiple unit is used to run a Saturday Evening Fish and Chip Special from May to August, leaving Kidderminster at around 7pm and returning at 10pm after one hour in Bridgnorth.
The SVR's rail connection to the national network at Kidderminster permits occasional through charter trains to operate from many parts of the country to Bridgnorth. A recent example of these visitors was that of the VSOE Northern Belle.
[edit] History
The Severn Valley Railway was used as transport route for 101 years, from 1862 until 1963. The Severn Valley line was built between 1858 and 1862, and linked Hartlebury, near Droitwich Spa, with Shrewsbury, a distance of 40 miles. Important stations on the line were Stourport-on-Severn, Bewdley, Arley, Highley, Hampton Loade, Bridgnorth, Coalport, Ironbridge, Buildwas, Cressage and Berrington. The original Severn Valley Railway was absorbed into the Great Western Railway in the 1870s, and in 1878 a link line was constructed from Bewdley to Kidderminster. This meant trains could run direct from the Black Country to areas of Shropshire. Most Kidderminster to Bewdley trains continued through the Wyre Forest line (dismantled in the 1960s and now a popular walking route) to Tenbury Wells or Woofferton. At Buildwas Junction (now the site of Ironbridge Power Station near what is now Telford) Severn Valley trains connected with services from Wellington to Much Wenlock and Craven Arms.
Prior to preservation the Severn Valley line was never financially successful. Freight traffic, mostly agricultural, and coal traffic from the collieries of Alveley and Highley were the principle sources of revenue. The line was strategically useful in the Second World War as a by-pass around the West Midlands. A very small section of the original Severn Valley line continues to carry coal traffic to Ironbridge Power Station.
After nationalisation in 1948, passenger traffic started to dwindle. The line was closed to through passenger and freight services under the 'Beeching Axe' in 1963 and the track north of Bridgnorth was dismantled. A few passenger services continued to link Bewdley with Kidderminster and Hartlebury, and coal traffic survived south of Alveley, though these activities were stopped in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
For much of its working life it was operated by the Great Western Railway and subsequently the Western Region of British Railways. Today the Severn Valley Railway operates as a heritage railway. Services began in 1970 from Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade, extending services to Bewdley in 1974 and Kidderminster in 1984.
[edit] Stations
- Bridgnorth The only station building with any form of listing.
- Eardington Halt, originally just Eardington (Closed in 1981, used only for storage, a few volunteers have campaigned for re-opening in recent years)
- Hampton Loade
- Country Park Halt (request stop)
- Highley
- Arley
- Northwood Halt (request stop)
- Bewdley
- Kidderminster Town
With the exception of the two request halts (Country Park and Northwood) all intermediate stations have the ability to pass trains on the single line. However, Highley's passing loop has sidings leading off it with points not controlled from the signal box, meaning trains with the travelling public on may not use this loop. However, it is frequently used for works trains, demonstration goods trains and empty stock workings. Despite this, the Severn Valley Railway offers, possibly, the most intensive service on any single line heritage railway. A short section of multiple track exists between Bewdley South and Bewdley North signal boxes.
Kidderminster Town station is not an original station. It was created by the SVR based upon the original GWR station at Ross-on-Wye. Various projects have been carried out by volunteers and contractors to add to the general GWR ambience. Major projects include the port cochere to the front of the station, the ornamental crestings on the two towers and the canopy over the concourse which has just been completed, along with the finished east wing of the station.
The main locomotive works is located at Bridgnorth. It is not normally open to the public because of health and safety regulations but conducted tours and open days are arranged from time to time. Major features of the locomotive works include the Boiler Shop equipped with overhead crane, Noble and Lunn wheel lathe and ex-LT lifting jacks.
Although carriage repair and restoration is carried out at a number of locations on the railway, the main carriage works is located in the former goods shed at Kidderminster. This building lying adjacent to the main national railway line is known as the North Star Carriage Works thus perpetuating a typical GWR name. As well as having a machine shop and fabrication equipment to carry out a full range of body and bogie repairs the carriage works boasts equipment recovered from former BR works to calibrate and adjust dynamo voltage regulators and to thourghly overhaul and test vacuum brake equipment. A facility that is almost extinct elsewhere. In common with the locomotive works it is not normally open to the public due to health and safety legislation.
A museum is under currently construction at Highley.
[edit] Former stations
Former stations, most of which were closed with the Severn Valley line as a whole in 1963, after 101 years in use.
Between Hartlebury and Bewdley:
- Stourport (1862 - 1970)
- Burlish Halt, towards the north of Stourport at Burlish Crossing
Between Kidderminster and Bewdley
- Foley Park Halt (1905 - 1970)
- Rifle Range Halt (1905 - 1920)
North of Bridgnorth
- Linley Halt (1862 - 1963)
- Coalport (1862 - 1963)
- Jackfield Halt (???? - 1963)
- Ironbridge and Broseley (1862 - 1963)
- Buildwas Junction (1862 - 1963)
- Cressage (1862 - 1963)
- Cound (???? - 1963)
- Berrington (1862 - 1963)
- Shrewsbury (1862 - 1963)
[edit] Extensions to the railway
The line from Hartlebury to Stourport-on-Severn, through the Wyre Forest and to west to Tenbury Wells, and north of Bridgnorth has been dismantled and the land mostly sold up. An SVR director has stated that "dependant [sic] upon resource being provided from elsewhere the SVR has an active interest in being a part of whatever concept is put forward". The plan to expand North had been mooted by a group within the SVR in the mid 1970's and dismissed as impossible by the then board of the SVR, but, because Telford Steam Railway have recently announced aspirations to operate into the Severn Gorge, this has added pressure to the argument still put forward by a small minority to extend the SVR northwards.The SVR have been offered first refusal by BRB(R) on the all-important tunnel under Bridgnorth as the first essential part of the plan. If the Telford Steam Railway was to expand and cross the river Severn via the Albert Edward Bridge and operate to the original site of Buildwas Junction, they would operate over a very short part of the former SVR. The possible closure of Ironbridge Power Station will further add to the debate because, when it closes, both railways will have the opportunity to expand and possibly connect. Although unlikely, one day, the SVR could once again run trains north to Ironbridge and connect with Telford Steam Railway trains at a joint station at Buildwas.
[edit] Locomotives
- Steam Locomotives
- Port Talbot Railway 0-6-0ST no. 813 (in GWR livery)
- GWR 0-6-0PT 15xx Class no. 1501
- GWR 2-8-0 28xx Class no. 2857 (boiler currently undergoing overhaul at Bridgnorth boiler shop)
- GWR 2-6-2T 5101 Class no. 4150
- GWR 2-6-2T 45xx Class no. 4566
- GWR 4-6-0 49xx "Hall" Class no. 4930 "Hagley Hall" (currently on display at the McArthur Glen Designer Outlet in Swindon,Wiltshire)
- GWR 2-6-2T 5101 Class no. 5164
- GWR 0-6-0PT 57xx Class no. 5764
- GWR 0-6-0PT 57xx Class no. 7714 (currently under repair awaiting delivery of replacement crank axle from Bury)
- GWR 4-6-0 78xx "Manor" Class no. 7802 "Bradley Manor"
- GWR 4-6-0 78xx "Manor" Class no. 7812 "Erlestoke Manor"
- GWR 4-6-0 78xx "Manor" Class no. 7819 "Hinton Manor"
- GWR 2-6-0 43xx Class no. 9303 (currently on display at 'Steam' Museum, Swindon)
- LMS 2-6-0 Class 5MT no. 42968
- LMS 2-6-0 Class 4MT no. 43106 (currently under going a major overhaul of the chassis and boiler at Bridgnorth)
- LMS 4-6-0 Class 5MT no. 45110 "RAF Biggin Hill" (Nameplates currently removed)
- LMS 2-6-0 Class 2MT no. 46443
- LMS 2-8-0 Class 8F no. 48773
- LNER 4-6-2 Class A4 no. 60009 "Union of South Africa"
- SR 4-6-2 West Country Class no. 34027 "Taw Valley" - this has also carried the names "Ottery St Mary" and "Westward Ho"
- BR 4-6-0 Class 4MT no. 75069
- BR 2-6-4T Class 4 no. 80079 (currently on display at National Railway Museum - Shildon)
- Diesel Locomotives
- BR 0-6-0 Class 08 nos. D3022, D3201, D3586 and D3937
- BR 0-6-0 Class 11, no. 12099
- BR Bo-Bo Class 27 no. D5410
- BR B-B Class 35 no. D7029
- BR C-C Class 37 no. 37906 (stored for EW&S until recently, only recently acquired by the Ruston 906 Group)
- BR B-B Class 42 no. D821 "Greyhound"
- BR Co-Co Class 50 no. 50044 "Exeter"
- BR C-C Class 52 nos. D1013 "Western Ranger" and D1062 "Western Courier"
- BR Bo-Bo Class 73 nos. E6005 and E6006
[edit] External links
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to: |
- Great Western (SVR) Association.
- The 2857 Society
- SVR Volunteer Office
- An 1863 Guide to the railway route.
