Everything about Severn Valley Railway totally explained
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|preservedgauge = |
|operator = Severn Valley Railway Company|
|
|stations = 8 (including 2 "halts")|
|length = |
|originalopen =
1 February 1862|
|closed = January 1970 (Bewdley Station)|
|stageyears = 1965 |
|stage = Severn Valley Railway Society formed|
|years = 1970
|events = Bridgnorth - Hampton Loade reopened
|years1 = 1974
|events1 = Hampton Loade - Bewdley reopened
|years2 = 1984
|events2 = Bewdley - Kidderminster reopened
}}
The
Severn Valley Railway is a
heritage railway in
Shropshire and
Worcestershire,
England. The line runs along the
Severn Valley from
Bridgnorth to
Kidderminster, following the course of the
River Severn for much of its route. Train services are hauled predominantly by steam locomotives; however diesel traction is also sometimes used.
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.
Due to extensive damage to infrastructure during bad storms and heavy rainfall in Summer 2007, the railway was closed between Bewdley and Hampton Loade, and services didn't resume until
21 March 2008.
Operations
SVR trains usually operate over the whole line length calling at most stations. The "halts" (Northwood Halt and Country Park Halt) are request stops. Passengers may only use these stations during daylight hours. Dining trains (normally on Sundays) include the Severn Valley Limited and the Severn Valley Venturer which are the principal dining car trains.
Many 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 Rail 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 in 2006. Some trackwork revisions are planned at Kidderminster to improve ingress of future incoming excursions.
The railway operated two revenue earning freight trains in May 2007 which carried 6-metre long pipes from Kidderminster to the Severn Trent plant at Trimpley. Carriage by road of such long pipes would have been difficult because of the narrow roads in the immediate area of Trimpley.
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 . Important stations on the line were
Stourport-on-Severn,
Bewdley,
Arley,
Highley,
Hampton Loade,
Bridgnorth,
Coalport,
Ironbridge and Broseley,
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 principal 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. Many people think the line was closed to through passenger and freight services under the "
Beeching Axe" in 1963 and the track north of Bridgnorth was dismantled, but the Severn Valley Line was scheduled for closure prior to the release of his document. 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 to
Bewdley in 1974 and
Kidderminster in 1984.
Major Infrastructure Damage - Summer 2007
During
violent thunderstorms on the evening of
19 June 2007 the railway suffered major damage, much more extensive than any in its history. The line was damaged between
Bridgnorth Outer Home signal and
Northwood Halt, where the line suffered from numerous landslides with many sections of the line suspended in mid-air.(
BBC photo
) Many cuttings were filled with debris. At
Highley the Up Starter signal and the embankment that it used to stand on were washed away. At
Hampton, the access road to the railway station – and indeed the only road to the village – was also washed away. (
BBC photo).
A dozen other heritage railways pledged to help the stricken SVR, including
Mid Hampshire Railway,
Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway,
West Somerset Railway,
Avon Valley Railway,
Dean Forest Railway,
Great Central Railway,
North Yorkshire Moors Railway and
Bluebell Railway.
It was announced on
22 June 2007 that an emergency appeal would be started on
25 June to raise funds for the repair bill. The railway's insurers agreed to pay out £500,000 and Advantage West Midlands provided a grant of £750,000, whilst the
European Regional Development Fund may also be able to grant aid up to £750,000 as funding towards the repairs. Of this £1.5m total, £250,000 is thought to be for development at Highley Station, with £1.25m available for the railway’s repair. The total cost of the damage has now been revised upwards to £2.5 million as a result of further damage and a massive potential slip in the Northwood Lane area following more rain and flooding in late July.
These events damaged the summer tourist custom to the railway, the towns served, and the area as a whole. A spokesman announced on
22 June that the line was expected to reopen between Bewdley and Arley by the end of July and the section between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade to be up and running by the end of August; however it became apparent in early July 2007 that these reopenings would be delayed by as much as a month, later extended to up to three months. It was also said later that the crucial link between Hampton Loade and Arley, including Highley station and the new Engine House museum, would probably not open until as late as Spring 2008.
The Brignorth to Hampton Loade section eventually re-opened on 9th February 2008 for the school half-term. The first passenger train to Hampton Loade since 19 June 2007 departed on time at 10.30, comprising of 5 LMS coaches hauled by
45xx Class no. 4566. The train featured the headboard carried by the first reopening train from Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade in 1970. The line reopened fully to the public on Good Friday,
21 March 2008.
Stations
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's 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 isn't an original station. It was created by the SVR based upon the original GWR station at Ross-on-Wye (1892). Various projects have been carried out by volunteers and contractors to add to the general GWR ambience. Major projects include the port cochère 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 isn't 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.
There are plans to extend the main station building at Bridgnorth to provide new catering, shop and toilet facilities. This is a relatively difficult project due to the need to remain sympathetic to the Grade II listed original, being sufficiently unobtrusive and making the most of an extremely cramped site.
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 thoroughly overhaul and test vacuum brake equipment, a facility that's almost extinct elsewhere. In common with the locomotive works it isn't normally open to the public due to health and safety legislation.
Former stations
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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 (1934 - 1954) & (1954 - 1963) Relocated due to land instability.
Ironbridge and Broseley (1862 - 1963)
Buildwas Junction (1862 - 1963)
Cressage (1862 - 1963)
Cound (1934 - 1963)
Berrington (1862 - 1963)
Extensions to the railway
Northwards
The plan to expand North had been mooted by groups within the SVR in the mid 1970s and more recently. The first plan was dismissed as impossible by the then board of the SVR. However recent successes by others in obtaining large sums of money from the Heritage Lottery Fund & the European Regional Development Fund etc. have caused this extreme view to moderate. Telford Steam Railway have recently announced aspirations to operate into the Severn Gorge, leading a group to suggest extending 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 station, they'd operate over a very short part of the former SVR. The possible closure of Ironbridge Power Station will further add to the debate because this covers the site of Buildwas Junction station. However, there are several obstacles to overcome, not least of which is that all of the land north of Bridgnorth tunnel is in private ownership. The Holybush Road was widened and raised after closure, impeding access to the southern portal of Bridgnorth tunnel. The current group promoting such an extension has identified a viable technical solution to this and other difficulties.
Bridgnorth tunnel was relined in two separate places during operation and was a source of some trouble over the years, but a recent inspection by Network Rail has found it to be in general good order. Both portals are currently blocked off and the southern end has been encroached onto by the garden of the house located adjacent to the former bridge abutment. The northern suburbs of Bridgnorth low town block the trackbed around 100 yards north of the tunnel, with 22 houses and a new road on the alignment itself, yet the proponents have identified solutions that would avoid much of the existing housing. The next section to the north is covered by a low quality golf course that regularly suffers flooding in the winter. There are no sizable populations in the valley above Bridgnorth before Coalport. Beyond this point the area is at present geologically less stable. This instability is in the course of being corrected with a circa £100M project co-ordinated by Telford & Wrekin District Council, repairs intended to safeguard the World Heritage site. At present a road occupies the route of the railway formation for a distance at Jackfield as a result of the land instability. For all these reasons, reopening isn't being actively pursued by the SVR itself, particularly since the effects of the 2007 floods damage will take time to recover from. The promoters recognise that investment for any extension will need to come from outside sources since the SVR feels any funds it has are required for improvements to existing visitor facilities in order to maintain the high service standards expected by today's visitors. A concern on both sides of this debate is that it may prove to be divisive amongst the SVR's membership.
Westwards
The former Tenbury Line trackbed is substantially intact as far as Newnham Bridge station before it's hemmed in by modern development. However several underbridges are missing, including the famous Dowles Viaduct, a span over the Bewdley to Bridnorth road and a brick span at Cleobury. Added to this are the same problems relating to land ownership, realingments of roads at former bridge sites and probable lack of custom at the Newnham bridge end.
Southwards
Between Burlish and Stourport station, the alignment of the former Bewdley to Hartlebury section has been obliterated by housing and is lost forever. However, from the Hartlebury direction the trackbed is intact as a bridleway from Mitton (The eastern throat of the original station), with only a span over the A449 Worcester to Kidderminster main road missing. The abutments are intact. Almost all of the trackbed is in Council ownership and they've recently expressed an interest in reopening as a commuter line. The goal of this proposal is unclear.
The Engine House
A museum, known as The Engine House, has been built on land adjacent to the station at Highley. This is to be used to provide undercover accommodation for locomotives whose boiler certificates have expired and to provide an education/interpretation centre. Although it was due to be open mid/late 2007, the planned opening dates were affected by the flood damage at Highley station with rail access to the site finally being installed in March 2008. The exhibits were shunted into the building on the 14th and 16th of March 2008, allowing the museum to open in conjunction with the full line reopening.
Rolling Stock
The railway can call on a large fleet to operate its services. Only a small core of vehicles actually belong to the railway company, the remainder being owned by associated groups, such as the Great Western (Severn Valley Railway) Association, and individuals. The SVR is also the base of the DMU (diesel multiple unit) West Midland Group. Locomotives and stock from the railway don't now often operate excursions on the National Rail network, but they've in the past been seen from Mallaig to Plymouth.
Locomotives
Steam Locomotives
- Manchester Ship Canal Hunslet 0-6-0T no.686 The Lady Armaghdale (running as "Thomas the Tank Engine")
- Longmoor Military Railway 2-10-0 600 Gordon (Cosmetically restored and on view in the new Engine House Display Centre at Highley)
- Manning Wardle Contractors Locomotive 0-6-0ST no. 2047 Warwickshire (displayed outside Kidderminster Railway museum as a static exhibit until funds are raised for overhaul)
- Port Talbot Railway 0-6-0ST no. 813 (in GWR livery) (currently masquerading as 816)
- GWR 0-6-0PT 15xx Class no. 1501 (Cosmetically restored and on view in the new Engine House Display Centre at Highley)
- Midland Railway Midland Railway 1000 Compound Class 4-4-0 No. 1000 (on display in the Engine House, on two year loan from the National Railway Museum
- GWR 2-8-0 28xx Class no. 2857 (boiler currently undergoing overhaul at Bridgnorth boiler shop)
- GWR 2-6-2T 5101 Class no. 4150 (undergoing overhaul)
- GWR 2-6-2T 45xx Class no. 4566 (in service) (boiler ticket expires in 2017)
- GWR 4-6-0 49xx "Hall" Class no. 4930 Hagley Hall (recently returned to the SVR for display in the Engine House having been on display at the McArthur Glen Designer Outlet in Swindon, Wiltshire)
- GWR 2-6-2T 5101 Class no. 5164 (in service)
- GWR 0-6-0PT 57xx Class no. 5764 (in service)
- GWR 0-6-0PT 57xx Class no. 7714 (in service)
- GWR 4-6-0 78xx "Manor" Class no. 7802 Bradley Manor (in service)
- GWR 4-6-0 78xx "Manor" Class no. 7812 Erlestoke Manor (in service) (boiler ticket expires in 2018)
- GWR 4-6-0 78xx "Manor" Class no. 7819 Hinton Manor (cosmetic restoration complete; this has been exchanged for Hagley Hall at Swindon)
- GWR 2-6-0 43xx Class no. 9303 (Cosmetically restored and on view in the new Engine House Display Centre at Highley)
- LMS 2-6-0 Class 5MT no. 42968 (in service)
- LMS 2-6-0 Class 4MT no. 43106 (currently under going a major overhaul of chassis and boiler at Bridgnorth)
- LMS 4-6-0 Class 5MT no. 45110 RAF Biggin Hill (nameplates currently removed; in service)
- LMS 2-6-0 Class 2MT no. 46443 (in service)
- LMS 0-6-0T LMS Fowler Class 3F "Jinty" no. 47383 (cosmetic Cosmetically restored and on view in the new Engine House Display Centre at Highley)
- LMS 2-8-0 Class 8F no. 48773 (Now Out of Service, Now in the Engine House at Highley)
- SR 4-6-2 West Country Class no. 34027 Taw Valley - this has also carried the names Ottery St Mary and Westward Ho (currently undergoing a major overhaul at Bridgnorth)
- BR standard class 4 4-6-0 (Class 4MT) no. 75069 (due to begin overhaul in near future)
- BR standard class 4 tank (2-6-4T Class 4MT) no. 80079 (Cosmetically restored and on view in the new Engine House Display Centre at Highley)
- BR standard class 3 tank replica (2-6-2T Class 3MT) no. 82045 (component parts beginning to be gathered. Frame plates at Eardington halt awaiting despatch to be drilled; driving wheel set at Eardington under re-consideration, other smaller components in store in Cheshire, patterns for other cast parts under construction)
- Catch me who can replica 2-2-0 Richard Trevithick locomotive of 1808 under construction (original was built at the Hazledine foundry, Bridgnorth).
Diesel Locomotives
BR 0-6-0 Class 08 nos. D3022, D3201, D3586 and D3937 (in service)
BR 0-6-0 Class 11, no. 12099 (running agreement negotiated)
BR Bo-Bo Class 20 no. D8188 (in service)
BR Bo-Bo Class 27 no. D5410 (awaiting restoration)
BR B-B Class 35 no. D7029 (undergoing restoration)
BR Co-Co Class 37 no. 37906 (in service)
BR Bo-Bo Class 42 no. D821 Greyhound (currently being repaired)
BR C-C Class 52 no. D1013 Western Ranger (in service)
BR C-C Class 52 no. D1062 Western Courier (Under overhaul)
To complement its large collection of GWR coaches the SVR boasts the movement's largest collection of Period 3 LMS coaches and a full rake of LNER teak vehicles of the Gresley/Thompson era. Normally the carriages are made up as a BR (Carmine and Cream) set, a BR (Maroon) set, a full LNER set, an LMS set and two GWR sets, one of which makes up the restaurant train. The non-restaurant GWR set are usually only used on the intensive timetable and at special events. The LMS set is similarly rarely used, though slightly more than the GWR set.
The collection of operational carriages is constantly growing. Near future entrants to the fleet will include LMS RFO 7511 and LNER Kitchen Composite 7960. These two vehicles are nearing completion of restoration from near derelict condition. Others, awaiting restoration, include 1910 built Churchward third 2426 which has been in use as staff accommodation since arrival on the SVR, first at Bridgnorth and then, for the most recent several years, at Hampton Loade.
Goods stock
The railway can also muster convincing demonstration goods trains as well as works trains from its wagon fleet, the restoration base being at Bewdley goods shed.
The Railway in Television and Movies
The 1978 film version of The Thirty-Nine Steps was partly filmed on the railway- the scenes where Hannay (Robert Powell) hangs from the Victoria Bridge. The scene is supposed to be in Scotland- the landscape is very out of place for that area.
The ITV family drama 'Goodnight Mister Tom' had its station sequences filmed in early spring at Arley station- for which trains ran through without stopping for two weeks.
The railway was used for the 1990s sitcom Oh, Doctor Beeching!
Portions of The Seven-Per-Cent Solution were filmed on the SVR.
The railway has also featured in several television advertisements.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Severn Valley Railway'.
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