Severn Valley Railway
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GWR Locomotive 7802 "Bradley Manor" with a train at Arley station |
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Class 108 2-car DMU nos. 56208 and 51935 at Bewdley on 15th October 2004, whilst taking part in the Railcar 50 event. This unit has been restored to its original British Railways green livery. |
The
Severn Valley Railway is a
heritage railway in
Shropshire and
Worcestershire,
England. The 16-mile line runs 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. Their 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.
Its rail connection to the national network at Kidderminster permits occasional through charter trains to operate from many parts of the country to Bridgnorth.
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, with
Shrewsbury, a distance of 40 miles. Important stations on the line were
Stourport-on-Severn,
Bewdley,
Arley,
Highley,
Hampton Loade,
Bridnorth,
Coalport,
Ironbridge,
Buildwas,
Cressage and
Berrington. The original Severn Valley Railway was absorbed into the
GWR in the
1870s, and in
1878 a link line was constructed from
Bewdley to
Kidderminster. This meant trains could run direct from the
West Midlands industrial area, 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.
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.
*
Bridgnorth*
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 TownWith the exception of the two request halts (Country Park and Northwood) all intermediate stations have the ability to pass trains on the single line. This permits the Severn Valley Railway to offer, 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 [
1] 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 nearing completion.
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 ??ton crane, Noble and Lunn wheel lathe and ex-LT lifting jacks.
Former halts on the line (all closed before preservation) were Alveley Halt, Foley Park Halt and Rifle Range Halt.
A museum is under currently construction at Highley, see
Highley railway station.
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. SVR bosses claim that any extension is unfeasable or unrealistic, but a minority of people (and indeed staff) still argue for the line to be extended beyond Bridgnorth for a number of reasons. Recent rumours have turned into reality that the
Telford Steam Railway have plans to take over the former railway before SVR could have chance, and this has added pressure to the argument; although the SVR own the all-important tunnel under Bridgnorth. The probable closure of Ironbridge Power Station will further add to the debate because when it closes both railways will have the opportunity to expand. Although unlikely, one day, the SVR could once again run trains north to
Ironbridge and
Buildwas.
*
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
**GWR 2-8-0
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
**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
**LMS 4-6-0 Class 5MT no. 45110 "RAF Biggin Hill"
**LMS 2-6-0 Class 2MT no. 46443
**LMS 2-8-0 Class 8F no. 48773
**LNER 2-6-0 Class K4 no. 3442 "The Great Marquess" (currently away for repairs and replacement crank axle)
**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 a SVR group)**BR B-B
Class 42 no. D821 "Greyhound"
**BR Co-Co
Class 50 nos. 50044 "Exeter", 50035 "Ark Royal"
**BR C-C
Class 52 nos. D1013 "Western Ranger" and D1062 "Western Courier"
**BR Bo-Bo
Class 73 nos. E6005 and E6006
*
Diesel Multiple Units**
BR Class 108 units 51941+59250+52064 and 51935+56208
*
Severn Valley Railway official site.*
Specialist site for Saturday evening trains.*
Great Western (SVR) Association.*
The 2857 Society*
SVR Volunteer Office*
An 1863 Guide to the railway route.
