LMS Ivatt Class 2MT 2-6-0 no. 46443 pictured at Bewdley station on 15th October 2004.

GWR Locomotive 7802 "Bradley Manor" with a train at Arley station

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 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 unit s by British Railways .

Operations

Although most SVR trains operate over the whole line length calling at all stations a few only call at the principal intermediate station at Bewdley. Two such trains are the Severn Valley Limited and the Severn Valley Venturer which are the principle Sunday dining car trains.

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.

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 , 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 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 .

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 .

Stations

     Bridgnorth Remarkably the only station 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 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.

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, see Highley railway station .

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 (Stourport) (?)

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)

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" (source http://forum.svra.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5&highlight=). Recent rumours have turned into reality as the Telford Steam Railway have announced plans to take over the former railway before SVR could have chance, and this has added pressure to the argument; although the SVR have been offered first refusal by BRB(R) on 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 and possibly connect. Although unlikely, one day, the SVR could once again run trains north to Ironbridge and Buildwas .

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 2-8-0 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 (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"
        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)

    Steam Locomotives Currently Visiting the Railway
        LMS 4-6-2 Class 7P no. 6233 "Duchess of Sutherland" (in Mainline use, current boiler ticket expires in 2010)
        LMS 4-6-2 Class 8P "Princess Royal" no. 6201 "Princess Elizabeth" ( Passed for main line running )
        LNWR 0-8-0 'Super D' No. 49395.

    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

    Diesel Multiple Units
        BR Class 108 units 51941+59250+52064 and 51935+56208

External links

    [ Specialist site for Saturday evening trains. ]

    [ Great Western (SVR) Association. ]
    [ The 2857 Society ]
    [ SVR Volunteer Office ]
     [ An 1863 Guide to the railway route. ]

{{Heritage railways in England}}
<Heritage railways in England>
<River Severn>
<Visitor attractions in Shropshire>
<Transport in Shropshire>
<Visitor attractions in Worcestershire>
<Transport in Worcestershire>