Difference between revisions of "Open House Weekend"

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Traditionally held each spring, this event began as an annual 'Members Day'. The first Members' Day advertised in SVR News 'forthcoming events' was on 1 April 1995, featuring an increased train service with visits and displays behind the scenes for SVR members.<ref>SVR News 113</ref>.  The event continued in that format until 2004, but in 2005 a second day was added to become the [[Members & Shareholders Weekend]]. The 'behind the scenes' exhibits became open to the public as well as members and shareholders, and the event was ultimately renamed the 'Open House Weekend' to reflect this, the first Open House Weekend taking place on 16-17 April 2016.
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Traditionally held each spring, the '''Open House Weekend'''  began as an annual 'Members Day'. The first Members' Day advertised in SVR News 'forthcoming events' was on 1 April 1995, featuring an increased train service with visits and displays behind the scenes for SVR members.<ref>SVR News 113</ref>.  The event continued in that format until 2004, but in 2005 a second day was added to become the [[Members & Shareholders Weekend]]. The 'behind the scenes' exhibits became open to the public as well as members and shareholders, and the event eventually adopted its present name to reflect this, the first Open House Weekend taking place on 16-17 April 2016.
  
In 2020 a severe acute respiratory syndrome, [[2020 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic|coronavirus disease (COVID-19)]], was declared a pandemic. It caused widespread disruption and international travel restrictions. On 18 March the SVR cancelled all services and cancelled this and several other events between March and May.
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No events were held in 2020 or 2021 due to restrictions arising from [[2020 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic|COVID-19]].  
  
==Attractions==
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==Open House Weekend 2023==
Attractions vary from year-to-year but in 2017 included:
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The 2023 event took place on Saturday and Sunday 1-2 April, coinciding with the reopening of the full line after infrastructure work north of Highley including the first phase of the [[Bridgnorth MPD|Bridgnorth Yard relay project]]. It included the following attractions:
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'''Kidderminster'''
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*Cab tours of Class 50 diesel locomotive [[50044|50044 Exeter]]
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*Guided tours of [[Kidderminster Station signal box (1987 onwards)|Kidderminster Town signal box]]
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*Access to [[Carriage Repair Works|Kidderminster Carriage and Wagon works]]
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<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
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Kidderminster signal box interior.jpg | Kidderminster Signal Box levers and block shelf
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Kidderminster signal box interior 2.jpg | Interior view of Kidderminster signal box
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Dynamo_Test_Rigs_20170715.jpg | Dynamo test rigs in the carriage works
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</gallery>
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'''Bewdley'''
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*Brake Van Rides using Class 09 diesel [[BR Class 09 09107|09107]] and brake vans [[GWR 17410 'Toad' 20T Goods Brake Van|GWR 'Toad' 17410]] and [[WD 55577 Brake Van (fictitious number)|WD 55577]]
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*Guided tours of the [[Bewdley Down Yard|Carriage & Wagon Yard]]
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<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
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Bewdley_Paint_Shop_20150801.jpg|Bewdley Paint Shop
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</gallery>
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'''Highley'''
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*Guided tours of [[Highley signal box]]
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*The Engine House; interactive Guided Tours by volunteers from a number of departments including an opportunity to tour the [[LMS 798 Royal Coach|King's Coach]].
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<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
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Highley_Signal_Box_20170618.jpg | Highley Signal Box
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LMS 798 20160504.jpg|Interior view of the main saloon
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</gallery>
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'''Bridgnorth'''
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*Guided tours of [[Bridgnorth signal box]]
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*[[Bridgnorth MPD|Bridgnorth Engineering Services & Motive Power Depot]] open for viewing including the Loco Works, Machine Shop & Workshop
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* Discover more about the Bridgnorth yard project with a selection of photography and information on display. 
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<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
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BH Frame.jpg |Interior of Bridgnorth Signal Box
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BridgnorthMachineShopDavidCooke1.jpg | General view of the Machine Shop.
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</gallery>
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==Past Open House Weekends==
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Attractions vary from year-to-year. The 2017 event included:
  
 
*Intensive train service, featuring local services and visiting locomotive from the [[Spring Steam Gala]].
 
*Intensive train service, featuring local services and visiting locomotive from the [[Spring Steam Gala]].
 
*Diesel locomotive services.
 
*Diesel locomotive services.
 
*[[Bridgnorth Loco Works]] and [[Bewdley Down Yard]], as well as Bridgnorth, Bewdley North and Kidderminster [[List of signal boxes|Signalboxes]] open for visits.
 
*[[Bridgnorth Loco Works]] and [[Bewdley Down Yard]], as well as Bridgnorth, Bewdley North and Kidderminster [[List of signal boxes|Signalboxes]] open for visits.
*Up to 30 model railway layouts on display in [[Diesel Depot|Kidderminster Diesel Depot]] and [[Engine House]].
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*Up to 30 [[Model Railway and Tramway exhibitions‎‎ |model railway layouts]] on display in [[Diesel Depot|Kidderminster Diesel Depot]] and [[Engine House|The Engine House]].
 
*[[Diesel Depot|Kidderminster Diesel Depot]] open for visits
 
*[[Diesel Depot|Kidderminster Diesel Depot]] open for visits
 
*A locomotive on display on [[Kidderminster Turntable]].
 
*A locomotive on display on [[Kidderminster Turntable]].
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==Peep Behind the Scenes==
 
==Peep Behind the Scenes==
This second event, [[Peep Behind the Scenes]], was held between 2010 and 2017 and also allowed visitors a chance to see some areas of the railway that are not normally open to the public.
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A second event, [[Peep Behind the Scenes]], was held between 2010 and 2017 and also allowed visitors a chance to see some areas of the railway that are not normally open to the public. Until 2016 it was organised by [[The 4150 Fund]] and in 2017 by [[Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust Ltd]].
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==Heritage Open Days==
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Billed as 'England's largest festival of history and culture', Heritage Open Days was established in 1994 as England's contribution to the European Cultural Convention's European Heritage Days. It is England's largest community heritage festival.<ref>[https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/about/history heritageopendays.org] (Retrieved 28 August 2022)</ref> On 10-11 September 2022 the SVR held a 'Behind the Scenes' event.  
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
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==Links==
 
==Links==
[http://www.svr.co.uk/SEItem.aspx?a=67 Open House Weekend on www.svr.co.uk]
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[[Category:Featured articles]]
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[[Category: Special events]]

Latest revision as of 15:22, 19 June 2023

Traditionally held each spring, the Open House Weekend began as an annual 'Members Day'. The first Members' Day advertised in SVRSevern Valley Railway News 'forthcoming events' was on 1 April 1995, featuring an increased train service with visits and displays behind the scenes for SVRSevern Valley Railway members.[1]. The event continued in that format until 2004, but in 2005 a second day was added to become the Members & Shareholders Weekend. The 'behind the scenes' exhibits became open to the public as well as members and shareholders, and the event eventually adopted its present name to reflect this, the first Open House Weekend taking place on 16-17 April 2016.

No events were held in 2020 or 2021 due to restrictions arising from COVID-19.

Open House Weekend 2023

The 2023 event took place on Saturday and Sunday 1-2 April, coinciding with the reopening of the full line after infrastructure work north of Highley including the first phase of the Bridgnorth Yard relay project. It included the following attractions:

Kidderminster

Bewdley


Highley

  • Guided tours of Highley signal box
  • The Engine House; interactive Guided Tours by volunteers from a number of departments including an opportunity to tour the King's Coach.

Bridgnorth

Past Open House Weekends

Attractions vary from year-to-year. The 2017 event included:

Peep Behind the Scenes

A second event, Peep Behind the Scenes, was held between 2010 and 2017 and also allowed visitors a chance to see some areas of the railway that are not normally open to the public. Until 2016 it was organised by The 4150 Fund and in 2017 by Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust Ltd.

Heritage Open Days

Billed as 'England's largest festival of history and culture', Heritage Open Days was established in 1994 as England's contribution to the European Cultural Convention's European Heritage Days. It is England's largest community heritage festival.[2] On 10-11 September 2022 the SVRSevern Valley Railway held a 'Behind the Scenes' event.

See also

Peep Behind the Scenes

References

  1. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 113
  2. heritageopendays.org (Retrieved 28 August 2022)

Links