Difference between revisions of "Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1970-1979"
(Table 1979) |
(More facts about the 70s. Coming soon - the 1980s.) |
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Line 68: | Line 68: | ||
==1972== | ==1972== | ||
+ | *April 1972: The SVR Holdings Company is floated as a public company under the presidency of Viscount Cobham. | ||
*September 1972: 61994 The Great Marquess (LNER 3442) arrives on 9 September.<br> | *September 1972: 61994 The Great Marquess (LNER 3442) arrives on 9 September.<br> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
Line 104: | Line 105: | ||
*January 1973: Four locomotives, 4141, 5164, 7819 Hinton Manor and 4930 Hagley Hall, all arrive on 6 January. | *January 1973: Four locomotives, 4141, 5164, 7819 Hinton Manor and 4930 Hagley Hall, all arrive on 6 January. | ||
− | *March 1973: Three more locomotives arrive; 78019 from Barry on 12 March, 7714 on 29 March, and 75069 on 31 March. | + | *March 1973: |
+ | **Three more locomotives arrive; 78019 from Barry on 12 March, 7714 on 29 March, and 75069 on 31 March. | ||
+ | **The MP Sir Gerald Nabarro leaves the company. Nabarro was an influential figure in the early days of the SVR and spearheaded the fund-raising of £110,000 to acquire the line to Bewdley. | ||
+ | *November 1973: 5764 is involved in the filming of the BBC children's serial "Carrie's War". | ||
*December 1973: 42968 arrives on 14 December. WD 193 operates all the Santa services. <br> | *December 1973: 42968 arrives on 14 December. WD 193 operates all the Santa services. <br> | ||
Locomotives used during the year and the mileages recorded were as follows: | Locomotives used during the year and the mileages recorded were as follows: | ||
Line 141: | Line 145: | ||
*March 1974: The Light Railway Transfer Order is granted to extend the line from Hampton Loade to Bewdley. | *March 1974: The Light Railway Transfer Order is granted to extend the line from Hampton Loade to Bewdley. | ||
− | *April 1974: | + | *April 1974: Easter weekend sees services begin between Hampton Loade and Highley. The first passenger service is the 09:30 from Bridgnorth with GWR Railcar 22, followed by the 12:45 steam service hauled by No 600 Gordon. The weekend sees 16,000 passenger journeys. |
− | *May 1974: The line is opened from Highley to Arley and Bewdley. GWR Railcar 22 operates the first round trip between Bridgnorth and Bewdley, while the first steam services are hauled by No 5764 from the new MPD at Bewdley and No 43106 from Bridgnorth. Daily running during the summer season is extended to five weeks.<br> | + | *May 1974: The line is opened from Highley to Arley and Bewdley. GWR Railcar 22 operates the first round trip between Bridgnorth and Bewdley, while the first steam services are hauled by No 5764 from the new MPD at Bewdley and No 43106 from Bridgnorth. Daily running during the summer season is extended to five weeks. |
+ | *July 1974: 46521 becomes the SVR's first Barry restoration to enter service. | ||
+ | *August 1974: 2047 Warwickshire makes a guest appearance in steam at the Town & County Show at Stoneleigh. Remarkably, the locomotive covers 8½ miles on a temporary track only 40 ft long! | ||
+ | <br> | ||
Locomotives used during the year and the mileages recorded were as follows: | Locomotives used during the year and the mileages recorded were as follows: | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
Line 172: | Line 179: | ||
==1975== | ==1975== | ||
+ | The 1975 timetable included 118 running days between March and October, with 554 trains in each direction. | ||
+ | *Spring 1975: Locomotive news is that Invicta has been sold and will be leaving the SVR. Also 4110 will not be coming to the SVR as planned, but will go to the WSR instead. However Railcar 22 will remain on loan from the Great Western Society for another 5 years. | ||
+ | *May 1975: Arley Loop is opened on 25 May, allowing a Spring Bank Holiday 45 minute service from Bridgnorth to Bwedley with 4 train sets, instead of the existing 90 minute service. 46521 and 43106 are the first trains to pass at Arley. | ||
+ | *June 1975: The SVR membership tops 5,000. | ||
*July 1975: German 2-6-2T DB 64.305 arrives on 17 July. | *July 1975: German 2-6-2T DB 64.305 arrives on 17 July. | ||
*August 1975: Four SVR engines attend the Rail 150 celebrations at Shildon. 600 Gordon travels to Shildon under its own power, later followed by 48233 and 43106 in convoy. 813, which has been cosmetically restored for the event, goes by road. | *August 1975: Four SVR engines attend the Rail 150 celebrations at Shildon. 600 Gordon travels to Shildon under its own power, later followed by 48233 and 43106 in convoy. 813, which has been cosmetically restored for the event, goes by road. | ||
− | *August 1975: 2857 and 9303 arrive from Barry on 13 August.<br> | + | *August 1975: 2857 and 9303 arrive from Barry on 13 August. |
+ | *September 1975: | ||
+ | **¾ of a mile of the old Stourport branch is relaid. The section will be used in the filming of Universal Pictures' "The Severn Per Cent Solution". A number of the SVR's locos will take part in the film.<br> | ||
+ | **Enthusiasts Day sees 11 locomotives in steam, with 10 hauling passenger services and DB 64.305 shunting. Two of the locos are Austrian Railways 2-6-0 locomotives in Furness Railway red livery with flared stovepipe chimneys and huge brass domes - 46443 and 46521 are ready for their starring roles!<br> | ||
+ | *December 1975: Christmas services are between Bewdley and Arley, due to engineering work on the north of the line.<br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
Locomotives used during the year and the mileages recorded were as follows: | Locomotives used during the year and the mileages recorded were as follows: | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
Line 215: | Line 232: | ||
==1976== | ==1976== | ||
− | *April 1976: 7812 Erlestoke Manor arrives on 23 April, having previously been at the Dowty R.P.S. site at Ashchurch. | + | The 1976 timetable included 118 running days between March 6th and October 31st, now with 735 trains in each direction. As they year opened, negotiations with BR were in progress over the proposed Kidderminster Terminus. The SVR was also negotiating with BR for the SVR to become an approved steam depot for main line running. |
− | + | ||
+ | *March 1976: Construction of the loco shed at the Bridgnorth MPD begins. This will take around a year to complete using parts of the former Portskewett and Heaton Mersey Sheds acqiuired for that purpose. | ||
+ | *April 1976: 7812 Erlestoke Manor arrives on 23 April, having previously been at the Dowty R.P.S. site at Ashchurch. | ||
+ | *May 1976: A busy day at at Bewdley MPD, as 'the big lift' sees the lifting of 5 boilers and 2 frames in a single day. | ||
+ | *August 1976: The 'long hot summer' of 1976 causes problems as SVR volunteers fight dozens of fires along the railway. A spare Hawksworth 4000 gallon tender is filled and taken to Spring Grove to help the county fire briade, assisted by SVR volunteers, fight a nearby forest fire which takes 2 days to extinguish. | ||
+ | *September 1976: The first Autumn Enthusiasts Weekend (as opposed to day) sees the first "top-and-tailed" steam services to Foley Park. 7 Locomotives are in steam (815 having failed on the first day). | ||
+ | *November 1976: | ||
+ | **The pits are being dug for the new Bridgnorth loco shed. | ||
+ | **The first outgoing railtour takes place. A photo in SVR news Edition 43 later shows Paddington Arrivals Information board on 13 November 1976 displaying the arrival of a service originating from Bridgnorth. This used the SVR's rolling stock and was hauled by a BR Western Class diesel locomotive. <br> | ||
+ | |||
Locomotives used during the year and the mileages recorded were as follows: | Locomotives used during the year and the mileages recorded were as follows: | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
Line 246: | Line 272: | ||
==1977== | ==1977== | ||
− | *Spring 1977: 6960 Raveningham Hall arrives. | + | For the first time, the SVR ran limited services in January and February, on Sundays between Bewdley and Arley.<br> |
+ | |||
+ | *Spring 1977: | ||
+ | **Over the winter, intense cold followed by heavy rain results in the line at Sterns dropping 2ft 6" and moving 4ft nearer the river. Work on Borle viaduct is suspended while this is resolved, and through services over the viaduct are 3 weeks late staring as a result. , A large part of front car park at Bridgnorth has also collapsed. | ||
+ | **on the good news front, 6960 Raveningham Hall arrives. | ||
+ | *March 1977: | ||
+ | **The frames of the new Bridgnorth loco shed are erected | ||
+ | **Viscount Cobham dies. A staunch supporter of the SVR, he was the first President of the SVR during the public floatation of the Holdings Company in 1972. | ||
+ | *April 1977: | ||
+ | **Bridgnorth Loco shed is completed. | ||
+ | **11 SVR coaches are used on a main line trip to Chester. 48773 hauls the service from Bridgnorth to Bewdley, other motive power during the day includes the locomotives ''King George V'' and ''Princess Elizabeth''. | ||
*September 1977: Grand opening of the cast iron gentlemen’s toilet on Bewdley’s island platform, following its relocation from Melrose in Scotland.<br> | *September 1977: Grand opening of the cast iron gentlemen’s toilet on Bewdley’s island platform, following its relocation from Melrose in Scotland.<br> | ||
+ | |||
45000 arrived on loan from the NRM during 1977. | 45000 arrived on loan from the NRM during 1977. | ||
Line 293: | Line 330: | ||
*April 1978: A naming ceremony is held for WD 193, which is given the name ‘Shropshire’. | *April 1978: A naming ceremony is held for WD 193, which is given the name ‘Shropshire’. | ||
*May 1978: 70000 Britannia returns to steam after 12 years, and is renamed on 20 May by Mr R A Riddles, the locomotive’s designer. | *May 1978: 70000 Britannia returns to steam after 12 years, and is renamed on 20 May by Mr R A Riddles, the locomotive’s designer. | ||
+ | |||
During 1978 Pannier 3612 was purchased from Barry for spares. | During 1978 Pannier 3612 was purchased from Barry for spares. | ||
Line 328: | Line 366: | ||
==1979== | ==1979== | ||
− | *March 1979: Major work is required to stabilise the line at Sterns | + | *March 1979: Major work is again required to stabilise the line at Sterns. |
*May 1979: BR has agreed to allow through excursions onto the SVR. The first such excursion, oganised by the Monmouthshire Railway Society, arrives at Bewdley from Cardiff. | *May 1979: BR has agreed to allow through excursions onto the SVR. The first such excursion, oganised by the Monmouthshire Railway Society, arrives at Bewdley from Cardiff. | ||
*June 1979: 2857 is steamed for the first time since restoration; the first Churchward 2-8-0 to do so. | *June 1979: 2857 is steamed for the first time since restoration; the first Churchward 2-8-0 to do so. |
Revision as of 22:20, 20 January 2015
Significant events in the history of the Severn Valley Railway in preservation between 1970 and 1979 are set out below.
1970
The SVRSevern Valley Railway is granted a light railway order, allowing the line to be oficially opened between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade in May.
- January 1970: Passenger services between Bewdley, Kidderminster and Hartlebury are withdrawn by BRBritish Rail or British Railways.
- May 1970: The Light Railway Order is granted allowing public services to start. 23 May 1970 sees the official opening of the Severn Valley Railway, with the first public trains running between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade. Loco 3205 hauls the first service, while 46443, 43106 and 48773 are also used over the weekend. Trains run at weekends until the end of October.
- August 1970: 45110 and 4566 arrive on 20 and 25 August respectively.
- November: 1501 arrives on 7 November.
The total mileages recorded by the SVRSevern Valley Railway’s steam locomotives at the end of 1970 were as follows:
Locomotive | 1967-1970 |
46443 | 2,104 |
43106 | 1,340 |
WD 193 Shropshire | 1,021 |
3205 | 900 |
48773 | 445 |
45110 | 398 |
1738 | 2 |
Total | 6,210 |
No further use of 1738 was recorded in the 1970s.
1971
Services again run between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade.
- March 1971: 46521 arrives from BarryWoodham Brothers Scrapyard, Barry, South Wales. The source of many locomotives now in preservation. on 20 March. The loco will become the first BarryWoodham Brothers Scrapyard, Barry, South Wales. The source of many locomotives now in preservation. restoration to enter service on the SVRSevern Valley Railway in 1974.
- April 1971: 70000 Britannia arrives on 9 April. On 10 April a summer timetable begins between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade, running until 30 October.
- May 1971: 80079 arrives on 15 May.
- June 1971: 5764 arrives on 19 June.
- August: WD 193 arrives on 7 August.
- September: LMR 600 Gordon arrives on 20/9/1971, on loan from The Transport Trust.
Locomotives used during the year and the mileages recorded were as follows:
Locomotive | 1971 | Total |
45110 | 1,401 | 1,799 |
43106 | 1,252 | 2,592 |
46443 | 969 | 3,073 |
5764 | 925 | 925 |
48773 | 440 | 885 |
686 The Lady Armaghdale | 289 | 289 |
2047 Warwickshire | 196 | 196 |
WD 193 Shropshire | 88 | 1,109 |
3205 | 80 | 980 |
Other | - | 2 |
Total | 5,640 | 11,850 |
1972
- April 1972: The SVRSevern Valley Railway Holdings Company is floated as a public company under the presidency of Viscount Cobham.
- September 1972: 61994 The Great Marquess (LNERLondon & North Eastern Railway 3442) arrives on 9 September.
Locomotives used during the year and the mileages recorded were as follows:
Locomotive | 1972 | Total |
46443 | 2,082 | 5,155 |
48773 | 1,105 | 1,990 |
3205 | 701 | 1,681 |
WD 193 Shropshire | 701 | 1,810 |
5764 | 542 | 1,467 |
45110 | 471 | 2,270 |
600 Gordon | 315 | 315 |
686 The Lady Armaghdale | 195 | 484 |
2047 Warwickshire | 182 | 378 |
417 Invicta | 4 | 4 |
Other | - | 2,596 |
Total | 6,298 | 18,148 |
No further use of 417 Invicta was recorded before the locomotive left the SVRSevern Valley Railway.
1973
- January 1973: Four locomotives, 4141, 5164, 7819 Hinton Manor and 4930 Hagley Hall, all arrive on 6 January.
- March 1973:
- Three more locomotives arrive; 78019 from BarryWoodham Brothers Scrapyard, Barry, South Wales. The source of many locomotives now in preservation. on 12 March, 7714 on 29 March, and 75069 on 31 March.
- The MP Sir Gerald Nabarro leaves the company. Nabarro was an influential figure in the early days of the SVRSevern Valley Railway and spearheaded the fund-raising of £110,000 to acquire the line to Bewdley.
- November 1973: 5764 is involved in the filming of the BBC children's serial "Carrie's War".
- December 1973: 42968 arrives on 14 December. WD 193 operates all the Santa services.
Locomotives used during the year and the mileages recorded were as follows:
Locomotive | 1973 | Total |
48773 | 1,380 | 3,370 |
45110 | 1,320 | 3,590 |
WD 193 Shropshire | 900 | 2,710 |
3205 | 745 | 2,426 |
600 Gordon | 670 | 985 |
5764 | 270 | 1,737 |
61994 The Great Marquess | 200 | 200 |
46443 | 190 | 5,345 |
2047 Warwickshire | 76 | 454 |
47383 | 20 | 20 |
Other | - | 3,082 |
Total | 5,771 | 23,919 |
The Great Marquess was steamed for the first time since arrival the previous year, but was found to exceed the current axle limit on the line, and was stored pending possible transfer to the NYMR.
1974
In this year the SVRSevern Valley Railway begins services to Bewdley and increases the amount of daily running during summer, resulting in a near tripling of the miles covered.
- March 1974: The Light Railway Transfer Order is granted to extend the line from Hampton Loade to Bewdley.
- April 1974: Easter weekend sees services begin between Hampton Loade and Highley. The first passenger service is the 09:30 from Bridgnorth with GWRGreat Western Railway Railcar 22, followed by the 12:45 steam service hauled by No 600 Gordon. The weekend sees 16,000 passenger journeys.
- May 1974: The line is opened from Highley to Arley and Bewdley. GWRGreat Western Railway Railcar 22 operates the first round trip between Bridgnorth and Bewdley, while the first steam services are hauled by No 5764 from the new MPDMotive Power Depot at Bewdley and No 43106 from Bridgnorth. Daily running during the summer season is extended to five weeks.
- July 1974: 46521 becomes the SVRSevern Valley Railway's first BarryWoodham Brothers Scrapyard, Barry, South Wales. The source of many locomotives now in preservation. restoration to enter service.
- August 1974: 2047 Warwickshire makes a guest appearance in steam at the Town & County Show at Stoneleigh. Remarkably, the locomotive covers 8½ miles on a temporary track only 40 ft long!
Locomotives used during the year and the mileages recorded were as follows:
Locomotive | 1974 | Total |
46443 | 3,855 | 9,200 |
43106 | 3,760 | 6,352 |
5764 | 1,940 | 3,677 |
WD 193 Shropshire | 1,830 | 4,540 |
45110 | 1,600 | 5,190 |
600 Gordon | 1,405 | 2,390 |
46521 | 670 | 670 |
47383 | 635 | 655 |
2047 Warwickshire | 82 | 536 |
Other | - | 6,486 |
Total | 15,777 | 39,696 |
1975
The 1975 timetable included 118 running days between March and October, with 554 trains in each direction.
- Spring 1975: Locomotive news is that Invicta has been sold and will be leaving the SVRSevern Valley Railway. Also 4110 will not be coming to the SVRSevern Valley Railway as planned, but will go to the WSR instead. However Railcar 22 will remain on loan from the Great Western Society for another 5 years.
- May 1975: Arley Loop is opened on 25 May, allowing a Spring Bank Holiday 45 minute service from Bridgnorth to Bwedley with 4 train sets, instead of the existing 90 minute service. 46521 and 43106 are the first trains to pass at Arley.
- June 1975: The SVRSevern Valley Railway membership tops 5,000.
- July 1975: German 2-6-2T DB 64.305 arrives on 17 July.
- August 1975: Four SVRSevern Valley Railway engines attend the Rail 150 celebrations at Shildon. 600 Gordon travels to Shildon under its own power, later followed by 48233 and 43106 in convoy. 813, which has been cosmetically restored for the event, goes by road.
- August 1975: 2857 and 9303 arrive from BarryWoodham Brothers Scrapyard, Barry, South Wales. The source of many locomotives now in preservation. on 13 August.
- September 1975:
- ¾ of a mile of the old Stourport branch is relaid. The section will be used in the filming of Universal Pictures' "The Severn Per Cent Solution". A number of the SVRSevern Valley Railway's locos will take part in the film.
- Enthusiasts Day sees 11 locomotives in steam, with 10 hauling passenger services and DB 64.305 shunting. Two of the locos are Austrian Railways 2-6-0 locomotives in Furness Railway red livery with flared stovepipe chimneys and huge brass domes - 46443 and 46521 are ready for their starring roles!
- ¾ of a mile of the old Stourport branch is relaid. The section will be used in the filming of Universal Pictures' "The Severn Per Cent Solution". A number of the SVRSevern Valley Railway's locos will take part in the film.
- December 1975: Christmas services are between Bewdley and Arley, due to engineering work on the north of the line.
Locomotives used during the year and the mileages recorded were as follows:
Locomotive | 1975 | Total | Coment |
46521 | 4,510 | 5,180 | |
46443 | 3,845 | 13,045 | |
4566 | 3,310 | 3,310 | Entry into service following restoration. |
43106 | 2,770 | 9,122 | |
48773 | 2,505 | 5,875 | Return from overhaul. |
47383 | 2,160 | 2,815 | |
45110 | 1, 965 | 7,155 | |
WD 193 Shropshire | 1,905 | 6,445 | |
5764 | 1,385 | 5,062 | |
600 Gordon | 1,020 | 3,410 | |
2047 Warwickshire | 20 | 556 | |
813 | 5 | 5 | Briefly steamed before resuming restoration. |
DB 64.305 | 5 | 5 | First and only use before leaving the SVRSevern Valley Railway. |
Other | - | 6,486 | |
Total | 25,405 | 65,101 |
1976
The 1976 timetable included 118 running days between March 6th and October 31st, now with 735 trains in each direction. As they year opened, negotiations with BRBritish Rail or British Railways were in progress over the proposed Kidderminster Terminus. The SVRSevern Valley Railway was also negotiating with BRBritish Rail or British Railways for the SVRSevern Valley Railway to become an approved steam depot for main line running.
- March 1976: Construction of the loco shed at the Bridgnorth MPDMotive Power Depot begins. This will take around a year to complete using parts of the former Portskewett and Heaton Mersey Sheds acqiuired for that purpose.
- April 1976: 7812 Erlestoke Manor arrives on 23 April, having previously been at the Dowty R.P.S. site at Ashchurch.
- May 1976: A busy day at at Bewdley MPDMotive Power Depot, as 'the big lift' sees the lifting of 5 boilers and 2 frames in a single day.
- August 1976: The 'long hot summer' of 1976 causes problems as SVRSevern Valley Railway volunteers fight dozens of fires along the railway. A spare HawksworthFrederick Hawksworth, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the Great Western Railway 1941-1948 4000 gallon tender is filled and taken to Spring Grove to help the county fire briade, assisted by SVRSevern Valley Railway volunteers, fight a nearby forest fire which takes 2 days to extinguish.
- September 1976: The first Autumn Enthusiasts Weekend (as opposed to day) sees the first "top-and-tailed" steam services to Foley Park. 7 Locomotives are in steam (815 having failed on the first day).
- November 1976:
- The pits are being dug for the new Bridgnorth loco shed.
- The first outgoing railtour takes place. A photo in SVRSevern Valley Railway news Edition 43 later shows Paddington Arrivals Information board on 13 November 1976 displaying the arrival of a service originating from Bridgnorth. This used the SVRSevern Valley Railway's rolling stock and was hauled by a BRBritish Rail or British Railways Western Class diesel locomotive.
Locomotives used during the year and the mileages recorded were as follows:
Locomotive | 1976 | Total | Coment |
46521 | 5,120 | 10,300 | |
45110 | 4,390 | 11,545 | |
46443 | 3,865 | 16,910 | |
43106 | 3,245 | 12,547 | |
4566 | 3,400 | 6,710 | |
5764 | 3,125 | 8,187 | |
600 Gordon | 1,870 | 5,280 | |
WD 193 Shropshire | 960 | 7,405 | |
48773 | 10 | 10 | |
Other | - | 6,497 | |
Total | 26,165 | 91,266 |
1977
For the first time, the SVRSevern Valley Railway ran limited services in January and February, on Sundays between Bewdley and Arley.
- Spring 1977:
- Over the winter, intense cold followed by heavy rain results in the line at Sterns dropping 2ft 6" and moving 4ft nearer the river. Work on Borle viaduct is suspended while this is resolved, and through services over the viaduct are 3 weeks late staring as a result. , A large part of front car park at Bridgnorth has also collapsed.
- on the good news front, 6960 Raveningham Hall arrives.
- March 1977:
- The frames of the new Bridgnorth loco shed are erected
- Viscount Cobham dies. A staunch supporter of the SVRSevern Valley Railway, he was the first President of the SVRSevern Valley Railway during the public floatation of the Holdings Company in 1972.
- April 1977:
- Bridgnorth Loco shed is completed.
- 11 SVRSevern Valley Railway coaches are used on a main line trip to Chester. 48773 hauls the service from Bridgnorth to Bewdley, other motive power during the day includes the locomotives King George V and Princess Elizabeth.
- September 1977: Grand opening of the cast iron gentlemen’s toilet on Bewdley’s island platform, following its relocation from Melrose in Scotland.
45000 arrived on loan from the NRMThe Railway Museum, formerly the National Railway Museum during 1977.
Locomotives used during the year and the mileages recorded were as follows:
Locomotive | 1977 | Total | Coment |
4566 | 4,410 | 11,120 | |
46443 | 3,875 | 20,785 | |
48773 | 3,545 | 9,430 | |
47373 | 3,440 | 6,255 | Return from overhaul |
45110 | 3,405 | 14,950 | |
80079 | 2,775 | 2,775 | Entry into service following restoration. |
600 Gordon | 1,720 | 7,000 | |
43106 | 1,650 | 14,197 | |
7819 Hinton Manor | 1,415 | 1,415 | Entry into service following restoration. |
46521 | 1,005 | 11,305 | |
WD 193 Shropshire | 950 | 8,355 | |
6960 Raveningham Hall | 380 | 380 | Arrived and entered service |
5764 | 375 | 8,562 | |
2047 Warwickshire | 260 | 816 | Return from overhaul |
Other | - | 3,126 | |
Total | 29,205 | 120,471 |
1978
- January 1978: 4150 arrives on 19/01/1978, having previously been at the DeanWilliam Dean, Chief Locomotive Engineer of the Great Western Railway 1877-1902 Forest Railway. (4150 fund)
- April 1978: A naming ceremony is held for WD 193, which is given the name ‘Shropshire’.
- May 1978: 70000 Britannia returns to steam after 12 years, and is renamed on 20 May by Mr R A RiddlesRobert Arthur "Robin" Riddles, Member of the Railway Executive for Mechanical and Electrical Engineering responsible for the design of the British Rail Standard Class locomotives, the locomotive’s designer.
During 1978 Pannier 3612 was purchased from BarryWoodham Brothers Scrapyard, Barry, South Wales. The source of many locomotives now in preservation. for spares.
Locomotives used during the year and the mileages recorded were as follows:
Locomotive | 1978 | Total | Coment |
80079 | 5,235 | 8,010 | |
7819 Hinton Manor | 4,875 | 6,290 | |
48773 | 3,395 | 12,825 | |
45110 | 3,270 | 18,220 | |
4566 | 3,180 | 14,300 | |
46443 | 2,865 | 23,650 | |
6960 Raveningham Hall | 2,540 | 2,920 | |
47373 | 2,230 | 8,485 | Returned from overhaul |
WD 193 Shropshire | 770 | 9,125 | |
600 Gordon | 435 | 7,435 | |
70000 Britannia | 275 | 275 | First steaming since arrival |
Other | - | 38,006 | |
Total | 29,070 | 149,541 |
1979
- March 1979: Major work is again required to stabilise the line at Sterns.
- May 1979: BRBritish Rail or British Railways has agreed to allow through excursions onto the SVRSevern Valley Railway. The first such excursion, oganised by the Monmouthshire Railway Society, arrives at Bewdley from Cardiff.
- June 1979: 2857 is steamed for the first time since restoration; the first ChurchwardGeorge Jackson Churchward, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the Great Western Railway 1902-1922 2-8-0 to do so.
- July 1979: The Didcot Great Western Society's veteran Wantage Tramway locomotive "Shannon" is used for filming scenes of the BBC children's drama television series "God's Wonderful Railway" on the SVRSevern Valley Railway, but is not steamed while here.
- August 1979:
- LNWRLondon & North Western Railway 3020 Cornwall arrives on 16 August. The locomotive is being lent to the SVRSevern Valley Railway by the NRMThe Railway Museum, formerly the National Railway Museum for a 5 year period including restoration.
- As an experiment, BRBritish Rail or British Railways runs a weekend DMUDiesel Multiple Unit serice from Kidderminster to Bewdley.
- September 1979: 7812 is officially re-named "Erlestoke Manor" in a ceremony on 1 September.
- December 1979: Christmas running takes place between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade.
7802 Bradley Manor arrived from BarryWoodham Brothers Scrapyard, Barry, South Wales. The source of many locomotives now in preservation. during 1979.
Locomotives used during the year and the mileages recorded were as follows:
Locomotive | 1979 | Total | Coment |
7819 Hinton Manor | 5,760 | 12,050 | |
46443 | 5,360 | 29,010 | |
4566 | 4,120 | 14,420 | |
6960 Raveningham Hall | 3,890 | 6,810 | |
48773 | 3,050 | 15,875 | |
80079 | 1,935 | 9,945 | |
5764 | 1,875 | 10,437 | Return from overhaul. |
45000 | 1,650 | 1,650 | Loan from NRMThe Railway Museum, formerly the National Railway Museum, entry into service. |
47373 | 1,265 | 9,750 | Return from overhaul |
4930 Hagley Hall | 645 | 645 | Entry into service following restoration. |
600 Gordon | 630 | 8,065 | |
5164 | 510 | 510 | Entry into service following restoration. |
7812 Erlestoke Manor | 465 | 465 | Entry into service following restoration. |
45110 | 350 | 18,570 | |
WD 193 Shropshire | 335 | 9,460 | |
70000 Britannia | 80 | 335 | |
2857 | 20 | 20 | First steaming following restoration. |
3205 | 2 | 2,428 | Return from overhaul. |
Other | - | 27,018 | |
Total | 31,942 | 181,483 |
References and sources
Information on the early history of the SVRSevern Valley Railway can be found on the Bridgnorth Station website
Information is from past editions of Severn Valley Railway News unless otherwise stated. Locomotive mileages taken from SVRSevern Valley Railway News #58 Winter 1980/81, page 34, "Steam Locomotive Mileages for the Decade".
See also
The Severn Valley Railway in preservation
Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1965-1969