The Severn Valley Railway on the main line

For many years the SVRSevern Valley Railway was closely associated with steam excursions on the main line. In the mid-1970s, even before the company acquired the final section of the line from Foley Park, the SVRSevern Valley Railway set out to become a ‘BRBritish Rail or British Railways approved’ steam centre, supplying locomotives and rolling stock overhauled to BRBritish Rail or British Railways standards for use on main line excursions and charters.

The normal arrangement was that locomotives would leave the SVRSevern Valley Railway and travel to other steam centres, in particular the Bulmers Railway Centre at Hereford, to run tours from there. The time spent away could vary from days to months. In between, locomotives would return to the SVRSevern Valley Railway for repairs and overhauls, as well as working services on the SVRSevern Valley Railway itself. The SVRSevern Valley Railway also organised some of of these railtours.

The first recorded use of the SVRSevern Valley Railway's rolling stock on the main line was an excursion from Bridgnorth to Paddington on 13 November 1976. This was hauled by a BRBritish Rail or British Railways Western Class diesel locomotive from Bewdley, and later by a Class 47 Diesel. (Railtour details on Six Bells Junction)

The first recorded use of an SVRSevern Valley Railway based locomotive in revenue-earning service on the main line was 6960 Raveningham Hall, which hauled the ‘Cathedrals Express’ from Hereford to Chester on 8 April 1978. (Railtour details on Six Bells Junction)

SVRSevern Valley Railway-based locomotives which hauled revenue-earning services on the main line

The following lists are an attempt to collate information on all main line revenue-earning services and other significant appearances by SVRSevern Valley Railway locomotives. Many of these tours are listed on Six Bells Junction (SBJ); links have been included to the relevant pages where more information on the precise route and timing for the specific tour may be found. UK Steam is another useful resource, with lists of railtours since 1996. The issue number and page of articles in SVRSevern Valley Railway News is also shown.

2857

Date	Tour name	Route	Notes	Web	SVRSevern Valley Railway News
10 Sep 1985	GW 150 Freight Demo	Kidderminster-Hereford-Newport + return	25 SVRSevern Valley Railway wagons also used		78-17

4930 Hagley Hall

Date	Tour name	Route	Notes	Web	SVRSevern Valley Railway News
22 Sep 1979	Inter-City	Hereford - Chester - Hereford	D/H with 45000. 4930 first main line run	SBJ	53-12
04 Oct 1980	Deeside Venturer	Newport - Hereford - Newport		SBJ	56-12
14 Feb 1981	Welsh Marches Express	Hereford - Newport - Hereford		SBJ	60-30
14 Mar 1981	Welsh Marches Express	Hereford - Newport - Hereford		SBJ	59-24
?? Oct 1981	Welsh Marches Pullman		4930 worked 2 tours in October 1981 (SVRSevern Valley Railway News)		63-10
17 Oct 1981	Welsh Marches Pullman	Shrewsbury - Hereford		Locoperf	63-10
20 Mar 1982	Welsh Marches Express	Hereford - Newport - Hereford	D/H with 45000	SBJ
17 Apr 1982	Welsh Marches Express	Hereford - Newport - Hereford	D/H with 7812 Erlestoke Manor		64-28
24 Apr 1982	Welsh Marches Pullman	Shrewsbury - Hereford	D/H with 7812 Erlestoke Manor	SBJ	64-29
19 Feb 1983	Welsh Marches Pullman	Hereford - Newport - Hereford		SBJ	67-30
26 Feb 1983	Welsh Marches Pullman	Shrewsbury - Hereford		SBJ	68-31
22 Jan 1985	Post Office special	B'ham Moor St-Stratford-Leamington Spa-B'ham Moor St	PO charter celebrating 150th anniversary of post by rail		76-21
02 Feb 1985	Red Dragon	Newport - Swindon - Gloucester		SBJ	76-37
08 Apr 1985	Great Western Limited	Plymouth - Bristol Temple Meads	D/H with 7819 after working L/E from SVRSevern Valley Railway overnight	SBJ	76-12
25 Jun 1985	GW150 Exhibition Train	Highley-Hereford	D/H with 6960 Raveningham Hall		77-26
06 Jul 1985	Western Stalwart	Kidderminster - Cardiff Central - Hereford	DH with 7029 Clun Castle	SBJ	77-40
07 Jul 1985	Great Western Limited	Bristol Temple Meads - Totnes (terminated)	DH with 5051 Drysllwyn Castle	SBJ	77-13
13 Aug 1985	GW150 Celebrations Excursions	Swindon Gloucester - Swindon		SBJ
30 Dec 1985	Santa Special	Kidderminster - Hereford - Kidderminster	D/H with 3440 City of Truro	SBJ	79-12
22 Mar 1986	Tiddly Dyke Tour(s)	Andover - Ludgershall (5 x return)		SBJ	80-4
23 Mar 1986	Sunday Steam Specials	Andover - Ludgershall (6 x return)	4930 last main line appearance		80-4

7325

Date	Tour name	Route	Notes	Web	SVRSevern Valley Railway News
19 May 1995		Kidderminster-Newport-Gloucester-Worcester	D/H with 7802 from Gloucester. L/E from Worcester due to hot box on tender.		115-44
04 Nov 1995		Stourbridge - Bristol - Swansea	Possible duplicate of 11 November
11 Nov 1995		Stourbridge - Bristol - Swansea	D/H with 70000 Britannia from Bristol		117-2
18 May 1996	Steam on the Met		London Underground 'Steam on the Met' (2 weekends)	SBJ
19 May 1996	Steam on the Met		London Underground 'Steam on the Met' (2 weekends)	SBJ
25 May 1996	Steam on the Met		London Underground 'Steam on the Met' (2 weekends)	SBJ	119-58
26 May 1996	Steam on the Met		London Underground 'Steam on the Met' (2 weekends)	SBJ
27 May 1996	Steam on the Met		London Underground 'Steam on the Met' (2 weekends)	SBJ
11 Jan 1997	Taffy Apple	Worcester-Hereford-Swansea-Gloucester-Worcester	D/H with 42968		122-4
25 Oct 1997	Meldon Meanderer	Bristol - Exeter - Meldon Quarry	D/H with 42968		125-70
08 Nov 1997	Pilgrims Progres	Exeter - Plymouth - Bristol	D/H with 42968		125-70
15 Nov 1997	Hardy Flyer	Bristol Temple Meads - Yeovil Pen Mill - Bristol	D/H with 42968		126-48
22 Nov 1997	Lickey Incliner	Bristol-Bromsgrove-Stourbridge-Gloucester	D/H with 42968, first preserved steam on the Lickey Incline		126-2
31 Jan 1998	Inclined Salopian	Gloucester - Lickey Incline - Bescot	D/H with 42968		126-49
21 Mar 1998	Chester Chuffer	Bescot-Chester + return		SBJ

7802 Bradley Manor

Date	Tour name	Route	Notes	Web	SVRSevern Valley Railway News
29 Mar 1995		Bristol-Paignton + return	Test trip prior to summer season (Pete Waterman)		114-59
19 May 1995		Gloucester-Worcester-Kidderminster	D/H with 7325 to Worcester.		115-44
14 Oct 1995	Duchy Explorer	Bristol-Penzance	D/H with 70000 Britannia		117-2
20 Jan 1996	Teign Valley Wanderer	Stourbridge - Newton Abbot			117-7
17 Feb 1996		Newton Abbot-Plymouth	D/H with 5029 Nunney Castle	PSOV
24 Feb 1996		Plymouth-Newton Abbot	D/H with 5029 Nunney Castle	PSOV	119-39
16 Mar 1996		Totnes-Worcester	(single headed)	PSOV	119-39
22 Jan 2000	Flying Dutchman	Bristol Temple Meads - Plymouth - Bristol Temple Meads		SBJ
10 Aug 2003	Torbay Express	Bristol Temple Meads - Paignton - Kingswear	failed with hot box at Kingswear	SBJ	145-31
31 Aug 2003	Torbay Express	Bristol-Kingswear + return		UKS	145-31
07 Sep 2003	Torbay Express	Bristol-Kingswear + return		UKS	145-31
23 Oct 2004	Cambrian Coast Express	Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury		SBJ
28 Feb 2005	Staite Pullman	Taunton - Paignton - Tanton	D/H with 6024	SBJ
12 Mar 2005	Cambrian Coast Express	Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury	Replaced 42968	SBJ
16 Sep 2006	Cambrian Coast Express	Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury		EMF
10 Mar 2007	Cider Express	Hereford - Bishops Lydeard - Minehead - Bishops Lydeard		SBJ
28 Mar 2007	Severn Valley Wanderer	Bristol Temple Meads - Kidderminster		SBJ

7812 Erlestoke Manor

Date	Tour name	Route	Notes	Web	SVRSevern Valley Railway News
17 Apr 1982	Welsh Marches Express	Hereford - Newport - Hereford	D/H with 4930 Hagley Hall		64-28
24 Apr 1982	Welsh Marches Pullman	Shrewsbury - Hereford	D/H with 4930 Hagley Hall	SBJ	64-29
05 May 1982	Welsh Marches Express	Hereford - Chester			66-9
05 Jun 1982		Shrewsbury-Newport	D/H with 43106

7819 Hinton Manor

Date	Tour name	Route	Notes	Web	SVRSevern Valley Railway News
07 Apr 1985	Great Western Limited	Bristol - Taunton (1) - Tiverton Jn(2) - Exeter St Davids(3) - Plymouth(4)	(1)D/H with 6000, (2)Solo, (3)Diesel Assisted, (4)L/E	SBJ	76-12
08 Apr 1985	Great Western Limited	Plymouth - Bristol Temple Meads	D/H with 4930 Hagley Hall	SBJ	76-12
26 May 1985	GW150 Portishead Shuttles	Bristol Temple Meads - Portishead return	Hauled first Steam Special on Spring Bank Holiday wekend		80-40
13 Aug 1985	GW150 Celebrations Excursions	Swindon Gloucester - Swindon	Various other runs around this time (pool of 7 locos used)	SBJ
21 Aug 1985	GW150 Celebrations Excursions	Swindon Gloucester - Swindon
24 May 1987		Machynlleth - Barmouth + return	Supplement to longer railtour		86-37
25 May 1987	Cardigan Bay Express	Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2		SBJ	85-33
26 May 1987	Cardigan Bay Express	Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2			85-33
27 May 1987	Cardigan Bay Express	Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2		SBJ	85-33
31 May 1987	Barmouth Bay Express	Machynlleth - Barmouth + return	Supplement to longer railtour	SBJ	85-33
20 Jul 1987	Cardigan Bay Express	Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2			86-38
21 Jul 1987	Cardigan Bay Express	Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2			85-11
22 Jul 1987	Cardigan Bay Express	Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2			85-11
26 Jul 1987	Cardigan Bay Express	Machynlleth - Pwllheli + return			85-11
02 Aug 1987	Cardigan Bay Express	Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2		SBJ	86-39
16 Aug 1987	Cardigan Bay Express	Machynlleth - Aberystwyth + return			86-39
19 Aug 1987	Cardigan Bay Express	Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2			86-40
23 Aug 1987	Cardigan Bay Express	Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2		SBJ
30 Aug 1987	Cardigan Bay Express	Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2		SBJ
16 Jun 1991	Cambrian Limited	Shrewsbury - Barmouth	(75069 worked the return leg)	SBJ	100-38
23 Jun 1991	Cambrian Limited	Shrewsbury - Barmouth	(75069 worked the return leg)	SBJ	100-38
29 Sep 1991		?? Via Talerddig			101-25

Other locomotives still resident on the SVRSevern Valley Railway which have worked on the main line in preservation are:

• 34027 Taw Valley
• 42968
• 43106
• 45110
• 46443
• 48773
• 75069
• 80079
• BR Class 50 50031 Hood
• BR Class 50 50035 Ark Royal
• BR Class 50 50044 Exeter
• BR Class 50 50049 Defiance

(lists to be added)

SVRSevern Valley Railway Carriages used on the main line in preservation

The following carriages travelled on the main line while based at the SVRSevern Valley Railway, either as part of revenue-earning rail tours or to attend celebratory events:

Rail 150, Shildon 1975

• Clapham Buffet 9631
• LMS 26986
• LNERLondon & North Eastern Railway Passenger Brake 4236

The SVRSevern Valley Railway GWRGreat Western Railway set

In the mid to late 1970s the SVRSevern Valley Railway provided a rake of GWRGreat Western Railway carriages for use on mainline excursions. The first rail tour used 10 carriages, subsequent excursions normally featured a rake of 11. The following carriages were used:

• GWR 5883 Brake Third
• GWR 1116 Full Third
• GWR 1146 Full Third
• GWR 1086 Full Third
• GWR 1087 Full Third
• GWR 7284 Composite
• GWR 6562 Brake Composite
• GWRGreat Western Railway 9631 'Clapham' Buffet Car ( No longer resident)
• GWR 9627 Restaurant Third
• GWR 9615 Kitchen Diner First
• GWR Full Third 2119 (from 1977)

Rail tours recorded in SVRSevern Valley Railway News as using the SVRSevern Valley Railway rolling stock included the following (external links are to tour details on www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk where listed there):

• 13 November 1976: Bewdley to Paddington link
• 23 April 1977: Bridgnorth-Hereford-Chester link
• 3 July 1977: Paddington-Newport-Shrewsburylink
• 15 October 1977: ??-Liskeard
• 6 May 1978: Bewdley-Kingswear Link
• 4 November 1978: Bridgnorth-Pwllheli

However their use on the main line was short-lived; the C&WCarriage & Wagon notes in SVRSevern Valley Railway News for summer 1980, reporting on the SVRSevern Valley Railway coaches attending the Rainhill celebrations, ended with the comment “What a pity the whole train cannot go out again”.

Rocket 150, Rainhill 1980

• GWR 829 Full Third
• GWR 6913 Brake Composite
• LMS Brake Third Corridor 26921

Main line support coaches

GWR 6913 Brake Composite was overhauled to main line standard in 1985 for use as a support coach for SVRSevern Valley Railway locos working on the main line. The first trip following the overhaul was with 7819 Hinton Manor.

SVRSevern Valley Railway Wagons used on the main line in preservation

As part of the 1985 GWRGreat Western Railway 150 celebrations, the SVRSevern Valley Railway was asked to produce a demonstration goods train to be taken on the main line to Newport, hauled by GWR 2857. BRBritish Rail or British Railways C&WCarriage & Wagon inspectors approved 25 wagons to run, the eventual line-up being as follows:

• GWR 65801 Mogo Van
• GWR 80982 Signal Dept Van
• GWR 80603 Ballast Wagon
• GWR 80225 Ballast Wagon
• GWR 80684 Ballast Wagon
• GWR 94059 China Clay Open Wagon
• GWR 58725 Improvised Gunpowder Van
• GWR 93016 Mink 'A' Covered Goods Van
• LNER NE 274231 Coke Hopper (Now scrapped?)
• LNER NE 307306 Coke Hopper (Now scrapped?)
• LT Ballsat Hopper Wagon 436
• LT Ballsat Hopper Wagon 410
• GWR 40554 Chaired Sleeper Wagon
• GWR 42272 'Loriot L' Machinery Truck
• GWR 97398 5 plank Open Goods Wagon
• GWR 42138 'Loriot D' Machinery Truck
• BR B 943286 Bogie Bolster (Now at Battlefield Line)
• GWR 107291 Macaw B Bogie Bolster
• GWR 60841 Bogie Bolster
• Esso Oil Tank Wagon 2686
• GWR 68501 'Toad' 20T Goods Brake Van
• SV14192 BRBritish Rail or British Railways Flat ED (see below)
• SV14191 BRBritish Rail or British Railways Flat ED (see below)
• GWR 105873 'Mica B' Refrigerated Meat Van.
• Regent Oil & Texaco 431 Aviation Fuel Tank Wagon

A BRBritish Rail or British Railways Brake van was provided at the rear. The return trip took place in September 1985.

Three BRBritish Rail or British Railways Flat ED wagons were supplied by Universal Pictures for The Seven-Per-Cent Solution. They were originally classified as 'Horse Box Underframe of unknown ID', and given the temporary numbers SV14191, SV14192 and SV14193. Later research proved their identities to be 906811, 906825 and 906830, although it is not clear which two took part in the goods train.

References