Severn Valley Railway (SVR): News and updates

[Neilo09]

The SVR are releasing the majority oh their tickets this morning at 10am, all the galas, santa specials etc…

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Just thought that i ought mention it, a little while ago I saw some genuine passengers traveling on the SVR for something other than a day out. After having a bit of a conversation with them it turned out that they live in Highly and use the SVR every week when it's open to do the shopping at Bridgnorth Sainsbury's!
From at least what I have seen it is very rare that genuine commuters use the line.

My Parents do the same sort of thing now and then, living in Bewdley it makes it a bit more interesting than jumping into the car to go to Kiddy, plus my old man can have a cheeky pint as well!

I’ve done the same in the past though, jumped on the train from Rowley and changed at Kidderminster to go do some shopping in Bewdley or Bridgnorth.
Several times I’ve picked up stuff from Bridgnorth for the Missus and also enjoyed haulage from amongst others 1501, 5029, 7802/12 71000, 821, 37906 various 50’s as I say a lot more fun than just jumping in the car!

I visited the SVR in October, and stayed in Bridgnorth for a few nights.

Whilst there, I travelled on the line to Kidderminster and back. When I got back to Bridgnorth, I popped into the pub on the station and had a few pints there (I didn't want to, but I thought that I ought to support them ... !). It was quite busy, probably because it has a good reputation as a real ale pub, but it looked as if there were quite a few locals there as well. I arrived on the last train, so there wasn't much evidence of locals travelling on the train and doing what I was doing, but it wouldn't have surprised me if that was the case - and I really don't blame them.

 

[satisnek]

I kind of half do this thing. I normally only go on the SVR at gala events but the market at Bridgnorth is a must-visit for me as well. So there's me travelling back home with my shopping on a Saturday afternoon amongst all the gala visitors. Of course, I just quickly dump the shopping at home then it's straight back onto the trains!

 

[firstadekit]

I don't suppose anyone would know if there's any test runs happening on the SVR this Saturday? On a walk nearby and wondered if it was worth taking the full frame!

 

[william.martin]

I don't suppose anyone would know if there's any test runs happening on the SVR this Saturday? On a walk nearby and wondered if it was worth taking the full frame!

Welcome to the forum, just to confirm (probably a bit useless 13 days later ) there were no test runs on the line that day

The SVR has anounced that there shall be a variety of 13 different classes of train (including the home fleet) attending the spring diesel festival on the 18th-21st of may to celebrate 50 years of diesels in preservation. The only loco that they have anounced will be coming yet is 58023 making its debut in preservation.
It's all well and good having a huge gala although this time last week an 8 million pound per year turnover wasn't enough meaning redundancy and only running from Thurs-Fri.

In other news the new managing director has confirmed to be Jonathan Dunster (formally vice chairman.)

Loco no. 4079 "Pendennis Castle" has been announced as 1 of 2 guest locos for this year's spring steam gala, with the other yet to be anounced.

The SVR's latest acquisition; the restored 7812 Erlestock Manor will be spending the summer on loan to the WSR (West Somerset railway) as part of a mutual agreement between the loco's owners and the SVR, may I emphasise that the loco is still based at the SVR and this is only for the summer of 2023.

(Quoting the SVR website)

The Severn Valley Railway is taking part in the National Lottery Open Week between 18th and 26th March, with a massive ticket giveaway to National Lottery players.

The popular heritage line is offering free afternoon trips between Kidderminster and Highley to hundreds of players on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tickets are available to pre-book online at svr.co.uk/lottery for the 12 noon departure from Kidderminster to Highley on 18th, 19th, 25th and 26th of March. Passengers can return on any timetabled service, and will need to bring proof of a National Lottery purchase with them on the day of travel. This can be either a draw-based game or a scratch card, bought on any date in store or online.

“We’re thrilled to be taking part in this national event,” said Michael Dunn, the SVR’s head of commercial and visitor experience. “We’re making hundreds of free tickets available as our way of saying thank you to National Lottery players.

“It’s thanks to them that the Severn Valley Railway has been able to benefit from significant grants from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Over the years, it’s helped to make many different SVR projects possible, including the restoration of our flagship locomotive 4930 ‘Hagley Hall’, the restoration of Falling Sands viaduct, as well as building The Engine House Visitor Centre at Highley and the Carriage Shed at Kidderminster.”

The Severn Valley Railway reopens for its 2023 season on 4th March, and will run between Kidderminster and Highley only on weekends during this month. Essential engineering works are taking place north of Highley, which prevent operation of the full line until 1st April.

The National Lottery supports good cause projects in the areas of arts, education, environment, health, heritage, sport and community. Over the past 28 years, National Lottery players have raised more than £46 billion for projects which are making a huge difference to the lives of people and communities throughout the whole of the UK.

Source 1: SVR website
Source 2; Rail advent website.

 

[Batz47082]

Cannot wait for the Diesel Gala this year, last year was fantastic, and this year looks set to be even better!

 

[birchesgreen]

Cannot wait for the Diesel Gala this year, last year was fantastic, and this year looks set to be even better!

Yeah really looking forward to the 58.

 

[Batz47082]

Yeah really looking forward to the 58.

Looking forward to 47 712 too!

 

[birchesgreen]

Looking forward to 47 712 too!

Lovely bit of ScotRail.

 

[Batz47082]

Lovely bit of ScotRail.

Indeed!

 

[william.martin]

The sad news is that to be fair this years spring gala will only play host too two guest locos, which are not that famous anyway, for me I won't be going as I have traveled on 4555 already in the past year and I am not that interested in Pendenis castle.
The SVR are contacting the owners to see if money would allow for a third guest loco.

 

[xotGD]

Nothing to entice me yet. I guess we've got a few years to wait until 37308 puts in an appearance.

 

[Townsend Hook]

The sad news is that to be fair this years spring gala will only play host too two guest locos, which are not that famous anyway, for me I won't be going as I have traveled on 4555 already in the past year and I am not that interested in Pendenis castle.
The SVR are contacting the owners to see if money would allow for a third guest loco.

If ‘Pendennis’ isn’t your thing then that’s absolutely fair enough, but I’m really not sure about ‘not that famous anyway’. 4079 surely will be a big draw to the event on it’s own: it’s the centenary year of it running competitive trials on the GWR and LNER lines against ‘Flying Scotsman’, and it’s it’s first trip to a proper preserved line (something more than the demonstration line at Didcot) certainly since it was repatriated from Australia, and possibly ever?

 

[D6968]

Nothing to entice me yet. I guess we've got a few years to wait until 37308 puts in an appearance.

Some of us have already enjoyed 37308 at an SVR Diesel gala…

 

[31160]

Some of us have already enjoyed 37308 at an SVR Diesel gala…

Would "enjoyed" be the right word though

 

[Batz47082]

Nothing to entice me yet. I guess we've got a few years to wait until 37308 puts in

Would "enjoyed" be the right word though

An as yet unidentified class 56 is now confirmed.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

If ‘Pendennis’ isn’t your thing then that’s absolutely fair enough, but I’m really not sure about ‘not that famous anyway’. 4079 surely will be a big draw to the event on it’s own: it’s the centenary year of it running competitive trials on the GWR and LNER lines against ‘Flying Scotsman’, and it’s it’s first trip to a proper preserved line (something more than the demonstration line at Didcot) certainly since it was repatriated from Australia, and possibly ever?

Definitely each to their own - 4079 is absolutely the reason why I’ll be at the Spring Gala this year. 4555 is a nice bonus. Also hoping to get Hagley Hall as I haven’t yet.

 

[D.K.TAYLOR]

An as yet unidentified class 56 is now confirmed.

Railnews quotes 56090

 

[D6968]

Would "enjoyed" be the right word though

Most definitely you heathen! Double headed with 906 down to Arley, then meeting Chris Green behind 50035 and 47828 (ugh)
Dash across home outside Dudley, date with a girl at a gig in Wolvo, and then up in the morning to play rugby in the presidents XV last game of the season, then being given copious amounts of booze! God knows how I made college on Monday morning!

 

[Batz47082]

Railnews quotes 56090

Thanks for the update

 

[Harvester]

4079 surely will be a big draw to the event on it’s own: it’s the centenary year of it running competitive trials on the GWR and LNER lines against ‘Flying Scotsman’

I think 4079 will be a huge draw at the Spring Gala. However this year is not the centenary year of the GWR/LNER Exchanges, which took place in 1925. Flying Scotsman was not involved, it was sister loco 4474 Victor Wild that was used in the trials with Pendennis Castle.

 

[D6968]

I think 4079 will be a huge draw at the Spring Gala. However this year is not the centenary year of the GWR/LNER Exchanges, which took place in 1925. Flying Scotsman was not involved, it was sister loco 4474 Victor Wild that was used in the trials with Pendennis Castle.

1472 and 4079 were displayed together at Wembley in 1923 though.

 

[Harvester]

1472 and 4079 were displayed together at Wembley in 1923 though.

Not in 1923, it’s construction at Swindon was not completed until 1924.

 

[Intercity110]

When is this gala? I’m looking of going but if it’s not the summer then I might not

 

[Harvester]

When is this gala? I’m looking of going but if it’s not the summer then I might not

There are ‘two‘ advertised in Railway Magazine.

Spring Steam Gala - Friday 14th April to Sunday 16th April.
Spring Diesel Festival - Thursday 18th May to Sunday 21st May.

 

[william.martin]

When is this gala? I’m looking of going but if it’s not the summer then I might not

14-16th of April

 

[davetheguard]

I'm going to be in the Kidderminster area in the middle of the coming week.

Obviously SVR trains won't be running, but will it be worthwhile calling in at the station? I assume the pub will be open, but what about the shop & museum?

 

[Rail Ranger]

1472 and 4079 were displayed together at Wembley in 1923 though.

4472 was displayed with 4073 Caerphilly Castle at the 1924 Wembley exhibition. For the 1925 opening of the exhibition, 4073 was replaced by 4079 Pendennis Castle.

 

[kje7812]

I'm going to be in the Kidderminster area in the middle of the coming week.

Obviously SVR trains won't be running, but will it be worthwhile calling in at the station? I assume the pub will be open, but what about the shop & museum?

The King and Castle is, I believe, only opening Thursday to Sunday at the moment.

 

[davetheguard]

The King and Castle is, I believe, only opening Thursday to Sunday at the moment.

Thanks kje7812! Probably give it a miss then; if the pub is shut, I can't see anything else being open either.