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SVR Damaged due to Rain

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Ascot

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Severn Valley Railway Flooded, Flood Damage, SVR weather, Rain Damaged Severn Valley

Open 21st of March 2008

svrupdatefx3.jpg

20/03/08
Green means Public running on timetable
Blue means all track fine working trains going over
Yellow means fine but not 100% fit for working trains yet
Red means working spots
---------Original June Post Below, this doesn't change--------

Staff email come through and this is the public sum up.

Lines Damaged between Bridgnorth and Northwood Halt therefore services are running between Kidderminster and Bewdley

Likely to continue for a few weeks.

Special timetable in place with services every hour and a special one for the 40s.

Lost quite alot of signals as well down the line into the river.

More to come as and when it's "public"

EDIT: We got 3 kettles at Bewdley running the service.
 
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Dennis

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general question regarding problems such as what the SVR have experienced; is insurance cover available for such damage?
 

Coxster

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An announcement has been made on the SVR's website:

The SVR has suffered major damage to its infrastructure, following heavy thunderstorms on Tuesday night, 19th June 2007. The damage is unprecedented in the history of the line and at the present time, for the time being at least, the service will be restricted and will only run from Kidderminster to Bewdley.

The majority of the damage has occurred from Bridgnorth Outer Home Signal to Northwood Halt where sections of the line have been subjected to landslips, with several sections of track left suspended in air, cuttings filled with debris and at Highley, a major landslip, with the Up Starter Signal washed away, down the embankment.

An emergency timetable has been put in place to run an hourly service between Kidderminster and Bewdley. We currently have three steam locomotives at Bewdley (46443, 45110 & 4566) to help run the service.

A special timetable is being developed for the 40’s weekends with all events concentrated at Kidderminster and Bewdley. A frequent shuttle service will operate between these two stations on Saturdays and Sundays.

Further updates will be provided to keep you informed of progress, as soon as more information is made available.
 

W14Fishbourne

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general question regarding problems such as what the SVR have experienced; is insurance cover available for such damage?

It's possible to get insurance cover for anything - whether you'd be prepared to pay the cost is another matter. Many businesses would routinely have insurance to pay for repairs to damage caused by eventualities such as flood, fire, etc and normally would have cover for consequential loss as well, in other words cover for income lost because of a disaster. Interestingly, BR never had cover for this sort of thing - it was big enough to carry its own risk.

Whether the SVR had insurance is another matter (and one of which I have absolutely no knowledge) but given the known instability of the ground along its route insurance cover might have been prohibitively expensive to obtain. (And if it wasn't before it will be now!)
 

DavyCrocket

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When the Bluebell had the landslip just outside Kingscote a few years ago that halted services between West Hoathly (Disused) and Kingscote for December and January, the repair work and loss of fares was recovered via the insurers.

Good luck to all at the SVR to get back up and running for the Summer.
 

rbruce1314

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And full commiserations from a WSR man. We seem to have escaped unscathed (this time....) but have suffered in the past, through submersion rather than washouts, and even then, with 3 nearly-evenly-spaced passing loops we tend not to be too badly affected.
 

Ascot

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Not sure what i can and can't post on here but i'll do a few bits what i know i can for sure.

From a few Emails...
Severe thunderstorms on Tuesday night, 19th June 2007 caused substantial damage to the infrastructure from Bridgnorth Outer Home Signal to Northwood Halt where sections of the line have been subjected to landslides, with several sections of track left suspended in air, cuttings filled with debris and at Highley, a major landslide, with the Up Starter Signal washed away, down the embankment.

1.2 An emergency timetable has been put in place to run an hourly service between Kidderminster and Bewdley and a special timetable is being developed for the 40’s Weekend. There are currently three steam locomotives at Bewdley (46443, 45110 & 4566) to help run the service. These locomotives have approx. 20 to 30 days before being due for a boiler wash-out. An engineers train will be made available to help clear as much of the line as possible from Northwood Halt towards Arley, subject to stability of embankments, which could be affected by any further rain.

3.2 A plan will be developed to undertake major works at Highley and also from Oldbury Viaduct to Hampton Loade. Through traffic from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster is not expected until the end of October 2007.

3.5 The Class 37 diesel is currently available, as required.

Ammended B
Kidderminster dep 10.15 10.30 11.10 11.30 12.10 12.30 1.45 2x25 2.45 3.25 3.45 4.25 4.45 5//40
Bewdley arr 10.26 10.41 11.21 11.41 12.21 12.41 1.55 2.36 2.56 3.36 3.55 4.36 4.56 5//49

Bewdley dep 9//40 9.50 10.42 11.00 11.42 12.00 1.20 1.56 2.15 2.57 3.15 3.56 4.15 5.15
Kidderminster arr 9//49 10.01 10.53 11.11 11.53 12.11 1.31 2.07 2.26 3.08 3.26 4.07 4.26 5.26

Kidderminster dep 9.05 9.40 10.15 10.45 11.20 12.10 12.50 1.25 2.00 2.35 3.20 3.55 4.30 5.05 6.00
Bewdley arr 9.16 9.51 10.26 10.56 11.31 12.21 1.01 1.36 2.11 2.46 3.21 4.06 4.41 5.16 6.11
1940s PUBLIC TIMETABLE
Bewdley dep 9.30 10.05 10.35 11.10 11.45 12.35 1.15 1.50 2.25 3.00 3.45 4.20 4.55 5.30 6.20
Kidderminster arr 9.41 10.16 10.46 11.21 11.56 12.46 1.26 2.01 2.36 3.11 3.56 4.31 5.06 5.41 6.31

There's alot more about finance stuff but don't think i'm allowed to post that here.

Bad news for all of us but good news for the people who just want to ride on the 37 between Kidderminster and Bewdley all day long.

If anyone has any spare time then please get in touch with our Volunteer Officer to help out shifting a few things here and then. Gloves and wellies needed. Number on www.svr.org.uk.

More to come as and when.

Edit:

5. Marketing

5.1 The Fare structure between Kidderminster & Bewdley will remain unchanged.

5.2 A revised programme will be drawn up for the 40’s weekends, where events will centre around Kidderminster and Bewdley. The standard fare for travel will be reduced from £16.00 to £10.00. Concessions will be £8.50 for Senior Citizens and £5.00 for Children

5.3 Full refunds will be offered against fares booked in advance and new tickets will be purchased for the current fare structure. Tickets purchased via Ticket Web maybe refunded in full, including service charge. There will be no partial refunds.

5.4 The media have been briefed on the situation, including BBC Midlands Today, Sky News, Express & Star & Radio Shropshire. All press enquiries/comments required etc must be directed to John Leach.

2nd EDIT:

Paraphrase as some's business only stuff

6.1 Insurers have been advised......
6.7 “SVR Fighting Fund” to be set up by Monday, 25th June 2007 for donations to new appeal.
6.8 New page on web site or new web site to be set up for the “fighting fund”, with pictures and words to provide instant appeal/vision for donations.
6.10 All railway press and national newspapers to be contacted........
6.11 Local MP’s contacted & meeting organised at Westminster for Tuesday, 26th July 2007.

On behalf of the Directors and Managers, many thanks to everyone
who has already or is about to pledge physical and/or financial support.

We will continue to work as a team in order to overcome this setback
and end up with a stronger railway.
 

Ascot

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Confirmed Day out with Thomas will run in September KR to AY only
Confirmed Autumn Steam Gala will run KR to AY and BH to HL if line not reopened throughout
Confirmed Diesel Gala will run as above
Confirmed Classic Vehicle Day Oct 14th will run (with altered details TBA)

Latest information regarding Gala
 

Ascot

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And when you think things are bad there are railway companies asking us to pay bills and asking to buy our engines before we go bankrupt!.We’ll show them! Policy has been made that no engines will be hired for the duration of the emergency.One exception is that we will honour our commitment with 5764 visiting Bradford on Avon in July for one weekend.
 

paul1609

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To be honest Ascot I think this is likely to be untrue. Our relatively small railway has sent an offer to help in any way we can, and has received an acknowledgement thanking us. To be honest I think that what the SVR needs is civil engineers and plant operators unfortunately not something that we really have that much experience in.
 

Ascot

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To be honest Ascot I think this is likely to be untrue. Our relatively small railway has sent an offer to help in any way we can, and has received an acknowledgement thanking us. To be honest I think that what the SVR needs is civil engineers and plant operators unfortunately not something that we really have that much experience in.

Yes that's why they stated alot of them are a great help, just some companies and railways are having a stick at the moment, who will not be named on here.
 

Ascot

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Hired diesel locomotives to work spoil trains VB to Kinlet Sdgs
Cl 20 No 8188 - Agreement made with Swanage Railway.
Cl 73 No 73101 (Pullman Livery) - Will be released from the Avon Valley Railway.
Details of the third diesel TBA

Oldbury
Catchpits,sumps and new drains going in.Specialist drainage contractor to be employed.Retaining wall half way up the embankment cracked and will have to be stitched

Knowlesands
BH pattern shop are going to make a wooden pattern for casting new GWR signal post finials to replace damaged ones.

Highley
Indications are that the water tower may have to be removed due to its location in relation to the planned excavations.To be reinstated hopefully without disturbing the base.3 days of jetting culverts at HY,some still blocked and may have to be dug out from above.In one culvert everything ok but flat stones which are too big to have been washed in, so were they placed there when the culvert was built on day dot on purpose or was it a Friday afternoon and builders did not bother to recover?
Geologists drawing up plan which may require up to 8m of ground under track level to be excavated.Plan to be submitted to other bodies including an offer from Network Rail to double check.
Another option to explore is to remove less spoil but then drive piles into the ground.This would involve concrete and lengthen the rebuild time.

Fishermans Xing
New drain design,Environment Agency investigating debris washed out into farmer’s field to advise on removal/relocating plan.

Victoria Bridge
Contractors came back Sat to catch up with lost day on Friday due to bad weather.Retaining stone wall at river footpath level has now been rebuilt and stone brought in by RR from EVA car park is about to be used as fill.Earthworks back up to trackbed level should be completed by the middle of next week.



Eyemore Cutting
Contractors working night shifts Tues/Wed and Wed/ Thu to dig out cesses and tip at Trimpley
S+T cable VB to NX will be scrapped.Contractors started work on repairs to the siphon.Next week contractors will absail to release the steel netting on the Down side and release unstable rock and debris before reattaching the netting to rock face.

Folly Point
Anyone got any info on a suitable mole that can be attached to a road rail machine to bury signalling cables.Gabion rock baskets should all be in position and complete by Friday

Northwood “New” slip
Very unstable – rain generated - can sink up to your knees in it.Trees 3 foot in daimeter slipping toward the railway.More slips,more tension cracks.Slip is above SVR boundary fence.

Northwood
Concrete troughing for S+T cable to used in some areas.Drain Jetting Train hopefully will have completed work by end of day Wednesday.At least one drain collapsed which will require track off,sleepers out,dig trench and replace pipe and return track ready for ballasting.

Ta Dewi
 

paul1609

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Ascot,
How did the SVR fair this weekend?
Weather down here in the South East has been okayish but going by the news the kidderminster area was hit bad again on Friday night?
 

Ascot

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Ascot,
How did the SVR fair this weekend?
Weather down here in the South East has been okayish but going by the news the kidderminster area was hit bad again on Friday night?

I was not down on Saturday due to gf commitments but i was down on the friday and we struggled with the rain at Kidderminster.

Also the mainline was bad after speaking with a guard on the way back the Worcester to Kidderminster bit was stuck and also Shirley to Stratford was INOP.

Between Kiddie and Moor St the track was flooded and driver had to put our own TSRs into place as we went along due to the wetness.

On SVR the amount of rain we had was just crazy, i haven't got todays report of yesterday on the daily "floodline" staff email but will post bits when i get it

Here's a pic of the track just as it started also one of 73101 arriving (which you can see is a nice day) also day before with Hail.





 

Ascot

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Is it possible for you to tell us how much has been raised so far?

£241,00 in the Flood Damage Appeal

That's not with government etc..

Following the land slip recently though we need more money. We are unsure how much we need until they survey the landscape and area.

I won't be having much updates for the next week or so. I'll get as much as i can from other people.

Floodline 26 said:
The Diesel Gala Committee have decided to cancel this year’s Diesel Gala.
This was to have been held on 11th and 12th October.On the the 13th diesel would have shared the turns with steam locomotives,this day will now be a steam only service.

After the passing of the last passenger train this evening another tree was found falling in the cutting KR side of the Tunnel.Arrangements made to clear it before tomorrow'’ services.

Ta Dewi

Also one last final advert: If anyone has the time or money to help us out then we would very much so greatly appreciate it. If you would like to help out please contact our Volunteer Officer (VLO) on this website and Dewi Jones our traffic manager.

http://www.svr-vlo.org.uk/

This website also has the "cut down" version of the staff email we get.
 
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