40s Weekend in the Severn Valley

40s Weekend in the Severn Valley

29th June 2009

Whilst in the West Midlands at the weekend I took the opportunity to visit the awesome Severn Valley Railway. A lifetime favorite of mine, this 17 mile railway runs along the Severn Valley between Kidderminster and Bridgenorth. It achieved national infamy two years ago when torrential rain caused extensive washouts of the line’s formation, but it has recovered quickly and seems all the stronger for it.

Below: The main depot and workshops are at Bridgenorth, seen below. Here the heaviest overhaul can be carried out in the extensive workshops. In the photo is GW 28XX locomotive No.2857, currently receiving an extensive overhaul.

Below: First stop south from Bridgenorth is Hampton Loade, an archetypal rural station. As interesting without trains as it is with, it is also the closest point to the ‘Mercian Way’ cycle route which runs alongside the railway for two miles from this point and offers a different perspective on the passing trains.

Below: next south from Hampton Loade is Highley, seen here with 7802 Bradley Manner departing southwards with one of the two original GW sets of coaches on the line. Note the viewing gallery bottom left, this is the ‘Engine House’ – a museum/store of out of service locomotives but with some interesting interpretation based on the theme of the SVR’s own history dating from the first preservation moves in the late 1960s. Included is a reproduction pub interior where the founding meeting was held, complete with a highly professional film about and featuring the founders.

Below: Inside the Engine House. A high level viewing gallery is provided, also the location of cafe, conference and education facilities. This is No.600, Gordon (named after the General, not the storybook character!). Incidentally it is the first standard gauge steam engine I drove!

Below: A view from the balcony of the front half of the museum. The building is curved to fit the site (former mine exchange sidings) and the floor is in blocks to allow for any settlement of the site. Visible is Midland Railway Compound No.1000 from the National Collection. Also on show here are 8F 48773, 15XX 1501, Standard 4MT Tank 80079, Hall class 4930 ‘Hagley Hall’ and No.600 Gordon. Behind these to the left is a Post Office sorting coach, GW Mogul 7325 and Jinty 47383 plus a brakevan, coal wagon and box van. Beneath the walkway are exhbitions and shows on the railway and how it operates, what is involved in maintaining it plus smaller artifacts.

Below: During the event a Spitfire from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight performed a number of fly pasts over each station, here seen over Highley.