VOLUME 35 No.10 October 2007 - Intercity Railway Society

Preservation News
Severn Valley Railway - Friday 14 Sep. 2007: (by Stephen Skewes)
Spotted on SVR was VSOE Pullman train with EWS 67012 and D1015 'Western Champion' at either end
of the 11-coach train. It was on charter ('Phil's 50th Birthday Bash' said the sign on the front of 67012)
Having travelled from London Victoria via Salisbury, Bristol and Worcester, the train then reversed off the
main line at Kidderminster onto the SVR, and headed for Bewdley where the passengers alighted at
about 3.40pm. Later, the empty train came into Kidderminster Town station on the SVR for watering,
then reversed yet again to Bewdley, and finally left there at about 6.00pm with many of the original
passengers. Having rejoined the main line at Kidderminster, it continued on to Birmingham (Snow Hill, I
expect), and returned to London via Banbury and High Wycombe, so I was told.
Severn Valley Railway - Autumn Steam Gala: (by Stephen Skewes)
The SVR's Autumn Steam Gala took place from Fri 21st to Sun 23rd September 2007. The weather was
mostly dry and the public turned up, as we had hoped.
There were 3 visiting locomotives - Great Western 4-6-0's no's 4936 'Kinlet Hall' and 4953 'Pitchford
Hall', both on loan from Tyseley Museum in Birmingham, and LNER 2-6-2 no. 4771 'Green Arrow',
immaculate in apple-green livery, on loan from the National Collection at York. These engines, and some
of the SVR's resident fleet, provided a frequent service over the 3½ miles between Kidderminster and
Bewdley, from early morning until nearly midnight, with no fewer than 33 trains in each direction on
Friday and Saturday. Various combinations and changes of motive power were arranged, with some
intricate shunting which exploited much of the SVR's layout and signalling on the short length of line, and
this pleased the usual army of lineside photographers. It was satisfying to see a complete LNER train,
with 'Green Arrow' at the head of the SVR's set of Gresley teak coaches, and one of the 'Halls' leading
the SVR's antique Great Western coach-set. A fourth intended visitor, GW 4-6-0 no 4965 'Rood Ashton
Hall', unfortunately failed with tube-trouble at Tyseley, and never appeared.
However, the highlight of the weekend was undoubtedly the steam-hauled excursion between
Birmingham Snow Hill and the SVR, with the 7-coach train provided by Vintage Trains Ltd, also based at
Tyseley. This set contained mostly Mark 2 vehicles with one Pullman coach, all in GW colours, and ran
from Snow Hill to Kidderminster (mainline) in less than an hour. After shunting onto the SVR, turning the
locomotive at Kidderminster, and running round at Bewdley, the train then returned directly from Bewdley
to Snow Hill, avoiding the SVR's Kidderminster Town terminus. It ran twice in each direction on both
Saturday and Sunday, being hauled alternately by one of the 2 'Halls' from Tyseley. The train made a
fine sight as it stormed along in open country towards Snow Hill. Gossip has it that this excursion was a
very worthwhile innovation, drawing extra interest and revenue to the SVR. Presently, the railway cannot
run north of Bewdley while urgent repairs are being carried out further up the line, following the storms of
June and July. Thanks are due for the huge effort made by the SVR, Network Rail, and Tyseley Museum
who, between them, made the excursion possible.
At Bridgnorth there were also many entertainments of interest to railway enthusiasts, including short
steam-hauled runs into and out of the station, demonstrations of the SVR's 45-ton Cowans & Sheldon
steam crane, and tours of the MPD where GW 4-6-0 no. 7812 'Erlestoke Manor' has passed it's static
boiler test and is nearly ready for the road (see www.svr-vlo.co.uk).
Bicton Woodland Railway, East Budleigh - 16 Sep. 2007: (by Mike Pinder)
This an 18” gauge railway, the locos seen being:
‘Sir Walter Raleigh’ 0-4-0 DH built 2000
‘Clinton’ 4wDM built 1941 Hunslet Eng
‘Bicton’ 4wDM built 1942 Ruston & Hornsby
Extensive maintenance work being carried out and the railway is running on a restricted basis until
repairs completed. Even at this time of the year the gardens and the Museum (which houses all kinds of
farming equipment as well as 3 steam traction engines and a horse/hand drawn fire engine) are well
worth a visit. This is what you call getting away with blue murder, keeping the ladies happy with all the
plants etc. whilst unbeknown to them just around the corner…though you might have to endure their
wrath… "I might as well have b****y well known there was an ulterior motive in bringing me here" !!!