During our UK holiday in the Cotswolds we spent a day on the Severn Valley Railway
1 The Severn Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Shropshire and Worcestershire, England. The 16-mile (26 km) heritage line runs along the Severn Valley from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, crossing the Shropshire/Worcestershire border, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route. Train services are hauled predominantly by steam locomotives; however diesel traction is also sometimes used on designated days and during periods of high fire risk.
2 We started our day at Kidderminser
3 Kidderminster is one of the youngest of the SVR stations. The station was opened on 30 July 1984 and was built in a late Victorian style. The building design was based on the GWR Ross-on-Wye station building which opened in 1890.
4 So it all looks old, it certainly fooled me, but actually it is relatively new.
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7 The hall contained two "stalls" where everyday life in the thirties was depicted. I must say it was very convincing.
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11 Ah an ordinary Pannier will be our loco. I found that a bit disappointing. But then again, you can't have it all. I should have consulted the loco roster
12 O, that is amazing. I have seen a Gresley "teak" before but out in the open they are stunning.
13 Another Pannier was on a side spur.
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15 Our Pannier before the train.
16 7714 is a GWR Collett 5700 class 0-6-0PT "pannier tank". This class was a numerous class of engine designed and built by the Great Western Railway; more than 860 were built between 1929 and 1950.
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22 Before long we were off.
23 Spares? Rejects? Who knows?
24 The SVR also hosts a fleet of diesels.
25 One was shunting around
26 Nice detail
27 The Severn Valley itself is very much worth the visit, even if you're not here for the steam train.
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29 The entire railway is one of the most comprehensively signalled heritage railways. With the exception of the connection at Kidderminster to Network Rail metals (which uses a colour light signal) the whole railway is signalled using lower quadrant signals in the style of the Great Western Railway.
30 Arley Station
31 "Littered" with nice details
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38 Approaching Highley
39 At Highley we left this train to pay a visit to the local shed where the non-operational locomotives are on display.
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41 The footbridge offers a nice view over the countryside. At the right is the downright ugly creation to house the non-operative locomotives.
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46 A Stanier "Black Five" (1935)
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49 This impressive tank is a British Standard Tank Class4, built in the period between 1951 to 1956 when the BR embarked on a large scale replacement of older steam locomotive classes. This replacement programma was cut short by the onsetting dieselation and the total number built stuck on 155. Some hardly got ten years of service.
50 In "working position"
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52 While I was in the Locomotive Hall this engine passed Highley and my lovely missus took these photos in my absence
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55 Admittedly, good shots!
56 And when the train was leaving Highley.....
57 ....I arrived on the scene, just in time to snap the same loco
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59 The station have the nicest details
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61 The pannier tank wasn't a loco I appreciated very much but my spirits really sank when this surprise came around the corner: an oil lamp! You may love them if you like, but I think British diesels are ungainly and at best a mode of displacement.
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64 Beforelong we arrived in Bridgenorth where the steam shed is situated. Unfortunately the Nanny State prohibits access for H&S reasons.
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70 Our locomotive of the first leg will take the train back to Kidderminster
71 A 162 of this Ivatt class 4 were produced between 1947 and 1952. So it is a fairly modern steam locomotive. This is the only axample that survived into preservation.
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73 I find it a rather elegant design
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75 Shunting around the trainyard
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85 On the way back to Kidderminster
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89 Trains crossing
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91 In Bewdley we found this West Country class "Taw Valley" from 1946
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100 Time to hop on back on board!!
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102 End of the line, at least for us. We had a wonderful day.
