Severn Valley Railway
Kidderminster, Worcs to Bridgnorth Shropshire
Severn Valley Railway, a heritage steam railway
running on 16 miles of standard gauge line through the Severn valley from
Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, following the course of the River Severn for much
of its route. The SVR's rail connection to the National Rail network at
Kidderminster permits occasional through charter trains to operate from many
parts of the country to Bridgnorth.
In the summer of 2007 it was badly damaged by
floods, but by mid 2008 was restored and fully open again. It operates mostly
steam locomotives but also some heritage diesels, and is one of the countries
most popular lines.
This railway has featured in a number movies
and TV series including the 1990s sitcom Oh, Doctor Beeching, and
ITV drama, Goodnight Mr Tom.
Stations:-
- Bridgnorth The only station building
with any form of listing.
- Eardington Halt, originally just Eardington (Closed in 1981, used only for storage, a few volunteers have
campaigned for re-opening in recent years).
- Hampton Loade
- Country Park Halt (request stop)
replaced Alveley Halt (no passing)
- Alveley Halt (Never re-opened by SVR
after BR closure, due to it serving a now closed mine, and the opening of
the new Country Park Halt).
- Highley
- Arley
- Northwood Halt (request stop) (no
passing)
- Bewdley
- Kidderminster Town station is a
reconstruction, based upon the original GWR station at Ross-on-Wye (1892).
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Click on image to see a
larger version
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With the exception of Country Park Halt and
Northwood Halt, all of these stations can handle two trains, allowing trains
to pass in stations. Highley's passing loop has sidings leading off it
with points not controlled from the signal box, meaning trains with the
travelling public on may not use this loop. However, it is frequently used
for works trains, demonstration goods trains and empty stock workings.
Despite this, the Severn Valley Railway offers, possibly, the most intensive
service on any single line heritage railway. A short section of multiple
track exists between Bewdley South and Bewdley North signal boxes.
The main locomotive works is located at
Bridgnorth but is not normally open to the public because of health and safety
regulations but conducted tours and open days are arranged from time to time.
Major features of the locomotive works include the Boiler Shop equipped with
overhead crane, Noble and Lunn wheel lathe and ex-LT lifting jacks.
Carriage repair and restoration is carried out at a number of locations on the
railway, the main carriage works is located in the former goods shed at
Kidderminster. This building, lying adjacent to the main national railway line,
is known as the North Star Carriage Works thus perpetuating a typical GWR name.
As well as having a machine shop and fabrication equipment to carry out a full
range of body and bogie repairs the carriage works boasts equipment recovered
from former BR works to calibrate and adjust dynamo voltage regulators and to
thoroughly overhaul and test vacuum brake equipment, a facility that is almost
extinct elsewhere. In common with the locomotive works it is not normally open
to the public due to health and safety legislation. A museum, known as The
Engine House, has been built on land adjacent to the station at Highley.
| There are possible plans to extend the line
north. The SVR have been offered first refusal by British Rail on the
all-important tunnel under Bridgnorth as the first essential part of the plan.
Telford Steam Railway have plans to expand towards them perhaps one day joining
up the two lines, but there are a number of obstacles to overcome to make this
possible. There are possibilities of extending in a number of other directions
as well. There are approaching 30 steam locomotives
based on this line plus around a dozen diesels, some in each case being
restored. Being one of the earlier steam preservation railways they have
also been able o collect a very wide range and extensive collection of carriages
and wagons. This includes at least 6 full sets in different liveries.
You can see the route by
clicking here,
 from this
page you can also
download
a route
guide that you could print out, this has 9 pages of route information a cover and
4 other pages including a membership form. It is informative but scan quality is
poor presumably to cut the download size. On the route page you can see some
photos and more by clicking on arrows under them.
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War Weekend Battle Re-enactment -
special events open up more photo opportunities.
Click on the image to
see a larger version.
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From a photographic perspective this line is
picturesque, has a number of interesting features and passing trains.
There are many bridges and access points from which the railway can be
photographed, the downloadable line guide used with an OS map would open up
many. I have ridden on the railway but although not far from me have not
explored the route and looked for photographic opportunities. For much of
the way the railway follows the river course, and as there are footpaths along
the river, there are many places that the railway can be seen. There are many
bridges over the railway and a number of footpaths that run parallel further up
hillsides, that may give good views. This would be an interesting railway to
produce a detailed photographers guide to the best locations. I must get around
to doing this at some time, unless of course you would welcome this challenge.
| Lineside passes Lineside passes are available and cost £25pa.
The information is not on the website on this, but if you contact them they will
send you a form to complete and sign.
Using a lineside pass in combination with
unlimited travel tickets you could move about this line getting a selection of
good photographic opportunities.
With a lineside pass you can go onto the
line, and get images others cannot from the station
| Image right, was
converted to black and white in CaptureNX2. |
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Further information Grid
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Planning Grid
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Location: |
Severn Valley Railway, Kidderminster to Bridgnorth |
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Grid Reference: |
Bridgnorth
Station SO715926
Hampton Loade
Station SO745862
Country Park Halt
SO746842
Highley
Station SO749830
Arley
Station SO764800
Northwood Halt SO778775
Bewdley
Station SO792753
Kidderminster Town station SO838763 |
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Getting there: |
Kidderminster Town
Station
Satellite Navigation: Kidderminster Station, Comberton Hill, DY10 1QX.
Located at Comberton Hill, the A448 Kidderminster-Bromsgrove road and is
signposted from Kidderminster Ring Road, the A449 Worcester-Wolverhampton
road. It is also signposted from the M5 Junction 3 southbound and northbound
and M5 junction 6 northbound.
Follow the brown tourist signs depicting the little steam engine.
Bewdley Station
Satellite Navigation: Bewdley Station, Station
Road, DY12 1BG
Situated just off Stourport Road. Follow the brown tourist signs from the
Bewdley bypass, the A456 Kidderminster-Leominster road.
Bridgnorth Station
Satellite Navigation: Bridgnorth Station,
Hollybush Road, WV16 5DT
Situated in Hollybush Road on the west side of the River Severn and is
signposted from the A458 Birmingham-Stourbridge- Shrewsbury road and the
A442 Telford-Kidderminster road.
Other stations.
Difficulty parking, narrow lanes etc. |
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Access: |
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Parking: |
The Severn Valley Railway operates ‘pay &
display’ car parks at Kidderminster and Bridgnorth. Parking at Bewdley
Station is currently free of charge. |
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Facilities: |
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Things To Do,
See and Photograph: |
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What to take: |
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Nature highlights: |
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Address: |
Severn Valley Railway
The Railway Station
Bewdley
Worcestershire |
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Postcode: |
DY12 1BG |
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Telephone: |
01299 403816 (Bewdley)
Click here
for other
options |
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Opening times: |
See
their timetable
showing
dates and times, you can also download a PDF timetable from this page.
Event information that is often different can
be identified by
clicking here
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Charges: |
Fares for individual journeys and unlimited
travel for the day are available.
Unlimited: Adult £13, Children £6 and
Seniors £11. A combined ticket with entry to the Engine House Museum is
also available.
See
main fares page
Special events have different charges. |
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Photo Restrictions: |
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Other Restrictions: |
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Special Needs Access: |
Click here
for details |
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Special Needs Facilities: |
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Children Facilities: |
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Dogs Allowed: |
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CIN Page Ref: |
Severn_Valley_Railway |
Date Updated: 07/2008 |
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Please let us know any other information that we
can add to the Further information and Planning Grids or page and any errors that you discover. Before making a long trip to any location it is always
wise to double check the current information, websites like magazines may be
correct at the time the information is written, but things change and it is of
course impossible to double check all entries on a regular basis. If you have
any good photographs that you feel would improve the illustration of this page
then please let us have copies. In referring to this page it is helpful if you
quote the CIN Page Ref at the bottom of the Planning Grid above. To print the
planning grid select it then right click and print the selected area.
Please submit information on locations you discover so
that this system continues to grow.
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