Severn Valley Railway - heritage line, Worcestershire and Shropshire - merged posts

[whole diary]

[grahame]

There is definitely a connection between the SVR and main line at Kidderminster. It is fully signalled and used for stock movements and specials. I travelled over it last November.

Indeed. Huge contrast between that and others such as the Bodmin and Wenford which can transfer stock only via a short shared siding.  And I don't think there's a crossover at Bodmin on the main line so arriving stock has to take a trip down to Lostwithiel and back.

[Reginald25]

Agreed that some railways have limited connections, such as at Bodmin. But these railways are so much better off than the likes of KESR, Shepardswell, Avon Valley, Buckingham Rly Centre, Lavendar and LLangollen (and many others) that have no external connection.

[SandTEngineer]

There is definitely a connection between the SVR and main line at Kidderminster. It is fully signalled and used for stock movements and specials. I travelled over it last November.

Indeed. Huge contrast between that and others such as the Bodmin and Wenford which can transfer stock only via a short shared siding.  And I don't think there's a crossover at Bodmin on the main line so arriving stock has to take a trip down to Lostwithiel and back.

Correct. The siding connection to the B&WR is in the Up Main at Bodmin Parkway, so any Down direction traffic has to go Up to Liskeard to be reversed via a crossover there.

[martyjon]

Does the heritage railway have access to the British Rail main line?

Thanks in advance.I

When the Great Western Society was running it's Vintage Train one of its outings was to the SVR from Didcot and we had a non-stop run from Bewdley to Bridgenorth with token exchanging being on the hoof.

[eightonedee]

Add the Wensleydale to your list, too. It gets the occasional railtour visiting and a few trains loaded with tanks (army type!) on their way to Catterick. The connection is to the ECML^▸ (East Coast Main Line) with a junction taking trains form the Darlington direction onto the railway

[trainbuff]

Surely the Paignton and Kingswear/Dartmouth line does as well. It gets the Torbay Express in Summer

[MVR S&T]

Yes indeed:
https://photos.signalling.org/picture?/8576/category/2389-2007_september

[infoman]

Thank you for those pics of the Paignton signal box.

Returning to to SVR,I looked at google maps, and I can't see where the access is.

Would any one have a layout of the station area.

[Oxonhutch]

Connecting line is in the centre of this Google view.

[MVR S&T]

And the signalbox view:

Old:
https://photos.signalling.org/index?/category/246-kidderminster_junction&acs=kidderminster

New:
https://photos.signalling.org/picture?/16332/category/1546-2013_february

[grahame]

From The BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

Plans for voluntary redundancies have been announced by a heritage railway, which says the cost of coal, diesel and utilities has "rocketed".

Severn Valley Railway (SVR) said other savings measures included a recruitment freeze and steps to save energy usage.

It added it was facing "a significant drop" in passenger revenue.

[grahame]

From Rail Advent

Severn Valley Railway Managing Director, Helen Smith, is to leave the role in 2023, the heritage railway has announced.

The railway says that Helen is leaving to take up another role after three years as Managing Director.

Helen is to remain at the railway over the next few months to work with SVR Chairman Mike Ball, and Vice Chairman Jonathan Dunster, to allow for a smooth handover.

[grahame]

And from Birmingham Live

One of the Midlands' most popular tourist attractions has revealed cuts plans - and refused to rule out compulsory redundancies. The Severn Valley Railway said its steam and diesel services, beloved by generations of Midland families, would only run for four days a week when it reopened on March 4 after the annual closure for maintenance.

[ChrisB]

Left that decision a tad late: i think I’ve seen their 2023 brochure/leaflet about. That’ll be an expensive reprint?

[grahame]

And now The BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

Severn Valley Railway (SVR) is to make up to 18 people redundant as it tackles rising costs.

The heritage attraction needs to save almost £1m on staffing to manage a drop in passenger numbers and increased fuel prices.

Unfilled vacancies and redeployments achieved a £650,000 saving last year, bosses said, with a further £300,000 reduction necessary in 2023.

"We are about to begin a consultation period for compulsory redundancies," said managing director Helen Smith.

Ms Smith, who leaves her post at the end of the month, added the visitor attraction also had to allow for "a significant statutory increase to minimum wage levels".