2007 updates
Updates by Hugh McQuade, Restoration Expert
October 2007
Despite earlier hopes, the entire railway north of Bewdley remains closed, though considerable progress has been made, and many of the lesser areas of damage have been fully repaired.
Brake Second 35219 has been fully repainted externally. Inside, it already carried the Trust's newly-made BR 1950s upholstery, so it is now almost 'as built'. All it needs now is a railway to run on.
4509 was completed internally in the early summer, and it now looks very well indeed.
Major restoration works on 7511 and 4690 have taken big steps forward - to check out the updates click here.
Loco 7819 is now resident under cover at the McArthur Glenn complex in Swindon, where it will remain for a few years until its turn for overhaul comes up. It will run again - look out for the launch of a major fundraising exercise next year, once the SVR itself is back in one piece.
We are investing in low-speed charging equipment for the battery chargers on our carriages, which will help the batteries themselves to become, and remain, fully charged. We have also bought no less than seven complete new sets of carriage batteries, which will last much longer if they can be kept charged. Good lighting is not just a safety issue - it also allows passengers to see the quality of the restoration work.
July 2007
Three of the Trust's coaches, in set L, are now marooned at Bridgnorth: 2300, 12992 and 24617. Their next duty is likely to be Bridgnorth - Hampton Loade shuttles, hopefully by mid August.
Travels further afield will have to await the completion of major civil engineering works at Highley, which could easily take three months.
The damage to the SVR is both widespread and severe. In some cases the damage was made even worse by further extremely heavy rain on Monday 25 June, which washed away further areas of embankment, and deposited more soil and vegetation in the cuttings.
Massive effort is going into the reinstatement works, including new or enhanced drainage. Land use has changed significantly since the Severn Valley Railway was built, which in some cases has led to a faster run off of water, much of which then hit the SVR.
Please support the SVR Flood Damage Appeal, to help us get our railway back intact as soon as possible.
March 2007
The big news is that the LMS & BR Coach Fund have become part of the Trust. This means that their eight coaches (LMS 24617, 2300, 12992, 7511 and BR 9220, 25346, 25498 and 16267) are now Trust property and therefore as safe (legally) as anything can be these days. Of the eight, seven are runners, and the eighth, 7511, is in the final stages of a very thorough rebuilding at Bridgnorth.
This is a most welcome move by the Fund, who now carry on as the LMS & BR Coach Department of the Trust, with the vehicles secure and the added benefit, as part of a charity, of Gift Aid on donations.
The Rolling Stock Trust has been asked to loan 7819 to Swindon for a few years. This has been the subject of much discussion, but it has been agreed to loan the loco for four years, possibly extended to a maximum of five. It will replace Hagley Hall, which is to come back to the SVR. The Rolling Stock Trust has reached agreement with SVR that the loco will not lose its place in the overhaul queue; this was a condition of agreeing to the loan.
On the carriage front, 4509 is having its toilet floors replaced before going back into service for the summer. 35219 has just entered Bewdley paint shop and will emerge in shiny maroon, to replace the decidedly faded purplish hue which has developed over the years.
4690, owned jointly with the SVRA Wolverhampton Branch, will now go to Ramparts of Derby for the structural work required for its conversion to a wheelchair carrier. When complete, the vehicle will retain 52 conventional seats, be able to accommodate three wheelchairs, and have a wheelchair-accessible toilet. This is all part of the SVR's aim to be able to accommodate wheelchair users in each train.
4399, another TSO, is also Trust property, and will be converted to another miniature buffet car, RMB. Both designs share the same body shell, though with some alterations in the windows. It is likely that this will be started at Bridgnorth once 7511 is complete.
Fundraising for 9084, our GW-designed first class sleeper, has reached the stage that we are now able to book it in to Ramparts for the steelwork to be done early in 2008. The vehicle is almost complete, in original condition, internally and we propose to keep it so. While it is likely to be used for volunteer accommodation, we hope to be able to have the attendant's compartment and one sleeping compartment available for - carefully controlled - public viewing.
ALL this costs money! The Rolling Stock Trust Company Board has agreed expenditure of around £25,000, and 9084 will cost at least that much again. Our appeal leaflet is to be redesigned, and we are working on a list of the great and good with the intention to make direct appeals. All donations, however small - or large! - are always welcome, and Gift Aid forms can be copied from this website, be emailed to you as as a jpeg, or sent to you by post. Please don't hesitate to ask!