Severn Valley Railway...

"Departing In the Sun. 2857 departing Bridgnorth" 

Hi all. Today saw me pay and Jenny visit to the Severn Valley Railway for the first time in 2019. Our last trip to Severn Valley Railway was with Jenny's friend Alice in April last year (2018) see my last years post here. Leaving Burton-on-Trent just after 7am, arriving into Birmingham New Street just after 8am before changing trains to Smethick Galton Bridge and again at Smethwick for Kidderminster, arriving at Kidderminster just after 9:30am, we wandered out of the Mainline Station across to the Kidderminster Town Station for the Severn Valley Railway. Tickets Purchased we wandered onto the platform and boarded the train which was sat gleaming in the sunlight with 2857

The planned departure was the 10am to Bridgnorth with 2857 in charge. At 10am excally, we departed Kidderminster for Bridgnorth with stops at Bewdley, Arley, Highley and Hampton Loade where we would pass the newly restored BR Standard 4MT 4-6-0 No.75069 with its train for Kidderminster. Before long we arrived at Bridgnorth where we bailed out, Jenny decided she needed the toilet while I decided to stand on the footbridge finding 34027 "Taw Valley" lifeless in Bridgnorth Yard alongside 1501 seen to the left of the photo above.

After a toilet break, we walked into the public viewing gallery to watch 2857 depart her train for Kidderminster. After watching 2857 depart with a slight wheel slip, it was time for lunch, Jenny found a old pipe laying in the mud and decided to try walk across it pausing for me to get a quick photo of her. 

On our way back to Platform 1, I stopped to get a quick photo of the Bridgnorth Station Complex, complete with the new cafe building which can bee seen to the right of the photo. 

following a quick photo of the new station building, I spotted a second photo opportunity of Bridgnorth Yard with 34027 "Taw Valley" & and 1501 gleaming in the mid morning sun light. Photo finished we walked back to Platform 1 to get ourselves some lunch before sitting down on a bench to wait the arrival of 7714 with the 12:28 service into Bridgnorth. 

Before long 7714 arrived with the 11:20 from Kidderminster, as the passengers got off and quickly swamped Platform 1, 7714 promptly ran round her train and went into Bridgnorth Yard for servicing ready to form the 1:05 to Kidderminster stopping at: Hampton Loade, Highley, Arley & Bewdley as listed in the SVR's Timetable. As 7714 ran round her train, I quickly got a photo of her facing bunker first to Kidderminster before me and Jenny got back on the train bound for Highley.

A quick note to be made about 7714 is that rather than being a GWR Swindon built, she was in fact built back Kerr Stuart of Stoke-on-Trent, not far from where Jenny and Alice are from (Hilderstone / Stone). Below is a photo of 7714's builders plate while stationary at Bridgnorth Station.

"7714's builders plate, built in 1930 by Kerr Stuart of Stoke-on-Trent"

At 1:10 with a toot from 7714's Whistle, we departed Bridgnorth for Highley where me and Jenny would disembark to visit the Highley Engine house. 7714 made a fantastic noise out of Bridgnorth before coasting through Erdington and slowing for a speed restriction on the final approach to Hampton Loade. On arrival at Hampton Loade our train was held for around 15 - 20 minutes to allow the late running service hauled by 75069 to pass there.

After a long wait at Hampton Loade for 75069, she arrived and after the crews exchanged tokens with the signalman at Hampton Loade, she departed again bound for Bridgnorth, leaving us sat for another 5 - 10 minutes.. After what felt like a 45 minute wait, we soon departed again with a quick stop at Country Park Halt to allow passengers to alight. We were soon on our way again slowing for Highley, on the final approach into Highley I stuck my head out the carriage window in preparation to get off and to my surprise, didn't expect Highley Station to be so busy as it was. 

We got off the train and walked up over the footbridge to watch 7714 depart for Kidderminster, we then walked over to The Highley Engine House. Situated jut to the south of Highley Station. As can be seen in the photo above of 813 seen approaching Highley with a Driver Experience Course. (Note: Highley Station can be seen in the top left hand corner of the photo.) While in the Engine house we decided it was time for refreshments so a stop in the upstairs cafe was a must, allowing for photos of 813 & 2857 from the balcony above the outside picnic area too.

Following refreshment break, we headed back downstairs in the Engine House to head back to Highley Station to see the arrival and departure of 75069, the newly restored Standard 4MT 4-6-0 Tender engine facing Kidderminster like 2857. 

Before exiting the Engine House, I quickly grabbed the opportunity to photograph one of the exhibits inside, a 0-6-0 Tank engine in Red.... Who's name I can't remember....We headed back to Highley Station to await the arrival of 75069.

Before long 75069 arrived and after a couple of minutes she departed bound for Kidderminster looking very smart in her new liver.. Out shopped in BR Lined Black. She departed promptly with her rather full train for Kidderminster. At 4:45pm our slightly delayed 4:27 service to Kidderminster arrival with 2857 at the helm. We boarded and found seats for our journey back to Kidderminster stopping at Arley, Northwood Lane & Bewdley on the run back to Kidderminster crossing 75069 at Bewdley.

Our slightly later than planned arrival into Kidderminster prevented a visit to the gift shop but allowed for a quick photo fo 2857 as she ran round her train to return to Bewdley Light Engine, we popped into Kidderminster Railway Museum for a quick refreshment before walking back to the mainline station to wait for our train home. Once again another fantastic day out with Jenny. Cheers all, Jake...

A Not So Standard Trip On Midland Railway Centre...

Hi all. Today saw me take a trip to the Midland Railway Centre, Butterley in Ripley, Derbyshire to see the PRCLT (Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust) BR 4MT Standard 2-6-4 Tank Loco No.80080 in operation on the Midland Railway Trust's own site between Butterley and Swanwick Junction....Well...So I thought anyway...

I woke up at 06:00 and having got a lift from my dad to Burton Railway Station, i caught the train into Derby to change for a bus to Butterley. I arrived at Butterley Station just after 9am and walked down the pathway to the station entrance. Having walked onto Butterley Platform, I proceeded to walk to The West Shed home of The Princess Royal Locomotive Trust who own No.6233 "Duchess of Sutherland" and No.46203 "Princess Margaret Rose".

On my arrival at Swanwick Junction, I was greeted by a Midland Railway Trust Volunteer who informed me that 80080 had failed and would be replaced by the railway's resident Class 141 Pacer DMU Railcar. With this information in mind I had a choice, I could either head back to Butterley and catch the Bus back to Derby and go home or I could stay and photograph 80080, 6233 and 46203 and spend the rest of the day photographing and filming the Class 141... I decided that it would be a waste of money to go home emptied handed without any photos, so wandered up to West Shed to be greeted by three other photographers who were gathered taking photos of 80080. I got my DSLR Camera out of my camera bag and began taking photos of her in the morning sunlight. I was then approached by a PRCLT volunteer who informed me that 80080 would be moved back into the shed by the trust's Class 08 Shunter No. 08 331, With that in mind I managed to get a photo of both the 08 and the Standard Tank side by side before the 08 moved to drag 80080 back into the shed. 

Now with the main reason for my visit no longer running I decided to walk back down to Swanwick Junction station to wait for the 141 Pacer to get a morning photograph of it in the sunlight. On my way down to the station i decided to stop off outside the Exhibition Hall to take photographs of the Class 37, 20 & 52 along with a diesel shunter too....lol. 

I then headed towards Swanwick Junction Station to wait for the 141 Pacer Railcar with the first train of the day (11:00) from Butterley to Riddings Junction. Before long the sound of the 141's horn could be heard before she came into sight in beautiful sunny conditions. 

Having taken a photo of 141113 on her arrival into Swanwick Junction. I decided to hang around to wait for her return so I could get a photo of her departing Swanwick for Butterley. 

On her return I quickly got a photo of her as she left Swanwick for Butterley before walking up to West Shed again this time to take photos of 6233, 46203 & 99041. For anyone wondering, 99041 is 6233's support coach for when she's out on the mainline, currently receiving some well earned TLC in the West Shed's workshop. 

After taking photos of 6233 and 99041 from the workshop balcony I worked my way back towards The West Shed Entrance to get photos of 46203 and 80080 before making my way back to the station to catch the train back to Butterley. 

 

While on the workshop Viewing Gallery, I noticed that work had started on repainting 99041 as can be seen in the photo above.

After taking photos of 80080 in the shed, i headed out the shed back to Swanwick Junction Station to get the train back to Butterley. On my arrival back at Butterley it was time for refreshments before filming 141113 as she departed with the 14:00 service to Swanwick Junction. After filming her depart Butterley for Swanwick Junction, before taking a photo of Butterley Signal Box.

While waiting for the return of the 141, I discovered that Butterley Signal Box had been bought down to Derbyshire from Ais Gill on the Settle and Carlisle Railway by volunteers of the Midland Railway Trust Ltd. below are two photos of the box, the first being a distance photo looking across Butterley Yard. The other being a close up photo of the signal box itself.

The box can be seen in all its glory gleaming in the sunlight with its lovely looking Carmine and Cream colour.

A close up of Butterley box with the box name clearly visible on the front. One interesting thing I discovered during my visit was that non of the 3 operational boxes on the line were in use, this is due to only running one train service with the driver on the DMU keeping hold of the token during the service. (Sadly I was unable to get a photo of the token itself... watch this space for future photos of railway tokens and signalling systems though.) 

Before long the recognisable sound of 141113's Two Tone Horn could be heard in the distance as she approached with her train for Hammersmith. Before long she departed Butterley for Swanwick Junction. I decided to get one more shot of the DMU, this time at the reservoir edge looking across at the train. After two more shots of the Pacer, this time crossing the causeway, I walked back into the station to look in the gift shop before catching my bus back to Derby.

After a quick look in the gift shop to buy myself yet another DVD and some chocolate I left MRC to get the bus back into Derby. Another great day out once again. Cheers all, Jake...