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...