SEVERN VALLEY AUTUMN STEAM GALA FEELS THE EFFECT OF SUMMER HEAT

Visiting engines and the first gala appearance since overhaul by flagship GWR 4-6-0 No. 4930 Hagley Hall drew crowds to the Severn Valley Railway’s successful September 15-18 autumn steam gala. However, the summer’s freak hot weather and its impact on lin

It was all hands to the pumps on September 14 to prepare for the SVR’s autumn steam gala that took place over the following four days. The eagerly-anticipated event is one of preservation’s highlights of the year, showing off how the railway can produce an intensive timetable, bring in visiting locomotives, and assemble a variety of trains from its first-class fleet of carriages.

One guest was West Somerset Railway mogul No. 9351 making its second visit from Minehead, having first been in 2005.

Converted from 2-6-2T No. 5193 in 2004, its appearance could be considered a homecoming because in its original condition the locomotive was shedded at nearby Stourbridge Junction. Upon arrival one of the first jobs to be done at Bridgnorth was the reweighing of the locomotive before it ventured out on the line.

Another guest was LMS ‘Black Five’

No. 45231 The Sherwood Forester, courtesy of Locomotive Services Limited at Crewe, a regular visitor on main line specials. It arrived over the national network connection on September 14 and operated out of Bewdley.

What proved to be a very popular firsttime visitor was Hunslet 0-6-0ST No. 1873 of 1937 Jessie, from the Pontypool & Blaenavon

Railway. It spent its working life in Cardiff before withdrawal in 1965.

GWR 0-6-0PT No. 7714 was still on the low-loader the day before the gala, having just returned from Blaenavon which it visited for the September 9-11 gala; Jessie came in ‘exchange’ for its appearance there.

The most extraordinary visitor had to be 15in gauge 0-6-0T Anne, from the Perrygrove Railway in the Dean Forest. Built in 2004 by the Exmoor Steam Railway, it ran on 100 metres of specially-laid track alongside The Engine House at Highley. The connection was its purple colour, matching that of Bulleid West Country light Pacific No. 70 Elizabeth II (aka No. 34027 Taw Valley) running on the line below. Anne arrived with Welsh coal, one open carriage and its own shed, a container where it spent the nights. Carefully fenced off, it gave rides costing £2, which were very popular. Some of the SVR crew are regular visitors and drivers at Perrygrove.

Tinder-dry conditions

After many regular steam services have been cancelled throughout the season due to the recent dry spell and lineside fires, concerns were raised about the gala. It rained the week beforehand but not enough to really penetrate the ground, and surfaces were still tinder-dry.

Trains simultaneously departed at both ends of the line at 8am. Double-headers with Ivatt ‘Flying Pig’ 4MT 2-6-0 No. 43106 and No. 7714 were at a minimum and were used to get locomotives in position for their next duties.

A freight train made a welcome return behind No. 43106, the first to run on the line since last year’s autumn gala. Overnight running was rested due to the coal situation to save it for the all-important Christmas trains.

No matter how much planning goes into these showcase events, it takes only one lineside fire to disrupt the ambitious timetable, and accordingly, trains ran late because of this.

Fire engines were called to one blaze around Northwood Lane, which had to be closed for a time. Some residents complained and were angry at not being able to get in or out.

On several occasions, crews extinguished fires that delayed services further – and caused the withdrawal of newly-relaunched

flagship GWR 4-6-0 4930 Hagley Hall. Accordingly, it ran for two of the four days before BR Standard 4MT 4-6-0 No. 75069 took over. Trains were then driven very gently to reduce the risk of further fires.

Goodbye for now

Making their last appearances at a gala for some time were regular performers GWR 2-8-0 No. 2857 and WR 0-6-0PT No. 1501, the boiler tickets of which expire soon. The 2857 Society announced that the last day in traffic for No. 2857 will be Monday, January 2 when it will head the 2.35pm ‘Severn Valley Limited’ with nine GWR coaches.

The gala saw four full rakes of carriages used – the Midland and GWR sets, the LNER teaks, and the BR Mk.1 crimson and cream. Local trains of three and four maroon carriages ran from Bridgnorth to Highley and Bewdley to Kidderminster. The demonstration freight ran between Highley and Kidderminster.

An unusual combination of stock was the local train made up of two GWR coaches and a brake van running between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade behind Jessie. These shuttles proved poplar, especially the brake van rides.

Over the four days, eight train sets and nine locomotive diagrams took place. Daily rover tickets cost £34.20 on Friday and Saturday in

advance and £38 on the day. A £2 reduction was made for the Thursday and Sunday, and multi-day tickets were available, offering 18 hours of steam travel from 8am until nearly midnight.

Other attractions included No. 43106 shunting goods trains at Highley, Arley and Kidderminster, GWR 2-6-0 No. 7325 on display at Kidderminster with footplate visits, trade stalls at Kidderminster, Kidderminster Railway Museum Railart, and a vintage bus service between Bridgnorth Station and Eardington Halt on Friday and

Saturday. There was also the welcome return of breakfast trains and daily pie and mash trains in an LNER carriage, and other dining options were available.

Apart from late running, the gala was considered a success. Weather remained dry with no sign of rain, and while morning dew damped down vegetation a little, it had minimal effect in reducing the fire risk.

The Sherwood Forester was not due to leave the SVR before October 5 due to crewing arrangements: however, there were no plans to put it or any of the other visitors out on passenger services before they all departed. With more than 5000 passengers having travelled throughout the four days, head of marketing Lesley Carr said: “We’re delighted with how the autumn gala has gone this year and have received many extremely positive comments, with the quartet of guest locomotives adding a great deal to the event.

“Although we had to withdraw No. 4930 Hagley Hall on the Friday evening, those who attended on the first two days were well rewarded by the sight of the SVR’s flagship locomotive back on the line.”

Seen from across Bewdley’s rooftops, No. 4930 Hagley Hall departs from the station with the GWR carriage set on September 15.

Bulleid West Country light Pacific No. 34027 Taw Valley, which was repainted purple and renamed No. 70 Elizabeth II for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations earlier this year, stands ready for duty on Bridgnorth Shed on September 14. The name was chosen by a public ballot, in which many thousands of people voted. SVR managing director Helen Smith said: “Over the past months, this locomotive has brought so much joy and pleasure to people in its unique livery. Painting it in the official jubilee colour and renaming it were our ways of celebrating the 70-year reign of the late queen.”

A very Great Western scene as No. 4930 Hagley Hall runs into Bewdley on September 16.

LMS ‘Black Five’ No. 45231 The Sherwood Forester heads to Bewdley Tunnel at dusk on September 15, as the last of the day’s sunshine glints off its side. ALAN CORFIELD

Jessie runs up Eardington Bank on a shuttle between Hampton Loade and Bridgnorth on September 16.

Locomotives line up on Bridgnorth Shed on September 14, the day before the gala.

After starting lineside fires at Eardington Bank and Northwood Lane, Hagley Hall climbs the bank on its last run before being withdrawn on Friday, September 16.

LMS ‘Black Five’ No. 45231 The Sherwood Forester, visiting courtesy of Locomotive Services Ltd at Crewe, crosses Oldbury Viaduct after departing from Bridgnorth on September 19.

Visiting from the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway, Hunslet 0-6-0ST No. 1873 Jessie climbs through Eardington Cutting on a shuttle between Hampton Loade and Bridgnorth on September 16.

Visiting from the Perrygrove Railway, 0-6-0T Anne stands on 100 metres of specially-laid 15in gauge track at The Engine House as it is passed by No. 70 Elizabeth II at Highley on September 15.

LMS ‘Black Five’ No. 45231 The Sherwood Forester heads a September 17 departure from Bewdley.

Beneath a mackerel sky, GWR 0-6-0PT No. 7714 runs away from Foley Park Tunnel on September 17. ALAN WEAVER

The first Down train of September 16 climbs through Eardington station behind BR Standard 4MT No. 75069.

Visiting West Somerset Railway mogul No. 9351 leaves Bridgnorth at 8.40am on September 15.

WSR mogul No. 9351 crosses Falling Stands Viaduct spanning the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal with a Kidderminsterbound service on September 17. ALAN WEAVER

Ivatt 2-6-0 No. 43106 departs from Bewdley with a goods train on September 15.

West Somerset Railway mogul No. 9531 climbs out of Stanley Cutting after departing from Highley.

With a four-coach local service between Bewdley and Kidderminster, WR 0-6-0PT 1501 departs from Bewdley on September 15.

Making its last gala appearance before overhaul, GWR 2-8-0 No. 2857 heads past Little Rock between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade with a September 16 afternoon train.