Why the Severn Valley Railway is one of the UK’s premier attractions
The continuing appeal of one of Britain’s premier steam railways.
SEVERN VALLEY RAILWAY
As you enter the heavy wood and glass doors of Kidderminster Town station, you leave behind the hustling, bustling world of the 2020s and step back to an era when life moved a little more slowly. The Severn Valley Railway gives you the chance to recapture the golden age of steam, feasting your senses in a totally immersive experience. It’s a living museum, in which the rolling stock exhibits earn their keep by doing what they were built for, carrying passengers along the 16-mile line that runs from here to the northern terminus at Bridgnorth.
Take a moment to soak in the heritage atmosphere of the booking office, with its small ticketing windows. You’ll have to stoop down to see the friendly volunteer who serves you, as the window levels are set oddly low.
The time-travel effect hits you full on as you continue through to the stunning, canopy-covered concourse of the station. You could be forgiven for thinking you’ve been transported back to the turn of the 20th Century. But all is not quite as it seems. In fact, the Kidderminster station building was painstakingly built from scratch in 1984, to an authentic GWR design of around 1900, and the glass canopy was added in 2006. The attention to detail and faithful re-creation of the past is a mark of the SVR’s dedication to getting things just right.
Stroll along the platform and head for the business end of the train. If you time things right, you’ll have the opportunity to get close to the steam locomotive that will be taking you on your journey. There’s nothing quite like the smell and noise that come from these marvels of engineering, and you’ll get plenty of both. The SVR uses a variety of home-based locomotives; there are large tender engines such as No. 43106, affectionately known as ‘The Flying Pig’ (you’ll need to ask someone the reason behind this nickname, and you’ll get a different story each time!) And at the other end of the scale, pannier tanks such as No. 7714 are more than capable of hauling a seven-coach rake without a hitch.
On board, you might find yourself in an open carriage, or cloistered in a compartment on one of the many corridor carriages. The SVR has probably the largest collection of historic coaches in Britain, with more than 60 working vehicles that date from 1912 to 1963. Each one has been lovingly restored to its original condition, often entirely by volunteers. The SVR boasts complete rakes of chocolate and cream Great Westerns, Crimson Lake LMS coaches, Gresley-designed teak LNERs and British Railways carmine and cream vehicles, often referred to as ‘blood and custards’.
On the right as your leave Kidderminster, you’ll pass the SVR’s Diesel Depot, where its fleet of diesel locomotives and shunters are maintained and overhauled. Opened in 2016, it’s a state-of-theart facility and plays a key role in keeping well in excess of 20 heritage diesel engines on track. It’s worth reflecting on the fact that some of the diesels are older than some of our steam locos.
Next, you’ll see the carriage shed. It’s a fifth of a mile long and can accommodate up to 62 carriages and, on occasion, the odd locomotive too, keeping these precious heritage assets sheltered from the worst of the elements.
The view through your window changes as you leave behind the urban landscape of Kidderminster and head out into the rolling hills. After the 478-yard Bewdley tunnel, you pass the West Midland Safari Park on the right, where you might be lucky enough to spot a camel, rhinoceros or elephant.
Before you know it, you’re arriving at Bewdley’s red brick station, complete with canopied island platform. Take a moment to look over the cast-iron gents’ urinal that stands proudly on the platform. Rescued from Melrose station in the Scottish borders by a couple of intrepid volunteers, it’s in full working order should you feel the need (and you’re a gent!) It’s a ten-minute walk into the centre of Bewdley, an attractive Georgian market town, packed with charming shops, pubs and cafés, and home to Bewdley Museum.
Leaving Bewdley, you travel high above the rooftops of the town, and on the left you can enjoy a superb view of Thomas Telford’s bridge across the River Severn, built in 1798. From now on, until your destination at Bridgnorth, the line is never more than half a mile from the river.
Not long after passing Trimpley Reservoir, you’ll be crossing Victoria Bridge. The view from the window here is breathtaking, but from ground level it’s even better. This is the most iconic location on the Severn Valley line. When it was built in 1861, this was the longest cast-iron single span bridge in the world; its ambitious design did no harm to the career of Sir John Fowler, who went on to work on the Forth Railway Bridge in Scotland.
Arley station is next, and it really does fulfill the criteria of a ‘chocolate box’ scene. Built of yellow brick, it’s not hard to appreciate why this typical SVR building is popular with film and television crews; most recently it starred in the Netflix film Enola Holmes, playing the role of Ferndell station. If fancy stretching your legs, it’s a short walk from here to Arley Aboretum, with 1,600 acres of walks and views, and Britain’s longest laburnum arch.
Just before Highley station you’ll see The Engine House on your left. It’s a must-see element of any visit to the railway, and entry is free with your ticket. It’s an easy 150 yard walk from the station, and you can inspect up to eight out-of-service locomotives on static display, along with a Travelling Post Office coach and King George VI’s royal carriage. Enjoy a cup of tea and a slice of cake in the café, with stunning views from the balcony across the line itself and the countryside beyond.
The picturesque Hampton Loade station is the last of the ‘country’ stations, and if you have the time to get off here and simply sit on a bench, listening to the sounds and observing the comings and goings of people, birds and insects, you’ll be well rewarded.
On the final stretch of the journey, look out as you pass Eardington, the SVR’s tiny ‘closed’ station. Although trains no longer stop here, it’s carefully preserved and maintained by dedicated volunteers. In homage to its Victorian origins, it has no electricity and the lighting is entirely oil-powered.
A little longer than an hour after leaving Kidderminster, you arrive at Bridgnorth, the SVR’s northern terminus. From the footbridge you’ll get a good view across the railway’s locomotive yard and shed. This is where steam engine overhauls and major repairs take place, along with most of the day-to-day maintenance.
The station building itself is Grade II-listed and stands on Platform 1. Attached to the southern end of it is another example of the SVR’s ability to blend new with old – the refreshment room opened in 2019 and is built in an authentic GWR-style, typical of around 1900. It’s a great place for a meal or snack, and the opportunity to see how every care has been taken to ensure a good heritage
‘fit’. Next door you’ll find the Railwayman’s Arms; there’s been a pub continuously open on this site since 1861, save for a few months when the Covid pandemic forced its closure.
With its excellent on-site parking, Bridgnorth station makes an equally good starting point for a trip on the SVR. You can join the line at any of the intermediate stations, but bear in mind there is limited parking available at these.
With 16 miles of stunning scenery and many views that can only be seen through a carriage window, a varied fleet of locomotives and beautifully preserved station buildings, the Severn Valley Railway lets you journey back in time to create memories for the future.