S.V.R. Engineering work at Bewdley

Work has begun in earnest at various locations along the route of the S.V.R. with contractors now on-site at a number of locations. Some fairly substantial projects have now commenced in order to make good forty years of intensive operation which had taken it's toll on the railway's infrastructure, especially the track itself and some of the fixed structures. At the same time as this work is on-going, the S.V.R. is taking the opportunity of the enforced curtailment of train services to undertake a number of less substantial jobs while the weather, at present, is reasonably favourable. The cattle dock spur on the down side of Bewdley yard is one such task, which consists of replacing the track and it's formation with new materials, mainly in the form of concrete sleepers. To facilitate these measures, all the rolling stock which normally occupies this line has had to be temporarily relocated onto platform one whilst the work takes place. Doris & Sue in the Station Fund coach and Trish & Graham Stevens who man the Erlestoke Manor sales fund coach are enjoying(?) a change of scenery for the time being, but I am assured that, in the meantime, both are still very much open for business.Now that there are no service trains to deal with at the moment, and in lieu of normal duties, Bewdley station staff are also busy on jobs in and around the station site, especially the items on the gardening agenda.

4th January 2011 - H.S.T. in trouble

 

4th January 2010, Bromsgrove

 

1V54 the 0632 Dundee-Plymouth (power cars 43303 +43384) failed at approx.14.00 at Dunhampstead, between Stoke Works and Abbotswood Junctions with total loss of air and unable to move forward.The plan to rescue the train was to provide assistance with Freightliner locomotive no: 66555 which was following with a coal train. 66555 dumped its wagons in Stoke Wks Jct loop and was attached to 43303 and propelled the HST to Bromsgrove station to detrain the passengers; this happened at around

19:00, some 5hrs after the train had failed. The HST was then to be pushed back up the Lickey incline with 66555 as a banker.

However halfway up the climb 66555 itself failed. The train was then brought back down the bank and left in the sidings at Bromsgrove.

 The following day Colas hired in 57308 and hauled the HST back up the Lickey incline as (5D02) to Barton under Needwood. 

 

The photo shows 57308 hauling 43384 / 303 out of the sidings at Bromsgrove.

 

Report by Steve Widdowson.

S.V.R. engineering works and associated train movements

      At the begining of 2011 the Severn Valley Railway began preperations in connection with a number of major civil engineering projects on the line, the most important of which are: 1) Drainage and track replacement work at Arley station, and between Arley and Victoria bridge. 2) Waterproofing of Bewdley south (Sandbourne) viaduct and associated trackwork, and 3) Relaying of the down yard headshunt at Bewdley.
       These works will require a considerable amount of temporary displacement of static rolling stock to other locations, including the removal of a number of items from Arley, together with the Erlestoke Manor Fund coach and the Station Fund coach at Bewdley which will reside in platform one, as there are no booked public train services for the time being over the winter period. Meanwhile the class 20 diesel locomotive no: D. 8188 will be keeping itself occupied on these duties.