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SVR General Discussion

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by threelinkdave, Aug 20, 2014.

  1. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    https://www.shropshirestar.com/news...or-funding-to-plan-opening-disused-rail-line/

    £46.3m? I assume that's per mile, not the total cost?!
     
  2. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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  3. I. Cooper

    I. Cooper Member

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    They're probably still trying to stop laughing...

    Given the houses, roads and stabilisation schemes that would be need to be demolished, moved or enhanced to support such a proposal it seems a non-starter before it's even begun - certainly long before there are 4 trains an hour between Buildwas and Bridgnorth, and there's no suggestion from the Trust just who is going to run these services and maintain it all - Notwork Rail and a commercial train operating company? Some yet to be formed private company? As you say, SVR have made it clear they have no aspirations north of B'North and have their hands full with what they've got!
     
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  4. Robin

    Robin Well-Known Member Friend

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    The Ironbridge Railway Trust has just published their detailed plans on their website.

    http://www.ironbridge-railway-trust.org.uk/IRT-News/IRT-news.html

    The 'rail demand model' is good for a laugh - apparently there will be such demand for services that there will be 10 trains a day leaving Bridgnorth for Kidderminster.
     
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  5. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    Personally, I suspect that model may not be daft - with the right model, I can imagine a service between Ironbridge and Coalport being quite good for moving tourists between the different attractions, especially with park & ride at Buildwas. I'm less convinced about the merits of this scheme between Coalport and Bridgnorth, or of the benefits to the SVR of joining up the two operations - I can see that posing some tricky operating and commercial challenges.
     
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  6. Robin

    Robin Well-Known Member Friend

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    There is undoubtedly a good case for a park and ride at Buildwas serving the Gorge. Arguably a fleet of electric buses would provide this best because they could reach the Museum sites on both sides of the gorge, but if rail is to be used then the obvious solution would be a light rail tram type system as the TSR themselves proposed at one point. Ecologically sound, smaller footprint for the station in Ironbridge on what is now the main town car/coach park, less stressful on areas like Benthall Viaduct and Jackfield (it could probably run along the short section of Saltwells road next to the tile museum obviating the need for building a new road) and so on.

    Notionally such a system could extend to Bridgnorth. However I see no reason apart from WIBN for the proposal to use heavy rail, especially double track north of Coalport which it never was in the first place.
     
  7. I. Cooper

    I. Cooper Member

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    It's interesting that the DfT have listed the bid as "reinstatement of rail sidings at the former Ironbridge Power Station", which seems to have upset the Trust as not representing their rather grandiose schemes. ...And from a practical standpoint I'm not sure they need 'reinstating' seeing as they haven't been removed, and there have been various proposals about Harworth using them during the power station redevelopment. But anyway, perhaps DfT have already discounted the WIBN element down to a more practical proposal?

    Telford Steam Railway's aspirations for the branch from Madeley Jnc. seem far more likely to happen than a connection to Bridgnorth promoted by an independent Trust, to be run by some unidentified operator over a section of line passing through exceedingly unstable ground. The council's 17.6 million stabilisation scheme at Jackfield was designed to support a minor road carrying light infrequent traffic, who's going to pay for the re-engineering of the scheme to carry a frequent rail service and reposition the road? The Trust's proposals and plans seem very light on detail when it comes to the ongoing costs associated with keeping a railway running through the gorge.
     
  8. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    I’m just waiting for the Facebook group to come along!
     
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  9. Bluenosejohn

    Bluenosejohn New Member

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    The great thing about the Severn Valley Railway is its variety and this is no different with the number of extensions they get told they should adopt which have occurred at regular intervals over the years.

    This time round Ironbridge: next replace the line to Stourport: what about rejoining Bewdley to the National network or why not restore Dowles viaduct and onto Wyre Forest!

    Personally I think the obvious one of connecting to the Bridgnorth Cliff Railway has been missed and will be setting up the appropriate Facebook page with myself as the appropriate consultant for any funding..... :rolleyes:
     
  10. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    When Nick Ralls was in charge didn’t the SVR get given 1st option on the Cliff Railway?
    Regarding future extensions you’ve missed out the option to go to Wombourne then Wolverhampton from by Crossing Cottage ;)
     
  11. Bluenosejohn

    Bluenosejohn New Member

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    The suggestion to the link to Bewdley was discussed here. The fact that one of the politicians most vociferous about it was on Wolverhampton City Council which is well outside the area concerned says it all.

    He might have sent his time better looking into say the line from Wolverhampton to Dudley and Stourbridge which was apparently moth-balled in the 1990's when two sectors of British Railways who used it couldn't agree between them which department should be responsible for the cost. Truly with our esteemed leaders Plus ça change.....

    https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/severn-valley-new-station.1131759/
     
  12. Robin

    Robin Well-Known Member Friend

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    Off topic (no change there then), but Dudley to Merry Hill (aka Round Oak) is in progress as part of the extension of the Metro while plans for Merry Hill to Stourbridge surfaced again just last month. The latter being rather more credible than Ironbridge to Bridgnorth, I have to say.
    https://www.stourbridgenews.co.uk/n...ierley-hill-passenger-train-service-proposed/
     
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  13. D1039

    D1039 Guest

    The official stance of the SVR has varied between "the railway land north of Bridgnorth has been long since sold, and there is now no possibility of Severn Valley trains reaching Ironbridge and Shrewsbury ever again" and "maintaining a watching brief". and offering technical assistance.

    Patrick
     
  14. I. Cooper

    I. Cooper Member

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    Probably best to work chimney first towards High Town!

    On "The Ironbridge Trial of Steam" ('eck, is that 4 years ago now) it was interesting keeping an eye on the water level in places, but I don't think even that had anything as steep as the cliff railway! lol.
     
  15. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    I’m not as up to date as yourself Patrick, but the last word I saw from the SVR (admittedly some time ago) was more the former than the latter. It does seem to rear it’s head every now and again.
     
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  16. D1039

    D1039 Guest

    From the Llangollen Railway thread talking about railways diversifying income, was a question:

    I'll start by saying there are many people better qualified to answer.

    The SVR had a major crisis with boilers back in 2000 but for the point you raise it's probably it's more instructive to look at steam locos hired in. The SVR Wiki page shows a steady stream of hires (I count 16, around 1 loco for two seasons a year) since about 2009 https://www.svrwiki.com/Steam_Locomotives_hired_by_the_SVR. In there is 3650 (2012) that you recalled. It's not constant, at times there have been more than one and 2014-17 there were none. During that time there were serviceable locos, but insufficient to provide the necessary cover for the services the railway ran.

    There isn't one simple answer to your question and IIRC the SVR has done different things at different times, sometimes seeking more contract work (for revenue and profit) and sometimes reducing new contract work. There's been at least one reorganisation. But generally during that time AIUI the SVR has had teams for contract work and teams for home locos, and continued to work on both.

    Patrick
     
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  17. Andy2857

    Andy2857 Member

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    I seem to remember that 2012 was the year of the broken springs. Almost every loco in traffic broke springs during the main season and we reached the point where demand outstripped Bridgnorth's stock of spares.

    SVR(E) seems to have largely focussed contract work in the boiler shop and on CNC produced items in recent years. Part of the reason being to create a clearer distinction between contract and in house to make sure that sufficient resource is available to maintain an active home fleet of sufficient size to avoid the need to hire in.
     
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  18. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    When 3650 visited, it failed. Was repaired at Bridgnorth and worked at the autumn gala in return so in that case the railway did contract work which benefited the railways operations directly, albeit if only in a small way.
     
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  19. Wyreman

    Wyreman New Member

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    Compliments to whoever on the SVR team wrote this:

    https://www.svr.co.uk/NewsItem.aspx?a=959

    Well judged tone, helpful specifics (eg 43% less capacity) and a sense that nobody is being forgotten. I wouldn't have been surprised to see no discounted tickets for 1940s this year, so even a small number is welcome. This is the kind of thing that makes me more likely to support the railway in future.
     
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  20. Colin Allcars

    Colin Allcars Member

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    Really looking forward to the Spring Steam Up now I can leave Wales.:Happy:
     
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