Past and Present Companion - The Severn Valley Railway: Volume 2
Built between 1858 and 1862 The Severn Valley Railway was a through route that linked Hartlebury, near 1.11Droitwich, with Shrewsbury for Just over 100 years from 1862 until 1963. Intermediate stations on the original line were Stourport-on-Severn, Bewdley, Arley, Highley, Hampton Loade, Bridgnorth, Coalport, Ironbridge, Buildwas, Cressage and Berrington. Absorbed Into the Great Western Railway In the 1870s. the original Severn Valley Railway was also extended with the link line from Bewdley to Kidderminster being added in 1878. This enabled trains to run direct from the West Midlands Industrial area, although most Kidderminster to Bewdley trains continued through via the Wyre Forest line to Tenbury Wells or Woofferton. At Buildwas Junction, Severn Valley trains connected with services from Wellington to Much Wenlock and Craven Arms.
Although providing an essential service for the development of the district, financially success proved elusive. Four passenger trains per day in each direction over the whole of the line ran during Great Western days, and a few more on the section south of Bridgnorth. Freight traffic, mostly of an agricultural nature, and coal traffic from the Highley area, were the principle sources of revenue. The advent of the motor lorry in the 1930s spelt disaster for freight, though the line was strategically useful in the Second World War.
After nationalisation in 1948, passenger traffic started to dwindle, largely as a result of the family motor car. Certain economies were effected in the British Railways era, firstly with the Introduction of single-unit diesel railcars, and later with diesel multiple units on some of the services. though certain steam-hauled trains survived to the end. The line was closed to through passenger and freight services in 1963 and the track north of Bridgnorth was dismantled. A few passenger services continued to link Bewdley with Kidderminster and Hartlebury, and coal traffic survived south of Alveley Colliery, though these activities were discontinued in 1970 and 1969 respectively. That might have spelt the end for the Severn Valley Railway, but for the arrival of the preservationists!
Softback, 128 pages, colour photographs
Condition: Very Good
ISBN: 9781858952642
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Updated: 2 January 2025