|
 |
|
ex-GWR Pannier Tank #1501 crossing the Victoria Bridge south of Arley
|
|
Click on an image to see a larger size in Flickr |
|
Twice during the early summer of 2003 we visited the Severn Valley Railway (SVR). This is one of the largest and best of the many preserved steam railways in the UK. It has a "main line" feel to it (though it is now single track) and can accommodate the largest British steam locomotives. It also, like only a few other preservation lines, has direct access from the modern railway system and you can buy a through ticket with a change at Kidderminster. Both times we visited the area we combined riding the rails with hiking along the banks of the River Severn. The combination of "walk one way, rail back" makes for an interesting day out, the more so when both pastimes are among our favorites! |
 |
| In a Nutshell:
Date: May and June, 2003 Weather: Warm in May, very warm in June with fine hazy weather. Route: In May we walked from Bewdley to Hampton Loade and took the train back. In June we took the train from Arley to Bridgenorth, walked back to Hampton and then took the train back to Arley. This travelogue follows our walks and journeys. Recommended? If you like hiking in beautiful country with the added pleasure of riding behind steam trains, this is a great day out. If you don't want to hike, take the train both ways! The towns and villages along the way are also interesting and picturesque. |
| Bewdley was the original southern terminus of the preserved railway. The line has been extended to Kidderminster where direct access from the national railway system is possible. We drove to Bewdley and parked the car at the station (I think it was free) and then walked into the town to join the official "Severn River Walk".
Bewdley has a fine station with plenty of facilities including a café. |
 |
 |
Bewdley has a long history associated with the River Severn. At one time it was a major inland port and the merchant houses along the quay are part of that rich history. The bridge over the Severn was designed and built by Thomas Telford, who left his mark all over late 18th and early 19th Century Britain, but particularly in Shropshire. His greatest accomplishments include both bridges and canals though he also designed churches, roads and docks. |
| Still quite early on a lovely spring morning we set out on the west bank of the river and hiked upstream, heading for the next settlement of any size, Arley. We passed the site of a bridge carrying a branch line to the west into the Wyre Forest, long since abandoned. After about two miles we came to a second bridge which didn't seem to make much sense - later we discovered it carries huge water pipelines from reservoirs in Wales to the City of Birmingham.
Just before Arely we rounded a bend in the river and came upon the spectacular Victoria Bridge, a part of the Severn Valley Raiway. And just to make our morning, ex-GWR pannier tank #1501 chuffed south from Bridgenorth MPD to Kidderminster to take the first northbound train of the day. |
 |
 |
Arley is one of the most attractive villages in England. I understand it has been used as a film location and I can understand why. The village is part of an estate and the architecture reflects this. There is a small village shop as well as a café (which was not open both days we visited!) The village is on the east side of the river and can be accessed by a substantial footbridge. Ample parking is available in a field by the river on the west side (this is where we parked in June) and it is but a short walk up the hill to the SVR station. If you travel by train the length of the SVR, do consider getting off here for an hour or so. |
|
|
ex-GWR Pannier Tank #7714 at a grade crossing north of Arley
|
 |
We took a short detour to a grade crossing at GR 754756 just in time to see ex-GWR pannier tank #7714 pulling a load of six cars toward Arley. The engine made light work of the task, but of course, the run south is all downhill! Here are three photos from the same location, taken with a Nikkor 24-120mm zoom. |  |
 |
Back on the river bank we came across a small side stream which has been bridged by a fine cast iron footbridge. Such an ornate construction might suggest that a stately home is nearby but we couldn't find one on the map. The walk here is interesting without there being the added attraction of a steam railway running in parallel. There is plenty to see including wildlife and, in the spring, an abundance of wild flowers. |
| At Highley we scrambled up the steep track to the station just in time to see Ivatt Class 2 #46443 exchange tokens with the signal box "bobby". I'm sorry about the quality of this image - it was quite dark under the trees requiring a slow shutter speed - but it would be a shame not to include an example of the procedure for giving a train the "right of way".
Highley was a local center for coal mining, though most of the evidence is long gone. A country park now covers much of the mining area. Outcrops of coal and slack (carbonaceous shale) are common in the banks of the river, together with red beds - altogether a colorful backdrop to all the spring greenery. |
 |
 |
Two more shots in Highley of Pannier Tank # 1501:
<<< You can see the token being readied for exchange. . . >>> . . .before leaving Highley for Kidderminster |
 |
 |
North of Highley the river runs a straight course to Hampton Loade. This view is looking downstream toward Highley. We walked as far as Hampton and took the foot ferry across and then walked back down the east bank of the river to the footbridge at Highley in order to make the walk last just a bit longer and save the rest of the journey for another day.
The ferry is interesting in that it operates using the river's current. The ferry may not operate in the off season, so check ahead if you can! |
 |
By the time we arrived back in Highley the station was bathed in evening sunshine
<<< The fine Great Western station building in natural stone >>> Another token exchange takes place! |
 |
| We caught the last train from Bridgenorth back to Bewdley. Here it approaches Highley. Once again we see Ivatt Class 2 # 46443 heading six cars. Ivatt designed this mogul (wheel arrangement 2-6-0) in 1946 but this particular locomotive was not delivered until after the railways were nationalized in 1948. So it is usually seen in classic British Railways livery. The design owes some similarity to North American practice with outside valve gear (already established but not universally accepted), a high frame and a tender cab that provides better protection for crews on cold, wet days. The class has proved popular in preservation as well as when operated by BR and has the ability to work over routes that require a low axle load. |  |
|
|
Ivatt Class 2 Mogul # 46443 approaching Highley
We now fast forward a month to June 2003 and re-start our journey by the River Severn at Arley |
 |
Arley looked much the same a month later though the spring flowers were replaced by early summer flowers and more greenery on the trees. Another warm day was promised and we made plans to start the day at Arley, take the first train to Bridgenorth and then hike back. We didn't quite execute this plan, partly because my hay fever allergy took hold in fields along the river and we "cheated" by hopping on board the train at Hampton. But in doing so we did in fact complete the hike along the side of the river and railway, attacking it from both ends.
So we now move on to Bridgenorth, the northern terminus of the SVR. |
 |
The SVR was temporarily storing two partially restored locomotives at Arley Station:
<<< ex-Army WD #601 "Gordon" >>> an ex-GWR Manor Class 4-6-0 |
 |
 |
We soon heard our train arriving:
<<< ex-LMS Stanier mogul #42968 is the only survivor of a small class of 30 locomotives; >>> it was one of the rota of steam engines being used this sunny June day |
 |
| We were two of very few passengers on this out-of-season weekday morning service. So we sat in the empty refreshment car, a reminder of what railway decor was like around 50 years ago! |  |
 |
Two scenes at Bridgenorth Station:
<<< ex-LMS Stainer mogul #42968 running round its train before heading back to Kidderminster; >>> pristine ex-GWR 4-6-0 #7802 "Bradley Manor" being prepared in the shed area (MPD) |
 |
 |
From the station we took the cast iron footbridge over to High Town. Here there is the castle (blown up during the civil war; the remains are tilted at a rakish angle) and one of Telford's churches. The photo is a view from High Town to its counterpart, Low Town which is, as you might expect, by the river! The road bridge is also by Telford.
Bridgenorth is worth an extended visit. We looked around High Town where the old market hall is located as well as another church built of the local red sandstone. |
| You can easily walk down one of several narrow streets to reach the river side community of Low Town but there is an alternative, the Castle Hill Railway! This funicular railway has cars that look like old charabancs. None of those sharp Swiss angles in Bridgenorth, they prefer curves!
Once down by the river we headed for the riverside path and found it already overgrown by early summer foliage including stinging nettles! It was here that I started to suffer from hay fever but we struggled on through the head high undergrowth until the going got a bit easier. For much of the distance between Bridgenorth and Hampton the railway is out of sight to the west while the path hugs the bends in the river, passing impressive sandstone cliffs and a few very large farmsteads. as we approached Hampton station we heard a distant whistle and decided to try to catch the train - which we did - having accomplished our walk along the length of the river in two stages. |
|
|
When we returned to Arley we walked through the village and up to the fine sandstone church. While in the churchyard we had a fine view of a pannier tank hauling its load up the valley toward Bridgenorth. The photo sums up out two days spent along the River Severn - fine countryside and steam trains! |
|
Links and FAQs
The following links are recommended for those planning to visit the Severn Valley Railway.
Any special tips?
|
|
Return to Focalplane Hub
Add a Comment or an Update on the FocalplaneTravelblog |