Editing Severn Valley Railway (section)

==Preservation==
{{Severn Valley Railway map}}

===Operations===
The SVR usually operates heritage steam/diesel hauled passenger trains over the approximately {{convert|16|mi|km|0|adj=on}} line between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth, calling at all stations. The "halts" (Northwood Halt, Country Park Halt and Eardington Halt) are request stops. Passengers may use these halts during daylight hours only. These services usually operate during British school holidays and weekends, and occasionally feature carriages offering dining experiences as an added attraction for visitors. The railway also hosts events as special attractions targeted towards different demographics to boost revenue and ridership.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 2025 |title=Calendar and Timetables |url=https://svr.co.uk/whats-on/calendar-timetables-and-roster/ |access-date=16 April 2025 |website=Severn Valley Railway |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Pie Train |url=https://svr.co.uk/event/pie-train/2025-04-24/ |access-date=16 April 2025 |website=Severn Valley Railway |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Many special gala days are held for enthusiasts, often with visiting engines and rolling stock from other heritage lines; these and other attractions have seen visitor numbers increase to and exceed 250,000.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Passenger Numbers |url=https://www.svrlive.com/passenger-numbers |access-date=16 April 2025 |website=svrlive |language=en}}</ref>

The SVR announced in September 2023 that it had signed a partnership agreement with [[Network Rail]] which will allow the railway to obtain professional skills, advice and redundant railway materials from the mainline to assist with operations, along with the hosting of Network Rail employees on special volunteer days.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=22 September 2023 |title=Railways Go Back To The Future With Landmark Partnership |url=https://svr.co.uk/news/railways-go-back-to-the-future-with-landmark-partnership/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204223227/https://svr.co.uk/news/railways-go-back-to-the-future-with-landmark-partnership/ |archive-date=4 December 2024 |access-date=10 January 2024 |website=Severn Valley Railway}}</ref>

==== External trains ====
The SVR's rail connection to Britain's mainline railway network at Kidderminster permits various track maintenance, weed killing, track measurement and occasional passenger-carrying trains to operate from various parts of the country to Bridgnorth.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=GBRf unveils first of three Bayer "smart" weed system trains |magazine=Rail Express |url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/rail-express-9L24/20210709/282102049678018?srsltid=AfmBOoqNEo18r0A-T40GA_9G4ICA5QttH7qQ5yddTFYD116-NyJ6GJem |access-date=16 April 2025 |via=PressReader |date=9 July 2021 |issue=303}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=29 September 2022 |title=HST visits heritage railway |url=https://www.world-of-railways.co.uk/news/hst-visits-severn-valley-railway |access-date=16 April 2025 |website=World Of Railways}}</ref> Some examples of these are:

* Two freight trains in May 2007, which carried 6-metre-long pipes from Kidderminster to the [[Severn Trent]] water handling plant at [[Trimpley]], operated by [[DB Cargo UK|EWS]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 May 2007 |title=Train boosts £6m pipe dream |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2007/05/23/train-boosts-6m-pipe-dream/ |access-date=16 April 2025 |website=www.shropshirestar.com |language=en}}</ref>
* Two direct trains to London Marylebone from Bridgnorth operated by [[Chiltern Railways]] in 2009, one on 15 August and one on 28 November.<ref>{{cite web |author=Chiltern Railways |title=Chiltern Railways direct service from Bridgnorth |url=http://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/news/news-archive/bridgnorth-15-august/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120724003531/http://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/news/news-archive/bridgnorth-15-august/ |archive-date=24 July 2012 |access-date=11 February 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Chiltern Railways |title=Christmas Shopping from the Severn Valley |url=http://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/news/news-archive/christmas-shopping-from-the-severn-valley/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721224142/http://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/news/news-archive/christmas-shopping-from-the-severn-valley/ |archive-date=21 July 2012 |access-date=11 February 2010}}</ref> 
* The railway acted as a testing ground for the first of the rebuilt [[British Rail Class 69|Class 69]] mainline locomotives in March 2021, operated by [[GB Railfreight]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2021/02/what-next-for-class-69-locomotives-69001-and-69002-mid-march-stay-at-the-severn-valley-railway.html |website=Rail Advent |title=What next for Class 69 locomotives 69001 and 69002? Mid March stay at the Severn Valley Railway |last=Holden |first=Michael |date=17 February 2021}}</ref>
* The [[CrossCountry]] HST40 [[railtour]] in September 2022.<ref name=":5" />

=== Signalling ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2025}}[[File:Bridgnorth Up Home.JPG|thumb|upright|Down Home Signals for Bridgnorth, cleared for a train to enter Platform 1. These are all [[Railway semaphore signal|lower quadrant semaphores]] of [[Great Western Railway|GWR]] origin.]]

With the exception of the connection at Kidderminster to Network Rail metals (which uses a colour light signal) the whole railway is signalled using Great Western style lower quadrant signals, of both metal and wooden pole/arm types. (Exceptionally, the down starter at Highley has a rare concrete post). Each station (not including halts) has a signal box, with Bewdley having two boxes (North and South), due to the size of the layout there (Bewdley originally being a junction station).
[[File:Bewdley Signal Box SVR 16.04.16.jpg|175px|thumb|right|Bewdley North signal box.]]
All sections between Bridgnorth and Bewdley North operate using the [[Token (railway signalling)|Tyer's Electric Train Token]]. Both Arley and Hampton Loade signal boxes can be switched out when not required by the service, reducing wear on the mechanics and reducing the number of signalmen required to operate the line. Arley yard may be accessed with the signal box switched out due to the presence of an intermediate token instrument, which also enables a train to depart from or terminate in the yard when the box is switched out.

Bridgnorth also has a ground frame at the northern end of the layout allowing movements from the Hollybush siding (which also serves as the headshunt for locomotives running round their trains) into and out of the Boiler Shop. An [[Annett's key]] which unlocks the frame may be obtained by a member of staff when released by a lever in Bridgnorth box.

The Engineer's siding at Eardington is controlled by a ground frame. No intermediate token instrument is provided, with the Highley-Bridgnorth token directly unlocking the two lever frame. This means that Hampton Loade signal box must be switched out when Eardington siding has to be used, and also that a train cannot terminate or depart from there – unless the token is taken by road between Eardington and Highley or Bridgnorth signal box.

Between Bewdley North and Bewdley South the double track section through platforms 1 & 2 is signalled with [[British absolute block signalling|absolute block]]. The single track through platform 3 is signalled with direction lever. The line furthest from the main station buildings, known as the Rock siding, is a double-ended siding.<ref>{{cite web |author=Bewdley Station Official Website |title=Bewdley Station History |url=http://www.bewdleystation.co.uk/History4.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807042501/http://www.bewdleystation.co.uk/History4.html |archive-date=7 August 2020 |access-date=11 February 2010}}</ref> The single-track section between Bewdley South and Kidderminster is [[track circuit]]ed throughout and is signalled using acceptance lever.<ref>{{cite web |author=S.V.R. S&T Department |title=Bewdley South |url=http://www.svrsig.org.uk/svr/BS.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926193339/http://www.svrsig.org.uk/svr/BS.htm |archive-date=26 September 2018 |access-date=11 February 2010}}</ref>

Most of the signal boxes on the line bear original cast iron GWR name plates, with the sole exception being at Bridgnorth which has a replica. The SVR Kidderminster's name plate was recovered from another signal box that formerly stood on the up end of the down platform at Kidderminster station (Network Rail). The lever frame from the same signal box was reused at Arley, which has an LNWR signal box, originally from [[Yorton railway station|Yorton]] after the original was demolished. The replica name plate at Bridgnorth is made of fibre glass, although it is not known if it was moulded from the original or even if the original still exists.

=== Rolling stock and locomotives ===
{{main|List of rolling stock preserved on the Severn Valley Railway}}

The SVR preserves, maintains and restores a large number of heritage passenger carriages and goods wagons which it uses to operate its regular services. It can also call on a large fleet of locomotives to operate its services.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Williams |first1=D. C. |title=Severn Valley Railway Stock Book |last2=McQuade |first2=H. J. |publisher=Severn Valley Railway |year=1998 |location=Bewdley; Bridgnorth}}</ref> Only a small 'core' group of vehicles actually belong to the railway company itself; the remainder are owned by an associated groups, such as the Great Western (Severn Valley Railway) Association, Erlestoke Manor Fund, and 75069 fund,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome to the Erlestoke Manor Fund |url=https://www.erlestokemanorfund.co.uk |access-date=10 April 2025 |website=Erlestoke Manor Fund}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=GW(SVR)A – Restoring Great Western Railway Rolling Stock |url=http://www.gw-svr-a.org.uk/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309164730/http://www.gw-svr-a.org.uk/ |archive-date=9 March 2021 |access-date=24 March 2006 |website=gw-svr-a.org.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Haynes |first=Mike |date=Autumn 1998 |title=25 years later: the Great Western (SVR) Association celebrates 25 years |magazine=Severn Valley Railway News |pages=48–52 |issue=128}}</ref> or individuals. The SVR is also the base of the West Midland Group, which focuses on [[Diesel multiple unit|DMU]] preservation, and the Diesel Traction Group, which owns a number of the SVR's heritage diesel locomotives. Locomotives and vehicles from the railway are now only infrequently used on excursions on the [[National Rail]] network, when their signalling equipment and mainline certification (or lack thereof) permits.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Siviter |first1=Roger |title=The Severn Valley Railway |date=2002 |publisher=Sutton Publishing |isbn=0-7509-2976-6 |pages=111–127 |chapter=SVR Locomotives on the Main Line}}</ref>

=== Miniature railways ===
[[File:Coalyard Miniature Railway in Kidderminster - geograph.org.uk - 3661492.jpg|thumb|The Coalyard Miniature Railway at Kidderminster]]
The [[Coalyard Miniature Railway]] also operates passenger trips, and is based at Kidderminster Town station.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kidderminster Station |url=https://svr.co.uk/plan-your-visit/travel-destinations/kidderminster-station/ |access-date=11 April 2025 |website=Severn Valley Railway |language=en-GB}}</ref> The Paddock Railway is a 32{{nbsp}}mm gauge (1:19 scale) model railway which operates most Sundays at [[Hampton Loade railway station]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=The Paddock Railway at Hampton Loade SVR |url=https://www.paddockrailway.uk/ |website=www.paddockrailway.uk}}</ref> Both of these railways are operated by volunteers.<ref name=":4" />