SVR Damaged due to Rain

[Ascot]

Just out of interest Ascot there seems to be a rumour going around that 70% of the damage to the SVR was caused by the poor state of maintenance on the line. eg blocked drains and deferred civils. I would have though it sour grapes if I hadn't heard it from a manager of one of the large rail civil engneering co.s

Speak to our P-Way gang in Kiddie i'm sure they can point you in the ground. But most of the damage was due to the second flood. Haven't heard that rumour yet from anyone from any department, i'll ask the P-way gang on Saturday and point them in your direction. Which contractor was this from anyway (pm it if it's easier)?

 

[Ascot]

FLOOD DAMAGE UPDATE
Monday 19th November 2007.

1. Oldbury Viaduct.
• Civils work at south end completed.
• Drainage system installed.
• Track bed handed back by contractors to SVR.
• New embankment hydroseeded. Completed
• Work above Daniels Mill to be completed before site considered finished, but does not impact on railway operation at this stage.
• Signal post re-erected.
• Cable troughing being laid.
• Track from viaduct relayed by volunteers. Completed
• Track ballast in place. Completed
• Track tamped. Completed

2. Knowlesands.
• All slips now repaired. Completed
• Drainage system installed.
• Track bed handed back by contractor to SVR.
• Bank hydroseeded. Completed
• Drainage ditch completed
• Cutting faces near tunnel inspected by specialists and loose debris/material removed.
• Cleaning of contaminated ballast completed by Shorthouse in trading estate.
• Cleaned / screened ballast returned to track bed.
• S & T cable to be installed.
• Cable troughing being laid.
• Track from viaduct relayed by volunteers. Completed
• Track ballast in place. Completed
• Track tamped. Completed

3. South of Knowlesands.
• Both areas of damage to cutting walls rebuilt. Completed
• New sections hydroseeded. Completed
• Contaminated ballast dug out.
• Cleaning of contaminated ballast completed by Shorthouse in trading estate.
• Cleaned / screened ballast returned to trackbed. Completed
• Drainage ditch to tunnel to be completed.
• S & T cable to be installed.
• Track relayed. Completed
• Track ballast in place. Completed
• Track tamped. Completed

5. Sterns Cottage Culvert.
• Track lifted.
• Culvert to be replaced.
• Agreement from EA and Bridgnorth Council now received.
• Track removed to permit civils work, started 12/11.
• Following completion of civils track to replace, ballast and tamp.

6. Sterns Cottage Slip.
• Track lifted.
• Piling machine on site, piles being installed, vertical and raking (45m length of piled wall required).
• Once piling complete caping beam required.
• Following completion of civils track to replace, ballast and tamp.

7. Sterns (historic slip).
• Track to inspect and tamp as necessary.


9. Waterworks to Hampton Loade.
• Repair to small slip by Up Distant Signal completed.
• Main slip now re-instated. Civil work completed
• New drainage system installed. Completed
• New drainage pipework across caravan site to river completed.
• Track back in place waiting ballast and tamping.
• Small slip by bracket signal completed.
• Slips to hydroseed.
• S & T cable troughing now laid.
• New signal cable to be installed.

10. Hampton Loade to Highley.
• Previously unrecorded culverts found.
• 25 culverts inspected by camera, jet washed/pressure cleaned as necessary.
• Culvert at 144 3/4 replaced by new thrust bore culvert.
• Culvert near Highley station to replace (by pipe bursting technique).
• Many culvert headwalls replaced/rebuild.
• New drainage systems provided in some areas.
• Track to inspect and tamp as necessary.

11. Highley.
• Signalling to re-instate when track back in situ.
• When embankment work finished the approaches to the Engine House will be completed.

12. Highley to Fisherman’s Crossing.
• Started on site. (Including modifications to access road for plant).
• Track to relay, ballast and tamp when complete.
• Signal cable to be replaced following track re-instatement.

13. Borle Viaduct.
• Training walls deteriorated significantly since July.
• Access agreements in place.
• EA approvals now received (to permit work to start)
• Access roads now built. Completed
• Trees cleared for machinery access. Completed
• Nailing machines now on site.
• Altenative solution to SE wall agreed.

14. Bridge 18.
• Clearance work completed.

15. Highley to Arley.
• Work started on inspection, clearing of culverts. Additional previously unrecorded culverts found.

16. Victoria Bridge.
• Slips now repaired. Completed
• New drainage system installed Completed.
• Track bed handed back to SVR.
• Temporary track in place.
• Contaminated ballast dug out.
• Signal re-erected.
• Contractors relaying track from 19/11.
• Signalling cable to install when track back in situ.
• Signal troughing run to Arley being laid. 19/11

17. Eymore Cutting.
• Temporary track in place.
• Contaminated ballast dug out.
• Tree clearance work in progress.
• Culverts inspected by camera, jet washed/pressure cleaned as necessary.
• Contractors relaying track from 19/11.
• Signalling cable to install when track in situ.
• Rock netting inspected for damage and debris removed by specialists.

18. Trimpley.
• Work on two replacement culverts completed.
• Work required near STW pipe under railway.
• Several hundred tons of spoil to move off site once rail connection established.

19. Folly Point.
• Work below track complete (to prevent undercutting of embankment by river).
• Track in place requires tamping.
• One track panel to be lifted for consolidation of embankment.
• Spider crawler (specialist machine) completed work above track to clear loose debris and lay drains.
• Gabion wall completed above track (to catch future small slips) will require ongoing inspection and maintenance programme.
• Culverts inspected by camera, jet washed/pressure cleaned as necessary.
• S & T cable troughing to install.
• Replacement signalling cable to install.

21. Northwood to Bewdley.
• Some drainage and culvert work to complete (does not impact on railway operation).
• Handed back to railway.

22. General
• Many areas cleared of vegetation.
• Sight lines improved at Fisherman’s and other crossings.
• All culverts/drains now recorded by GPS and construction details recorded.
• Many other locations will require minor work to track (eg Kinlet).
• All track bed and track alignment to be inspected and signed off before services restart.
• Work in many areas has been subject to obtaining agreements and negotiations with adjacent landowners, this has involved land agents, solicitors, legal agreements, easements, approvals from statutory bodies etc, etc.

Dewi Jones
Traffic Manager

Deleted as Appropriate

Note to paul1609, still haven't had your reply yet. Remember we're on about a heritage railway, none of the big ones can physically do checks like NR on a daily basis.

 

[paul1609]

Ascot,
Sorry cant reveal my source for obvious reasons but he is legit or i would not have posted it. i'm not in the business of knockin other societies.

 

[Ascot]

Ascot,
Sorry cant reveal my source for obvious reasons but he is legit or i would not have posted it. i'm not in the business of knockin other societies.

Fully understood, good man
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
FLOODLINE 60 (Floodlines 58 and 59 photos only)
23rd November 2007

BRIDGNORTH SHUTTLES
Resulting from the successful repair to the Cleobury Road Bridge at Bridgnorth earlier this week and inspection work by the P Way and S+T departments, passenger trains can once again leave Bridgnorth. The shuttle to near Oldbury Viaduct restarts tomorrow and will run every Saturday and Sunday in December. Just think of it - a Santa Free Zone - any steam enthusiast wishing to go anywhere in December can’t avoid the white bearded gentleman.
Well now you can, come along to our nice warm pub with a log fire, good ales with 48773 simmering outside the window, no screaming kids, no canned carol music and no Santa headboards.

STERNS COTTAGE SLIP
The large vertical drilling rig by Tuesday evening had drilled 24 of the 75 piles. These are 8 meters deep and are 450mm in diameter. They are initially installed every third one to allow the concrete to go off before drilling alongside. The rig will reposition itself and then drill the next 24 piles alongside the first piles at 600mm centres. This process will be repeated a third time to build the 75m long pile wall. It is hoped that this machine will have completed its work by the end of next week
Working alongside the large rig is a smaller one, this drills underneath the trackbed at about 45 degrees.
These are called raking piles and are set at 1.5m centres. They are then attached to the vertical piles and the assembly is held together with a concrete capping beam cast in situ. This work should be complete by the end of January allowing track laying to commence.
The repair to the slip between the cottage and the river has still to be determined by the insurance company.

EYMORE CUTTING
Monday saw contractors arrive at AY and by end of day Tuesday all the rail had been delivered, taken by road railer and unloaded in pairs in the Down side cess between Victoria Bridge and Trimpley.
Wednesday saw them replacing one 60 foot panel of track at a time. This involved de-keying the rail and moving them to the UP side cess. The machines then remove about 24 concrete sleepers for dispatch to AY No 1 Sdg. Some of the ballast is then removed and piles up on the flat area south of Victoria Bridge. A layer of membrane is then laid out across the formation and new ballast brought in by road railer from AY. A crawler bucket is then used to spread the ballast to near level and is then tamped down with a mechanical road roller. The crawler bucket changes its head for a forklift and picks up the steel sleepers in bundles of five for two men to lay out on the formation by hand. This process is repeated for the equivalent of a 60 foot length of track. The machine then lifts the 30 foot long new rails from the Down side cess and insert them into the sleepers for clipping up. Fish plates are attached every fourth rail joint for the others will be welded up at a later date to form 120 foot length rails

ARLEY
Lorries arrive at AY from Kidderminster SVR with the steel sleepers, park on the road, side-on at the yard entrance to AY so that a fork lift can remove them for stockpiling in the yard. The lorry has to park on the road as there is no room in the yard to carry out this manouvre.

A road railer will arrive in AY No 1 siding from Eymore Cutting with about 24 concrete sleepers. The forklift then loads these onto the now empty lorry for dispatch and unloading at Kidderminster SVR. The forklift then loads the road railer trailer with about 30/36 steel sleepers for it to return to Eymore Cutting.

BEWDLEY
Tree clearing gang will be working at Bridge 12 on Sun 24th Nov. No train is booked so either by cars to Northwood Lane or walk out from the station. Dai Price will lead the gang leaving Bewdley about 10.00am
45110 booked to work services BY to KR this weekend.

Note slight alteration to timetable for Sat 24th Nov
am am pm pm pm pm
Kidderminster d 10.45 11.45 12.50 1.45 2.50 4.00
Bewdley a 10.58 11.58 1.03 1.58 3.03 4.13

Bewdley d 11.20 12.20 1.15 2.25 3.30 4.35
Kidderminster a 11.33 12.33 1.28 2.38 3.43 4.48

Dewi Jones
Traffic Manager

 

[EE Type 3]

Good to hear Bridgnorth end is up again, I'm getting bored of Kiddie - Bewdly

Dave

 

[Ascot]

STERNS COTTAGE SLIP
The large drilling rig has now completed the 75 vertical piles and has now left SVR. These 25 foot deep piles will be left for a week for the concrete to cure. During this week work will revert to completing the new culvert. About a third of it is already buried under the cottage’s car park so another two thirds will see these pipes laid underneath the railway line. The following week will see the smaller drilling rig inserting the raking piles that go underneath the track bed at 45 degrees. This work should be completed before Christmas and the concrete allowed to cure. The concrete capping beam, which joins the vertical and the angled piles, will be cast in situ in the first few days of January. This will then allow the track to be replaced during January with a projected reopening to Hampton Loade for February half term week.

HIGHLEY
The thrust boring of the new culvert just north of the station is now complete. The steel reinforcing walls will soon be removed and new headwalls installed. The french drains installed in the main slip have been completed and the level of the ground in the area of the slip is being raised back up to track level with every lorry load. The level is now about 15 feet below track level but it is planned that rail level should be reached before Christmas. There is also a possibility that if time allows then the ballast can be laid to allow tracklaying to start in January.

FISHERMAN’S SLIP.
Lorries are now moving rock from the Clee Hills and storing it in an abandoned farm above Fisherman’s Slip. This then has to be loaded into a dumper truck. The dumper truck then makes its way down a steep lane which has had to be resurfaced before this work could commence. On arriving at the accommodation near the HY Down Distant the dumper tips the ballast into a road railer trailer. Once loaded this then trundles about 150 feet down the track towards Fisherman’s Crossing until it comes to the washout. Here the road railer scoops out the rock and loads it in to another dumper on caterpillar track which then descends from track level about 15 feet into what remains of the washout and starts tipping rock.

BORLE VIADUCT
Shotcreting of the damaged trailing walls still can not be carried out due to the high river level. Gabion rock baskets are being built and installed upstream of the viaduct. To get a crawler bucket to the south eastern side of the viaduct a temporary roadway has had to be built dropping about 30 feet from trackbed to near river level. This is to allow the demolition of the partially collapsed stone retaining wall which was undermined by the river.. The excavation of this area did result in a further slip of the railway embankment shoulder. This is of a small nature but all rail movements have been halted as a precaution. The planned repair to the stone retaining wall is to replace it with gabion rock baskets set into the river bed.

BRIDGE 18
All repair work complete and contractors off site

ARLEY
I have made a point of not specifically thanking anyone as I know everyone deserves thanks for whatever you do to help the railway reopen. But a special thanks to those signalmen that have and are manning AY signalbox. 33 consecutive days (19th Nov – 21st Dec) having been rostered with in a week or so.

EYMORE CUTTING/TRIMPLEY LANE
Contractors are now in the cutting, relaying track between the pipe bridge and the high bridge. They should be working throughout this weekend (Sat and Sun). If you want to see this work in progress you can view it safely from the high bridge. Please park in the Severn Trent Visitors Centre car park and not the yacht club car park.A walk alongside the reservoir will let you see more of the completed track work and the tons of spoil recovered from Victoria Bridge, stored on the lineside.

NORTHWOOD
Due to the drilling rigs here requiring water to lubricate the boring heads and the mains pipe in Northwood Lane not able to supply the quantity required the SVR is now tripping rail tankers to site. Apart from the Esso tanker that has been here for some weeks we have now dug out of the brambles another tanker. .It has not been run since it arrived certainly more than 8 years ago and probably much longer. This Gas Liquor Tank of 3,108 gallons is No 80990 of c1895. It has now been made watertight by replacing pipework and attaching blanking plates, replacing oil pads and cleaning journals and was taken to Northwood by Cl 73 101 earlier this week.

The three drilling rigs have installed about 80 soil nails out of the projected 475. Each one is 100mm in diameter and they are being installed in four layers below the track bed. The first layer below the track are 19m deep, then 16,then 13 and the bottom row being 11m deep. When the top layer has been installed about two track panels will be lifted for the trackbed to be dug down about a meter and consolidated before the track is reinstated.

BEWDLEY
A vast amount of vegetation clearance continued last weekend at Bridge 12 along Northwood Lane. The next effort here will be on Sunday 9th December so for those not helping on the Santa Specials your help would be welcomed here. Indications are that most of the work will be clearing what has already been felled ie BURNING!

SANTA OPERATION
Total of 17,955 booked on Santa Specials at close of play today (total seas available 26,000). Engines 45110,42968,5164 and 46443 on duty this weekend with 5764 working an evening dining car train on Saturday

P WAY WEEKENDS and POSSIBLE WEEKS in 2008
Advance warning
There may be a requirement for P Way staff on projects between Christmas and New Year. Further details are being worked out and information will be made available soon.

With the civil engineering works due to be completed at various sites early next year, the replacement of the P Way will follow. Unfortunately within a month or so we could be faced with returning P Way materials and relaying track at Sterns Cottage, Highley, Fisherman’s Crossing and Northwood all at the same time. On top of this we will still have to connect and lay track into the Engine House and understandably the SVR’s two P Way gangs will be overloaded. Failure to complete these jobs simultaneously may jeopardise the reopening date.


Therefore this is a request not only to SVR P Way staff to make themselves available but to any P Way gangs from other heritage railways to come to our assistance. The planned work dates are 19th ,20th ,26th and 27th January, also
2nd and 3rd February 2008. The type of work will be dependent on how far we will have progressed. Initially please contact Dewi Jones on 01299 403816.

Ta Dewi Jones, Floodline

Come along way since July. Is Ely still shut?

 

[Ascot]

FLOODLINE 64
Wednesday 5th December 2007

EYMORE CUTTING
Contractors have three x 60foot panels to replace tomorrow and this relaying will be complete. Expansion joints will probably be inserted on Friday with contractors spending a few days next week roughly levelling and aligning the track so they could be going home early for Christmas.

Other contractors have started today welding up rails into 120 foot lengths. This is the Alumino Thermic Welding Process discovered in 1896 and first used by the GWR in 1935. A sacrificial refractory mould is placed around the rail joint and the rail ends are heated to 6-700 degrees centigrade. A hopper crucible is placed above the mould and is filled a combination of powders
(3MeO + 2Al = Al 2O3 +3Me + heat), after reaction this will become molten and is then tapped to pour into the mould. After a short time the equipment is removed and the weld allowed to cool before the rail head is ground level.

NORTHWOOD LANE
About six panels of track (mostly concrete sleepers) on the slip have been removed. This is to allow a meter or so of the contaminated formation to be skimmed and removed. This formation will be consolidated with new rock, ballast and steel sleepers used when relaying.

Contractors are now are nearing the half way mark of installing the 475 soil nails. This is an extremely awkward location to work being on the railway embankment . Crawler machines with drilling equipment attached have to drive up the steep embankment and position themselves for drilling. Telehandlers (personnel basket on the end of a long metal arm) swing in men 20 feet above the lane to work off this platform. Here they align the drill head (100mm diameter) before boring. Also as one length of soil nail (8 feet long) disappears into the hillside they prepare to add the next section until the whole metal nail is sunk into the hillside up to 19 meters deep. Once the required depth has been reached, concrete is then pumped down the hollow soil nail to the end and then under pressure fills the bore back to the surface. The first few soil nails were then allowed to cure and a “pull out test” conducted successfully before continuing with the remainder.

Dewi Jones
Traffic Manager

 

[paul1609]

Sadly Ascot,
i think this is probably too short notice to get much response. I'd have liked to go for a weekend but I'm off to the gulf in late january. i think there are very few railways that now have volunteer gangs and they mostly have scheduled maintenance for at least 6 months ahead. I can see you getting a few volunteers from the GWR possibly the WSR and thats about it.

 

[Ascot]

FLOOD DAMAGE UPDATE
Friday 14th December 2007.

1. Oldbury viaduct.
• Civils work at south end – complete.
• Drainage system – complete.
• Track bed handed back to SVR - complete.
• New bank to hydroseed - complete.
• Work above Daniel’s Mill to be completed before site considered finished, but does not impact on railway operation at this stage.
• Signal post re-erected with arm and sighting board - complete.
• Cable troughing laid - complete.
• Track from viaduct relayed by volunteers - complete.
• Track ballasting - complete.
• Track tamping - complete.
2. Knowlesands.
• All slips now repaired - complete.
• Drainage system installed - complete.
• Track bed handed back to SVR - complete.
• Bank to hydroseed - complete.
• Drainage ditch - complete.
• Cutting faces near tunnel inspected by specialists, loose debris/material removed - complete.
• Cleaning of contaminated ballast completed by Shorthouse in trading estate - complete.
• Cleaned / screened ballast returned to track bed - complete.
• S & T cable to be installed and connected – complete (testing 15/16 Dec)
• Cable troughing - complete.
• Track from viaduct relayed by volunteers - complete.
• Track ballasting - complete.
• Track tamping - complete.
3. South of Knowlesands.
• Both areas of damage to cutting walls rebuilt - complete.
• New sections to hydroseed - complete.
• Dig out of contaminated ballast - complete.
• Cleaning of contaminated ballast completed by Shorthouse in trading estate - complete.
• Cleaned / screened ballast returned to trackbed - complete.
• Drainage ditch to tunnel to finish.
• S & T cable installed - complete.
• Track relayed - complete.
• Track ballasting - complete.
• Track tamping - complete.
4. Hay Bridge (not flood damage but included for information)
• Complete.
5. Sterns Cottage Culvert.
• Culvert to be replaced – complete other than head walls.
• Agreement from EA and Bridgnorth Council now received - complete.
• Track removed to permit civils work - complete.
• Following completion of civils track to replace, ballast and tamp.
6. Sterns Cottage Slip.
• Track lifted - complete.
• Piling machine on site, piles being installed, vertical and raking (45m length of piled wall required). Vertical piles – complete.
• Once piling complete caping beam required.
• Following completion of civils track to replace, ballast and tamp.
7. Sterns (historic slip).
• Track to inspect and tamp as necessary.
8. Little Rock Cutting.
• New drainage system installed beneath track - complete.





9. Waterworks to Hampton Loade.
• Small slip by up distant signal - complete.
• Main slip now re-instated - complete.
• New drainage system installed - complete.
• New drainage pipework across Unicorn site - complete.
• Track back in place waiting ballast and tamping.
• Small slip by bracket signal - complete.
• Slips to hydroseed.
• New S & T cable troughing - complete.
• New signal cable to be installed.
10. Hampton Loade to Highley.
• Previously unrecorded culverts found - complete.
• 25 culverts inspected by camera, jet washed/pressure cleaned as necessary - complete.
• Culvert at 144 3/4 replaced by new thrust bore culvert - complete.
• Culvert near Highley station replaced (by pipe bursting technique) - complete.
• Culvert headwalls replaced/rebuild – 90% done.
• New drainage systems provided in some areas.
• Track to inspect and tamp as necessary.
11. Highley.
• Cattle dock and water tower removed to give access – complete (to be rebuilt).
• Design approval of repair work by independent third party - complete.
• New deep drainage to link into existing culvert complete (8.5m deep) installed (typically 3 to 5m deep) – complete.
• Work on main deep drains completed prior to embankment rebuild (3 to 5m deep) - complete.
• Drainage route to river being installed. EA approvals received. - complete.
• Infill of main slip by reinforced earth approx 50% done.
• New drainage system along station drive (and approach) to install.
• Track to be prefabricated by SVR during December / January ready for installation once civils complete.
• Signalling to re-instate when track back in situ.
• When embankment work finished the approaches to the Engine House will be completed (to include footpath, station drive station parking areas, fencing etc.
• Preparatory work for station footbridge to be completed prior to re-opening.
• Power lines and other overheads to re-route to under track ducts before re-opening.
12. Highley to Fisherman’s Crossing.
• Modifications to access road for plant - complete.
• Two new drains to river installed – complete.
• Infill of main slip by reinforced earth approx 50% done.
• Track to relay, ballast and tamp when complete.
• Signal cable to be replaced following track re-instatement.
13. Borle Viaduct.
• Training walls deteriorated significantly since July.
• Access agreements - complete.
• EA approvals – complete.
• Access roads - complete.
• Trees cleared for machinery access - complete.
• Soil nailing – complete.
• Spray concrete surface to complete
• Alternative solution to SE wall agreed.
14. Bridge 18.
• Complete
15. Highley to Arley.
• Work started on inspection, clearing of culverts. Additional previously unrecorded culverts found.
16. Victoria Bridge.
• Slips now repaired - complete.
• New drainage system - complete.
• Track bed - complete.
• Contaminated ballast dug out - complete.
• Signal re-erected - complete.
• Track relaying by contractors – complete.
• Signalling cable to install when track back in situ.
• Signal troughing run to Arley - complete.
• Old ballast and rail to remove from site when rail access established.
17. Eymore Cutting.
• Temporary track in place - complete.
• Contaminated ballast dug out - complete.
• Major tree clearance work underway.
• Culverts inspected by camera, jet washed/pressure cleaned as necessary - complete.
• Track relaying by contractors – complete.
• SVR to top ballast and tamp when rail access available.
• Signalling cable to install when track work complete.
• Rock netting inspected for damage and debris removed by specialists - complete.
18. Trimpley.
• Work on two replacement culverts - complete.
• Work required near STW pipe under railway - complete.
• Several hundred tons of spoil to move off site once rail connection established.
19. Folly Point.
• Work below track (to prevent undercutting of embankment by river) - complete.
• Two track panels to be lifted for consolidation of embankment – complete.
Spider crawler (specialist machine) for work above track to clear debris and lay drains –
complete.
• Gabion wall above track (to catch future small slips) will require ongoing inspection and maintenance programme - complete.
• Culverts inspected by camera, jet washed/pressure cleaned as necessary - complete.
• S & T cable troughing to install.
• Replacement signalling cable to install.
• Two track panels to replace then full length requires tamping.
20. Northwood.
• External design verification - complete.
• Tree clearance above and below line - complete.
• Soil nailing machine installed test nails - complete.
• Test pulls of nails satisfactory - complete.
• Three soil nailing machines now on site – nailing approx 70% complete.
• Track removed to allow top 1m of embankment to be removed for consolidation - complete.
• Wyre Forest working up drainage scheme for area above railway.
• SVR scheme to accept drainage from above and pipe through railway.
• Land owner of chalet sites above railway on board with scheme.
• Agreement reached with same landowner for drainage across field to river. EA approval obtained - complete.
• Drain to river to install.
• Culverts inspected by camera, jet washed/pressure cleaned as necessary - complete.
• When civils complete track to replace and tamp.
• New S & T cable required.
21. Northwood to Bewdley.
• Some drainage and culvert work to complete (does not impact on railway operation).
• Handed back to railway.
22. General
• Many areas cleared of vegetation.
• Sight lines improved at road crossings.
• All culverts/drains now recorded by GPS and construction details recorded - complete.
• Many other locations will require minor work to track (eg Kinlet).
• All track bed and track alignment to be inspected and signed off before services restart.
• Work in many areas has been subject to obtaining agreements and negotiations with adjacent landowners, this has involved land agents, solicitors, legal agreements, easements, approvals from statutory bodies etc, etc.

P Sowden
Chief Engineer

Dewi Jones
Traffic Manager

14th December 2007

 

[Ascot]

69th Post



Just the one image today

 

[EE Type 3]

Looking more and more like a railway everyday, there doing a great job

 

[paul1609]

Latest article from the BBC;http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hereford/worcs/7157386.stm

 

[D306]

Here's the latest update. Mark asked me to do this by the way.

FLOODLINE No 68
Christmas Eve 24th December 2007

I will be leading a guided walk along the track bed from Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade on Sunday 13th January 2008. This is for SVR working members only. No PTS is required but a working members pass is and may be checked before leaving. Meet at Bridgnorth Station platform ready to start walking at 10.00am.This is a four mile walk in each direction along the ballast. Please ensure that you have the correct weather proof clothing and footwear and that you are fit for such a walk. It maybe advisable to bring your own food and drink although Audrey may well have hot soup available at the HL kiosk?
This will be an ideal chance for staff to inspect the repairs at close quarters, something you will not be able to do or probably have the time to once the first trains start running. Sites at Oldbury Viaduct,Knowlesands,Hay Bridge,Sterns Culvert,Sterns Cottage Slip,Hampton Loade Slip will be seen with a return time back at Bridgnorth of mid afternoon.

We are now six months into a nine month repair. A lot has been achieved but we have still a third of the repair facing us in the next three months. After the contractors have left us in mid January we will have two months to reopen the line. The Good Friday date can not be moved!. The pressures on the
P Way and S+T to achieve this date will be enormous and all staff should be prepared to do their bit in
what ever way they can. The completion of the repair work and reopening of the line is now in sight
and is achievable. Soon we will be back doing what we are (also) good at – running a railway.

Just a quick summary of what’s left to do!
STERNS
Contractor on site first two weeks in Jan, then track, ballast and tamp S+T
HAMPTON LOADE SLIP
Ballast and tamp S+T
HIGHLEY
Final rock and ballast
Track ballast and tamp S+T
FISHERMANS CROSSING SLIP
Track back, ballast and tamp S+T
BORLE VIADUCT
Repairs to brook walls
Reinstate track, ballast and tamp S+T
EYMORE CUTTING
Ballast and tamp
FOLLY POINT
Reinstate one track panel ballast and tamp
NORTHWOOD
Contractors netting hillside,installing drains compacting trackbed
Reinstate track,ballast and tamp
S+T Victoria Bridge to NX

I’d also like to pass on my thanks to
you who have forwarded information and Floodlines to various other web sites and forums.
you who pass on Floodlines to your friends (it’s even read in China)
you who have made a physical contribution to the repairs (especially new volunteers)
you who have made a financial contribution (large or small – its what you are left with that counts)
you who have kept faith in the SVR and have volunteered over the last six months in whatever capacity (some have yet to see a train running)
to you who have let me know how well Floodlines have kept you informed, I’ll continue the best I can.

Well it Christmas Eve. Bewdley Station is quiet after handling 20,695 passengers so far this month, Santa has left the Grotto, the crowd barriers are of no more use, five engines are cooling down on the shed and the office phones are quiet. Maybe its time to go home.

Dewi Jones
Traffic Manager

 

[Ascot]

SVR Updates are back.

Our expected opening date is...

21st of March Good Friday

We will be holding a 4 day opening event on a new D timetable.

Of course this is subject to change if the tests can't be done in time.

Most contractors are gone, it's just P-Way work.

 

[87015]

Good to see it on the way back, I'll likely be along for the April diesel job and hopefully a couple of trips if the summer diesel diagram if it runs this year

 

[Ascot]

FLOODLINE 69
Wednesday 8th January 2008

48773 last operating days 12th and 13th January working 600 yard shuttles at Bridgnorth
7714 has been returned from the Swanage Railway to Kidderminster. Next week it will be taken by road to Bridgnorth. The double handling was what suited Alleleys haulage schedules
A Mk1 coach RMB is expected next week from the Dean Forest Railway. It will go into Kidderminster Works for contract repairs. Currently in the paint shop at Kidderminster is diesel Class 73 73101

Flood Repairs
As someone said on January 1st 2008 - its no longer that we will be reopening next year – its now this year and if all goes well its only 10 weeks away. Hampton Loade could be reached in 3 weeks.

The BH-HL section has been walked with the contractors to draw up a list of any outstanding jobs. Apart from Sterns there are now no jobs that prevent this section of the line reopening.
The BH Station Shuttle will not be extended to Eardington as was once proposed.
It is hoped that the BH-HL section will reopen at the end of January/early February
Just a reminder that this Sunday 13th I will be leading a guided walk from BH d 10.00am along the track to Hampton Loade to view the repair work. This is open to any SVR working member.

Highley
All the rock layers have now been laid and rolled. The embankment side has been covered with top soil. 200 tons of base ballast is due to be delivered tomorrow and levelled ready for track laying
The Hydroseed contractor has a meeting with the railway next week to discuss seeding Highley along with other similar rebuilt embankment areas.

Fisherman’s Crossing Slip
All rock layers have now been laid and rolled and all the base ballast has been laid. All the track materials have been delivered and are on site. Tracklaying may start here next week.

Eymore Cutting tree contractor should be finished here by the end of the week.

Folly Point
SVR P Way staff with road railer replaced one length of track here today. This was removed just before Christmas to allow drains to be installed. Bottom ballast in place now awaiting top ballast and tamping

Northwood
Soil-nailing should be complete by the end of this week
Large washers,nuts and netting is being spread out to cover the embankment
Next week the track bed will be removed to a depth of one meter and in 15 meter long sections
This spoil will be removed and replaced with new rock and compacted. It will then be ballasted.
The next 15 meters will then be tacked in the same way until the whole section has been replaced.
It can not be done in one go as it risks the stability of the ground above the line.
If all goes well it is estimated that track can be relaid here during the February half term w/c 11th Feb.

Ballasting
Ballast is currently delivered to Eardington and soon will be used at Sterns and Hampton Loade,
then followed by Highley and Fisherman’s Crossing.
As it is envisaged that by late February Borle Viaduct may still not be fit for rail traffic consideration is now being given to moving 4 ballast hoppers and the shark ballast plough by road from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster to join up with another three hopper here. This train will then be filled at Kidderminster to drop ballast at Northwood, Folly Point and Eymore Cutting. This is to make use of the time wahile work continues at Borle Viaduct. It is likely that it is here that the last bit of track will go back into position and be ballasted. I don’t think there will be the time for a golden spike ceremony.

Any SVR P Way staff who have not made it known when they can assist should contact Steve Poole 07970 895916 so that you can be rostered and directed . Mid week and weekend staff required.

Gloucester Warwickshire Railway will be dispatching half a dozen of their P Way staff to assist on Sunday 3rd February

Dewi

How long to accept one post on a heritage railway.

 

[45002]

Why have you posted Floodline 69,4 times just out of intrest :???:

MARTIN

 

[Ascot]

Why have you posted Floodline 69,4 times just out of intrest :???:

MARTIN

Alrite Martin good to see you on here, Mark here from KR STN and TTI.

Nah i'm on Moderation atm so all the edits come through as one post different post so looks mad. keeps the staff feeling as part of a team to keep the information flowing. Deleted the other ones anyway. Cheers Jordy

Post kindly approved and others deleted by Jordy

 

[EE Type 3]

I'll look forward to the reopening

Get the miles up again

 

[Ascot]

FLOODLINE 73
Thursday 17th January 2008

OLDBURY VIADUCT to HAY BRIDGE
All track and S+T work completed
All civil engineering work completed (snagging list does not prevent trains running)

STERNS COTTAGE SLIP
The concrete cap for the retaining wall should be in place by early next week. The contractors will lay a drain on the opposite side of the track and then lay 200 tons of ballast and a sheet of Terram membrane for the track. The P Way will then join up the track in the cutting with further ballasting and tamping. Hopefully this will be done by early February as the tamper is booked to go to the Bluebell Railway on the 6th February. The S+T Dept are arranging crews to then connect the communication cable over the slip.

STERNS (EXC) TO HAMPTON LOADE
All track work complete but awaiting ballast and tamping at HL (1 day’s work)
All civil engineering work completed

HAMPTON LOADE SLIP
Hydroseeding of the bank should take place tomorrow unless the rain is too heavy

HAMPTON LOADE to HIGHLEY
All track and S+T work completed
All civil engineering work completed (snagging list does not prevent trains running)

HIGHLEY
The first of the two storage containers will be removed followed by the second on Monday. This will then allow a channel to be dug under the roadway and the tracks to allow the electric and telephone cables which currently (get the pun!) are supported on poles to be buried and the poles removed from site
Contractors next week planning to put in foundations for water tank and cattle dock.
By end of day Wednesday the main line track had been relaid over the Highley Slip to allow construction traffic across.
Monday 21st will see contractors start work on lowering the road over the level crossing . The work associated here will include walkways, kerbs, drainage as well as resurfacing the regraded road. The railway bit of the level crossing will take a day or possibly two to install.

FISHERMAN’S CROSSING SLIP
All track work completed this week but awaiting ballast and tamping (1 day’s work)
Once this site has been ballasted there is a chance that one hopper and Shark ballast plough will be moved from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster by road to join up with another three hoppers her so that ballasting of Northwood, Folly Point and Eymore Cutting can take place.
All civil engineering work completed

BORLE BROOK
The idea is that stone can be delivered by lorry to Fisherman’s crossing and then tipped on the north bank of the brook. A long reach crawler bucket on the north bank will remove the damaged trailing wall on the south bank in sections of about 3 meters in length. This is to prevent weakening the wall and fail to retain the embankment above it. The track on this section has been removed to lighten the load on the embankment. Gabion baskets are then to be lowered into the gap and filled with the rock. This method continues in sections until the whole wall has been replaced.

Yesterday the Brook was 12 foot higher than normal. As the River Severn is similarly in flood the Brook is in effect dammed and will drop when the level of the Severn drops. Contractors will not be allowed back to work in or around the Brook until the level has dropped to about 2 foot higher than normal. The estimated time this work will take is two weeks to put in the gabion wall and another three weeks to stabilise and build up the railway embankment.


BORLE VIADUCT to ARLEY
All track work complete (tamping of Kinlet Straight to take 1 day)
All civil engineering work completed

ARLEY to VICTORIA BRIDGE
All S+T done and tested (arm to go back on refurbished AY Down Distant)
All civil engineering work completed

EYMORE CUTTING
Arley Station team will be clearing logs out of Eymore Cutting this Saturday and Sunday. Anyone wishing to help should report to Arley Station. There is some urgency to complete this job as the S+T Dept are awaiting clearance before they can go in and start laying a 1000 meter cable starting from Victoria Bridge. Ongoing clearance of trees by contractor

NORTHWOOD
Last of the 475 soil nails went in on Monday. Rail tankers used to feed the drilling rigs removed on Tuesday. Two road railers accessed the track bed to start removing the track formation to a depth of 1 meter. Rock is then brought in and rolled. A section of about 15 meters in length is done at a time as removing the top of the slip in one go may destabilise the land above it. This work should take tree weeks so possibly the second week of February the six panels here can be replaced ready for ballasting and tamping possibly week commencing 24th February.


To put some people’s mind at rest, all new and original drains and culverts are coping well with the recent rainfall. Staff walking the line in the execution of their duties seeing any debris collecting in culvert headwalls should reported the fact to the P Way Dept or the Duty Officer, do not attempt to clear it whilst the streams are in flood.

And in case someone knows differently all efforts are geared to reopening the line on Good Friday 21st March 2008,so if you are asked that’s the answer.

To end on a sad note, one of our friends will not be around to see the reopening of the line.
Bridgnorth engine driver Gordon Foster died suddenly on 1st January. His funeral will be on Wednesday 23rd January at St Michael’s Church, Trent Valley Road, Lichfield at 12.30pm.

Dewi Jones
Traffic Manager

 

[87015]

2008 Timetables on the website appear to show increased diesel workings this year with most Saturdays from the estimated reopening producing a turn. I will certainly probably make more trips to the line this year than I have in the past few Looking forward to the Spring gala aswell - can't be long before a lineup is announced

A good decision to me by the SVR Board - well done boys for seeing past the 'steam only' mafia...

 

[Ascot]

FLOODLINE 77
Tuesday 29th January 2008

KNOWLESANDS INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
New boundary fence being erected today

STERNS COTTAGE SLIP
28th Jan The piled retaining wall cap casting complete
29th Jan Class 73 diesel moved water tanker and track tamper SCS to Bridgnorth to clear all rail vehicles from BH-SCS section (in conjunction with 3rd Feb)
30th Jan shuttering around cap to be dismantled
31st Jan drainage work in cutting and rock infill around capping
1st Feb terram membrane and ballasting of track formation in cutting
3rd Feb relaying track through cutting ie joining up the line then complete BH to Borle Viaduct
4th Feb top ballasting of Sterns,
Tamping of ballast
7th Feb S+T installing cable
8th Feb S+T installing and testing cable BH to HL
track tamper to be at Bridgnorth for onward road movement to the Bluebell Railway
9th Feb PLANNED REOPENING OF BRIDGNORTH TO HAMPTON LOADE SECTION

15MPH PSR to remain on Sterns Historic Slip within the original speed restriction signs
It is not planned to put a speed restriction on the Sterns Cottage Slip

Ground movement inclinometers installed within the concrete cap to indicate any movement in the piled wall and below the track.

W/c 4th Feb
Ballasting and tamping of Hampton Loade Slip
Ballasting and tamping of Highley main line and sidings
Ballasting and tamping of Fisherman’s crossing Slip

HIGHLEY
28th Jan concrete base for cattle dock poured. The original cattle dock had to be dismantled to allow repairs to the Highley slip to take place.
29th Jan P Way preparing trackwork and turnout to join up No2 and No3 sidings
This week contractors to excavate base of water tower and pour concrete foundation
Additional trackwork to be installed
Start on building cattle dock wall
Installing kerbs stones and drainage from the station yard gates to and beyond the level crossing

Once enough trackwork laid the HY Travelling Post Office will be moved to BH by rail for onward movement to KR. This movement will allow enough time for it to receive the attention of the paint shop before being brought back to be exhibited in the Engine House

FISHERMAN’S CROSSING
Some drainage work in progress but will not hold up reopening of the line
Awaiting ballasting and tamping

BORLE VIADUCT
The level of the River Severn and therefore the Borle Brook has fallen significantly over the last weekend. If this rate continues then work can resume on building a retain gabion rock basket wall by the end of this week. The contractors need two weeks to build this wall. If the waters rise again afterwards work can continue for another three weeks unhindered to repair the collapsed embankment.

Contractors have looked at all options of effecting a repair over the last few weeks.These include building a bailey bridge to get a massive drilling rig similar to the one used at Sterns some weeks ago across the brook. Drilling so close to the viaduct would add the risk of disturbing the ground and affecting the foundations of the arches. Pile driving was explored the first 5.5m or 50 feet is so soft a contractor joked that they could be pushed in by hand! It was only then solid rock was found so piles would have to be significantly longer and the vibration of such a repair would probably damage the viaduct. So far there are no indications of any movement of the viaduct.

Unfortunately solid rock is 5.5m 50 feet below river level so the piles would have to be significantly longer and the cost £500,000.
Drilling and piling so close to the viaduct would add the risk of disturbing the ground and affecting the foundations of the arches.

The planned timetable of work at Borle Viaduct will allow the railway to reopen throughout on Good Friday

NORTHWOOD
Civil engineering reconstruction work complete
Some ballast being brought to site
1st Feb Drainage work on uphill side of track and under track starts complete within 3 days
w/c 4th Feb ballast back on formation
6th Feb steel sleepers now in store at AY to be moved to site
w/c 11th Feb relaying of 6 panels to join up track KR to Borle Viaduct work to take less than 2 days.Use of flat bottom rail, some at site some at Bewdley to be moved
Date TBA Shark and one hopper to be moved BH to KR to be used on ballast train
Northwood (Folly Point and Eymore Cutting) to be ballasted from KR end
Return of Tamper from South Devon and P + Dartmouth railways will tamp above sections from KR end

Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate has informed us that the SVR may reopen the line without them having to inspect it first.

Dewi Jones
Traffic Manager

30 mins to moderate 2 attempts

 

[Ascot]

FLOODLINE 78
Wednesday 30th January 2008

This afternoon our engineers inspected the Cleobury Road Bridge at Bridgnorth after a report that the track was slightly out of alignment. A detailed inspection revealed that the bridge had been struck by a road vehicle. As a result the bridge is now about 2-3 inches out of true and further damage to the stonework and shifted base plates has resulted in all rail movements over this bridge being banned ufn with the exception those specially authorised by the Chief Engineer. As a result the P Way, BH MPD and S+T staff will be involved as some of the track and signalling crossing the bridge may have to be dismantled. Engineers and the highway authorities are looking at various dates to effect a repair.

Option 1
To close the road on 6 or 7 February to lift the bridge.
The ballast tamper and Cl 73 will have to be moved south of the bridge before this date so that they can continue ballasting and tamping Sterns and Hampton Loade Slips
There is now a question whether the hopper and Shark ballast plough can be moved to KR without disturbing the ballasting work at Highley and Fisherman’s Crossing Slip.
If repairs are concluded in time we may be able to open to HL on Sat 9th Feb otherwise it will be the first advertised day after the repairs are complete.
There will be no Bridgnorth station shuttle on 2 and 3 February

Option 2
To own brakedown crane on the 13 or 14 February. The road closure is subject to other roadworks and closures in the area and to use our own crane would require further dismantling of the P Way and building a dedicated plain track to the bridge abutment for the crane to stand on.
It is unlikely that repairs to the P way and S+T would be completed the following weekend therefore the likely reopening date for the BH-HL section will then be Sat 23rd Feb.
There will be no Bridgnorth station shuttle or passenger trains BH to HL until 23rd February

The above dates are what can be worked to at the moment and will be subject to change as we are in the early stages of planning the repair.

STERNS
The french drain and associated drainage on the uphill side of the trackbed was completed today.

HIGHLEY
The base for the water tower has been excavated and the concrete for the base poured.
The cattle dock rear retaining wall is about half complete. This rear wall should be finished in a day or two and will allow the contractors to start work on reinstating the footpath to the Engine House

NORTHWOOD
Contractors have completed the digging out of the top meter of the fromation, put in hundreds of tons of rock which has been compacted and installed an improved drainage system. Lorries bringing ballast start arriving tomorrow. The lorry off loading point is in the lane just south of Northwood Level Crossing, this is then lifted by crawler bucket to track level, put in a road railer and trailer, this then trundles over Northwood LC (fancy being flagman here?) to the Northwood Slip. The RR then unloads the ballast into a rubber-tyred dumper which then crosses the slip to unload its contents on the rock formation and another crawler bucket then spreads it evenly ready for sleepers. This might give you an idea of why some jobs which look to be quick ones are not!

Vegetation clearance north of Bewdley
Dai Price is asking for help on Sunday 3rd February
Meet at Bewdley station about 10.00am for train to Bridge 12 (train will remain at site and return to Bewdley about 4.00pm. Otherwise walk (with PTS) or by car along Northwood Lane.

Dewi Jones
Traffic Manager

 

[Ascot]

FLOODLINE 79
Thursday 31st January 2008

CLEOBURY ROAD BRIDGE – BRIDGNORTH
A suitable road crane has been found and booked.
An emergency road closure order has been issued.
The bridge will be lifted on Wednesday 6th February.
This will allow P Way and S+T engineers on the 7th and 8th to reconnect or adjust the track, signal cables, point rods and possibly a water main. If the engineers are satisfied by end of day on the 8th , passenger trains will run on the reopened BH to HL section on the 9th February as initially planned.

BORLE VIADUCT
Several one ton sand bags have been lowered into the brook today to build a “wall” in the river. This is so that contractors can work in a safe are and be protected from the strong water flown. It is hoped that the long reach crawler bucket on the northern bank along with a smaller one (marooned on the southern bank for about a month) will start work within a day or so. The original plan of removing the damaged trailing wall in sections had been changed. The wall is so severely undercut and cracked that it provided no support to the embankment behind it. The plan is now to remove the wall in one go and insert the gabion rock baskets as quickly as possible. Contractors will be working longer hours and flood lamps will be brought in to allow them to work during the hours of darkness. It is likely that they will have to work extended hours and probably weekends to complete this work before the river level rises again.

Diesel Class 73101 has emerged from Kidderminster Paint Shop and ran a test train to Bewdley today. It will soon be leaving the SVR for a spell on the Llangollen Railway.

LNER buffet coach 643 left Kidderminster 11.30am Monday by road to Crewe. By 9.30am Tuesday all wheels had been reprofiled and was back at the SVR by Thursday. It is now in the works so that it can be adjusted to the correct height.

 

[Ascot]

FLOODLINE 80
Monday 4th February 2008

BRIDGNORTH
The painter was at it this weekend brightening up the booking hall.

EARDINGTON
Ballast is again now being brought in by road to this unloading point. A JCB then fills the four hopper wagons we have at this end of the line for tripping to sites.

STERNS COTTAGE SLIP
Civil engineering contractors vacated the site last week except for some landscaping and fence erecting to be done this week. In attendance on Sunday was the Bridgnorth P Way gang, a road railer and five members of the Gloucester Warwickshire Railway track laying gang who had offered to come along and help. The six panels of 60 foot lengths were laid to join up what is now a one railway from BH to Borle Viaduct .Well its in one piece until it is severed again for the Cleobury Road Bridge lift.
Ballasted today

HAMPTON LOADE SLIP
Ballasted today

HAMPTON LOADE STATION
The boarded crossing at the BH end has been repnewed. The signalbox last weekend was given a spring clean and all the dead flies hoovered up!
The Telegraph gang have been out removing large quantities of old wire which was either damaged or removed as a result of the flood damage and reconstruction work. So naked telegraph ploes – a victim of the floods.

HIGHLEY
Partially ballasted today, back with another train tomorrow.

FISHERMAN’S CROSSING SLIP
Partially ballasted today, back with another train tomorrow.

TRAFMAN’S TRUNDLES No 2!
HIGHLEY ENGINE HOUSE PREVIEW and GUIDED WALK OF REPAIRS
for SVR WORKING MEMBERS on Saturday and Sunday 23rd and 24th February
Please park in the Severn Valley Country Park car park off Station Road on the on the right hand side after passing the golf course. The entrance to the EH or HY Station will not be fit to park cars (probably still construction sites). Disabled visitors should contact the EH for advice on 01746 863387 in advance.

Access to the EH is either walking along the tarmac road or more interestingly along the track bed of the inclined railway. EH will be open 10.00am until 4.00pm,the gift shop will be open and hot and cold beverages and light refreshment will be available. EH guides will be on hand to explain and answer question. Entry to the EH will be for SVR working member only (on production of a WM Pass) and one guest.
Guided walks
10.30am (30 minutes) Highley Slip (members and guests)
11.15am (45 minutes) Fisherman’s Crossing and Borle Viaduct (SVR working members only)
1.00pm (30 minutes) Highley Slip (members and guests)
1.45pm (45 minutes) Fisherman’s Crossing and Borle Viaduct (SVR working members only)

Dewi Jones
Traffic Manager

 

[Ascot]

FLOODLINE 81
Thursday 7th February 2008

Bridgnorth to Hampton now open from Saturday 9th a service will run

BRIDGNORTH STATION - THIS WEEKEND
Refreshment, shop and pub open
See below
If you are visiting Bridgnorth in the next few days look at the Bridgnorth Station web site to see what work has been going on over the last few months. Interested in helping then please have a word with a member of staff.

CLEOBURY ROAD BRIDGE BRIDGNORTH
Lift completed yesterday and damaged stonework attended to
S+T reconnecting point rods to turnout on bridge

STERNS COTTAGE SLIP
Track ballasted and tamped ready for trains
Drains in and temporary fencing in place
S+T ploughing in cable today and jointing up cables
Tomorrow finishing jointing and testing

HAMPTON LOADE SLIP
Track ballasted and tamped ready for trains

HAMPTON LOADE STATION – THIS WEEKEND
Barry Railway coach open for inspection on Saturday
Miniature steam railway operating on Sunday
Kiosk and railwayana shop will be open Saturday and Sunday

REOPENING OF BH-HL
All repaired sections of line have been reinstated to the original line speed
Permanent Speed Restrictions are the only ones in force, there are no Temporary Speed Restrictions.
Booked engine is 4566 which is being steam tested today. Engine faces Bridgnorth.
Buffet Car open on service trains

HIGHLEY
Main line ballasted and tamped – no temporary speed restriction

FISHERMAN’S CROSSING SLIP
Track ballasted and tamped – no temporary speed restriction although it is advisable to slow down in the Up direction as the track has been lifted south of Borle Viaduct!!

DON’T FORGET
Bewdley to Kidderminster service continues to run. This weekend is booked for 45110 on 4 carmine and cream MK1s.

Dewi Jones
Traffic Manager


Bridgnorth d 10.30 11.50 1.10 2.30 3.50 5.00
Hampton Loade a 10.50 12.10 1.30 2.50 4.10 5.20

Hampton Loade d 11.10 12.30 1.50 3.10 4.30 5.30
Bridgnorth a 11.33 12.50 2.10 3.30 4.50 5.50

 

[laseandre]

Keep up the good work everyone at SVR.

 

[Ascot]

Speaking to people who worked up north today they said it went well.

After a hard 9 months the Severn Valley Railway will rise again and to celebrate this we will be holding a 4 day event in the Easter Weekend.

Good Friday 21st March 2008
Holy Saturday 22nd March 2008
Easter Sunday 23rd March 2008
Easter Monday 24th March 2008

On these days we will be running a full timetable D so thats normal fares structure.

For full day rover tickets these are as follows and many others on our website:
Adult:£13.00
Senior:£11.00
Child:£6.50

Looking back on the thread alot has come from the start, a big thank you to everyone who's shown their support any way possible. We hope to see you there on Easter. In the mean time we are running between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade and also Kidderminster and Bewdley. Plenty more updates for you so stay tuned.

Also 73101 has had a touch of paint to make it's already amazing Pullman livery stand out as a thank you to them who let us borrow it during the damage.

Every donation is well appreciated and as always if would like to make a donation to help with the restoration here is the link http://svr.org.uk/appeal.php

 

[Ascot]

FLOODLINE 82
Friday 15th 7th February 2008

Well for those on the other side of the world, we did reopen the Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade section last Saturday. Engineering staff met their tagets by Friday afternoon, the PICOP handed back the Enginering Possession and engine 4566 has worked a daily since then on this service.

BRIDGNORTH
Engine 7812 Erlestoke Manor ventured out of BH MPD yard on Tuesday 12th and ran in P2 until dusk. Some slight steam leaks to attend to.

HIGHLEY
Engine House Level Crossing laid
Most of the frontage to the EH has had the base tarmac laid
Highley Up Starter Signal is to be erected next week – this was the one that got washed away in June

BORLE VIADUCT
Contractors have been back in the brook since Tuesday. The damaged trailing wall has been removed and all gabion rock baskets will be in place by Saturday evening. This will then allow the contractors to continue rebuilding the embankment above the wall unhindered even if the level of the brook rises again.

NORTHWOOD
All major drains ie about 4 foot in diameter have now been connected up. These run from the cess above the track, under the track, down the embankment, under Northwood Lane, along side someone’s bungalow, under the field and then into the River Severn.

New steel sleepers and flat bottom rail have been laid two thirds of the way across the slip. P Way back on Monday to join up. We will then be a two line railway with only two lengths to replace at Borle Brook. This connection will allow ballast trains to run from KR to NW,FP and Eymore.

BEWDLEY
Next week the S+T Dept will be starting to lay cables from Northwood LX northwards

KIDDERMINSTER
Kitchen car 1665 left last night by road back to the Dean Forest Railway after receiving a “bottom end” overhaul. Its place in the lifting shop has now been taken by BR MK1 4690. DMU car 56208 has come out of the paint shop and will return to Bewdley tomorrow. GNR 2701 is at KR awaiting its turn in the paint shop

Passenger figures
More travelling this week on BH-HL than KR-BY
From 2nd Jan we are 29% up on budget
In the month of February alone (well until the 14th) we are 35% up on budget
We are currently 42% down on last year’s figure to date


Dewi Jones
Traffic Manager

 

[Ascot]

FLOODLINE 83
Wednesday 20th February 2008

HIGHLEY
Highley Up Starter signal craned into position yesterday
Installing the missing point and track work in the station area should be complete by the end of this week. The TPO 80300 will be moved from HY to BH w/c 25th Feb for onward movement by road to Kidderminster paint shop.
The level crossing is 90% complete, base tarmac around crossing should have gone in today
All base tarmac should be in place by end of the week.
Aim to install track from crossing to EH before installing crossing to station.

TRAFMAN’S TRACKS No2 Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th February
The walk along the railway line to Fisherman’s Crossing and Borle Viaduct for working members has had to be cancelled. Contractors and their machines will be using the line this weekend to effect repairs to Borle Viaduct.
The Engine House will be open to working members + one guest from 10.00am until 4.00pm
On Saturday I will be giving a guided tour of the repaired areas around the Highley station area and Chief engineer Phil Sowden will do so on Sunday. The walks will start at the EH entrance at 10.30am,11.45am and 1.00pm and should take no more than an hour. Don’t forget to park in the Severn Valley Country Park car park on the right hand side of the station approach road.

BORLE VIADUCT
Embankment slippage as a result of the recent weather causes some settlement of the stonework. To effect repairs scaffolding was erected around the southern abutment for contractors to “stitch” hairline cracks in the stonework with metal rods tomorrow. Scaffold for “stichers” comes down on Saturday. Work on building up the embankment starts on Monday,this should take two weeks.

All the gabion rock baskets are now in the river with all baskets in place by the end of the week.
All concrete spraying of the trailing walls has been completed.

7 March contractors aim to hand back BV to SVR
8+9 March P W teams to relay track (the last 120 feet of rails)
10 March embankment ready with track on
Three hoppers at KR to be moved to Eardington to form longer ballast train
10-14 March Ballast trains Eardington to BV, Eymore, FP and NW

NORTHWOOD
Last 10 foot of track was put back today, drains done, further tree clearance above slip
S+T will be laying cable from Northwood Crossing for 1000 yards northwards Friday
Class 08 driver, guard and volunteers required Saturday 23rd February to help unload concrete troughing and lids in the Northwood/Folly Point area. Meet at Bewdley 10.30am.
This will release S+T staff to other duties. If you can help please let me know.

Tomorrow road sweepers in the lane to start the tidy up job
Next week meeting with council to see how much tarmac left and how much required to effect repairs.

GENERAL
Engine cleaners required to get loco exhibits now in store at Kidderminster Carriage Shed cleaned ready for move to EH. Please contact Don Shadwell or Phil Sowden
BH DSMs to utilise staff to clean Jinty (but not 1501)
7812 on light engine test, believed to have reached Hampton Loade.

TRAFMAN’s TRACKS No 3 Sunday 9th March
Bewdley to Arley out via the railway, return via the eastern bank of the River Severn
Depart 10.30am back mid afternoon, visiting Northwood and Folly Point (above and below!). Eymore Cutting, the famous siphon, and Victoria Bridge (above and below!).

Dewi Jones
Traffic Manager