Friday 23rd May marks the 55th anniversary of the first fully public train* to run on the SVR as a preserved line. ​

What a contrast to how things were back in 1970, as a section of SVR line was opened for public passenger services between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade. It was the culmination of the unstinting efforts of a pioneering group of railway enthusiasts. They’d formed the Severn Valley Railway Society at the Coopers Arms public house in Kidderminster five years earlier in 1965.

The SVR Society managed to raise 25% of the £25,000 purchase price for a closed five-mile section of the line from Bridgnorth to Alveley. By 1967, the first rolling stock, an engine and four coaches, had been received. The next three years were spent restoring the line to operating condition, and overcoming considerable difficulties to obtain the legal authority, a Light Railway Order, from the Department of the Environment.

The section from Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade was opened for public passenger services on 23rd May 1970 and the remainder of the purchase price was paid shortly afterwards. The first service was the 2pm from Bridgnorth, hauled by locomotive 3205.

SVR veteran David Williams says the first day of running was a rather rushed affair, and didn’t allow him the pleasure of being there in person:

“This seemingly inexcusable fact was because the date of reopening was not known until the Light Railway Order dropped through the SVR Company letterbox, with only a fortnight’s notice. This meant that two of the Railway’s most prolific and keen photographers, David Cooke and myself, newly equipped with Pentaxes, were on holiday! An SVR party of eight had booked flights to Portugal some three months earlier.”

This clash of events, along with some uncharacteristically dull and hazy weather on the 23rd May 1970 meant that very few photos were taken of the first day of running. Fortunately, the weather turned sunny overnight, and some good photos were taken on day two. David adds:

“Don’t forget that it was a period when young, keen SVR supporters were quite poor, and colour photography was very expensive. The nation’s top (wealthy) photographers had yet to discover where Bridgnorth was on the map, and were still mourning the then recent loss of BR steam.”

*Occasional trains had run for SVR members and ‘day members’ since 1967, with the tacit approval of British Rail.