Time travel: Severn Valley Railway
Jules Hudson travels the Severn Valley Railway, winner of BBC Countryfile Magazine’s Heritage Site of the Year, for a trip back in time to the golden age of steam
From its source in the Cambrian mountains around Plynlimon near Aberystwyth, to its end, 220 miles later, in the tidal reaches at Maisemore, the river Severn traces a route through some of the most spectacular scenery in the British Isles. There are, of course, myriad ways in which to explore it, either on foot, by boat, or by bike, but few can rival the unique perspective of gently rolling through some 16 miles of its more inaccessible reaches by railway.
Since it was completed back in 1862, the Severn Valley Railway has played an important role in the economic development of both Worcestershire and Shropshire. Originally designed to connect a 40-mile stretch between Kidderminster and Shrewsbury, today it survives as one of the oldest, busiest and most comprehensive heritage railways in the UK.
Its connections to the rest of the mainline network have helped it to establish a commanding position as a vital hub in the infrastructure that maintains many more of the nation’s historic railways. Specialist engineering and repair facilities and a growing apprentice scheme, along with acres of workshops and expert knowledge, have preserved and revived many old skills. These elements have helped the SVR lead the way in the business of creating and curating an increasing number of historic railways since the preservation charity was formed back in 1965 – which means, this year, it proudly celebrates its 50th anniversary.
GOD’S WONDERFUL RAILWAY
Since I was a boy, I’ve made no apology for being captivated by the age of steam and the great engines that continue to harness its power and project its magic. The majesty of a locomotive hauling its train across a timeless landscape has helped give the SVR an envious edge over its rivals in the business of railway revival. For much of its life it was run by the Great Western Railway, or GWR. Viewed by many of its advocates both past and present as God’s Wonderful Railway, the GWR and its role in opening up much of the country to trade and travel is one of the great tales of 19th-century engineering and innovation. Its chief engineer, Brunel, has come to embody that can-do approach that underlined the Great in Great Britain. British factories exported the best locomotives in the world, around the world, locomotives whose designs were honed across thousands of miles of the home railway network.
Getting me onto a steam train is like asking a five year old if they fancy some work experience in Santa’s grotto. For the past five years or so, the SVR has, in effect, become my local line since moving to the borders and Herefordshire, and over that time, either through work or play, I’ve been a regular visitor. My several filming forays, including for Countryfile, have often focused upon the specifics of an engine or the role of a department. Curiously, the one thing I’ve not yet been able to do freely is simply to enjoy the ride and take in the unique perspective the line’s route provides of this lovely part of the world, often undisturbed by roads and pathways.
PUFFING
Joined by Lewis Maddox, the SVR’s events coordinator, I was in good company for my trip. For Lewis, almost every view that the UK has to offer is encapsulated in the 16 miles of track that the SVR has made its own. And, as he says, what better way to experience it than with the soundtrack of a steam locomotive gently puffing its way across the landscape. The Railway’s motto, “every
“ALMOST EVERY VIEW THE UK HAS
TO OFFER IS ENCAPSULATED IN 16 MILES OF TRACK”