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Severn Valley Modernisation ?

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Pesmo, May 15, 2009.

  1. Pesmo

    Pesmo Member

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    A slightly tongue in cheek thread title given the warm words in the Bluebell thread of a similar name. Anyway, I visited SVR for the first time ever today and was very impressed with the operation and felt very welcome as a visitor. I thought the 'Engine house' was great and and I loved Kidderminster Town station, far better than the modern station beside it. However, I was somewhat nonplussed to discover a modern Chitern DMU was running over the line today. I know nothing about DMU's but it looked like it might have been a turbostar and looked quite new. Being nosey and hearing other visitors saying 'wossat?' or similar, I made enquiries as I always thought that SVR was mainly steam whenever possible and was told that it was there for 'Gauging trials' against the SVR platforms tunnels and bridges etc. Whats that about then ? :-k

    Do they do this sort of thing often and test stuff for the Big Railway ?
     
  2. boldford

    boldford Member

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    Testing the viability of extending the regular Marylebone to Kidderminster service further north. Oink, oink, flap, flap.

    A subtle hint of truth in there really.
     
  3. david1984

    david1984 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Testing of modern traction on heritage lines is a regular occurence when required, it's just a test, no stealth modernisation or anything about it, not to mention the said line is probably getting some good dough out of being a test track.
     
  4. London Midland Guard

    London Midland Guard New Member

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    This is abit hush hush but here goes........Arley - London Paddington via Moor St hourly service from the December timetable change Chiltern 168's all the way.

    :-$ :-$ :-$ :-$ :-$

    LMG.
     
  5. porous pot

    porous pot New Member

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    Trouble is, I want to go to Euston!
     
  6. 46118

    46118 Part of the furniture

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    The Bewdley Station website calls this visit a "guaging run", so maybe something is afoot with a service to somewhere beyond Kidderminster?

    Actually quite sensible if you think about it.

    46118
     
  7. Stu in Torbay

    Stu in Torbay Part of the furniture

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    Well, lets hope they managed to age their gu successfully then 8-[
     
  8. porous pot

    porous pot New Member

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    Well, whilst we age our gu here in Shropshire and Worcestershire, I hope you arden your gu in Devon. Oh, I love the English language!
     
  9. saltydog

    saltydog Part of the furniture

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    Just wait 'till the masts start going up for the OHL. :-#
    Seriously though if the paths are available surely early morning and evening commuter services from Bridgnorth and Bewdley to Snow Hill would make sense.....if the financial arrangements were beneficial of course.
     
  10. 46118

    46118 Part of the furniture

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    Sorry!!

    I do check, but that one slipped past!

    ....I'll go and hammer in a few loose keys....

    46118
     
  11. London Midland Guard

    London Midland Guard New Member

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    I think its safe to say that the appearance of a 168 on the svr is in connection with driver training or skid pan training. I very much doubt chiltern would be interested in running a commuter service to/from the svr.

    LMG.
     
  12. southernman

    southernman Well-Known Member

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    Have you been to Highley recently? We have the first span for OHL!
     
  13. Steamage

    Steamage Part of the furniture

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    ??? :shock:
     
  14. Inspector Biffo

    Inspector Biffo New Member

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    Your not even warm on this one!!
     
  15. richards

    richards Part of the furniture

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    Promotional video for Chiltern Trains, perhaps?

    Richard
     
  16. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    Sequel to 'Oh Dr Beeching' ........ ?
     
  17. pseudonym

    pseudonym New Member

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    Could it be trialling a direct Highley to Moor Street service for a resident there?
     
  18. 46118

    46118 Part of the furniture

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    Perhaps with suitable sites being in short supply, Chiltern have purchased part of the Foley Park sugar beet factory site for a state of the art diesel depot?

    46118
     
  19. richards

    richards Part of the furniture

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    ... or SVR has just won the maintenance contract for Chiltern Trains? They won the contract by offering to repaint all the units after every overhaul into a "proper" livery for free.

    Richard
     
  20. boldford

    boldford Member

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