Family Fun at Arley Arboretum We have plenty of fun and adventures for the whole family to enjoy!

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1 Take a step back in time and watch the Severn Valley Railway trains steam across the hill from one of our magnificent signposted walks. Arley Arboretum & Gardens provide an idyllic escape into nature and history for you and your family to learn, laugh and play. Wander through our 30 acres of natural beauty, with specialist trees and gardens that will captivate all seasons! Opening Times Open Weds - Sun 11am - 5pm Plus bank holidays & some school holidays Forestry Adventure Club (2-12yrs) From Bug Hunts to Story Telling, Campfire Songs and Cooking! On select days during school holidays. Discounts available for siblings. Mini Adventurers Club (Under 5 s) Every Thursday during term time 4 per session Children s Birthday Parties Available See website for details Weddings Licensed for marriages and civil partnerships. From small & intimate to grand & decadent, bespoke weddings to fulfil your dreams. Check our website and Facebook page for news of seasonal activities, events & adventures R.D. Turner Charitable Trust. Reg. No E&OE *Subject to availability Family Fun at Arley Arboretum We have plenty of fun and adventures for the whole family to enjoy! Maze Find your way to the centre of our twisty, turny maze to find the castle! Kid s Woodland Trails Collect your free activity sheets, follow the clues, answer the questions and claim a prize!* DelMar Play Trail Our outdoor adventure trail consists of 9 play areas linked together by a 40m-long trail! Garden Tea Room Selection of freshly prepared hot and cold food, handmade cakes and a range of beverages. Just a 10 Minute Walk From Arley Station Cut through the Church grounds to Arley Arboretum Arley Arboretum & gardens Arley Village River Severn Arley Church Arley Station Every journey ends with a memory FROM THE WINDOW NOW WITH I SPY PAGES FOR THE CHILDREN

2 WYRE FOREST COALFIELD Hampton Loade to Highley TWO COUNTIES Highley to Arley 1 2 ACROSS THE SEVERN Arley to Northwood Halt OVER THE SUMMIT Bridgnorth to Eardington Halt (disused) LANDSLIP Eardington Halt to Hampton Loade 4 USING THE MAPS Each main map covers just over two miles of the line allowing for overlap as shown, and points of interest are marked by captions. References to the direction of travel and of the left hand or right hand side of the train have been avoided wherever possible. This will help you to follow the journey more easily, regardless of which station you start from, in which direction you are travelling, and whether you are facing or have your back to the engine. GEORGIAN RIVER PORT 6 Northwood Halt to 5 Bewdley and Rifle Range Halt (Site of) CARPETS AND CANAL 7 Rifle Range to Kidderminster Town 6 7 Severn Valley Railway, Official Site or Severn Valley Railway Families Follow Severn Valley Railway, Number One, Comberton Place, Kidderminster, DY10 1QR Tel: Please note: Improvement works are planned to take place at the station during Please see the News Page of our website for the latest information as some facilities may be closed or temporarily moved. BRIDGNORTH Our terminus at the northern end of the line, Bridgnorth is a popular starting point for visitors from the north and west. The station building is largely original, dating from the opening of the line in 1862 although there have been many changes over the years. Our locomotive works is situated here with viewing of the locomotive yard possible from the station footbridge. Casual access to the Works is NOT permitted except on special days which are advertised on our website. STATION FACTFILE Parking YES - pay & display. Additional free parking is also available on busy days during the summer months. Please look out for direction signs. Toilets YES Disabled - friendly toilets YES key available from the gift-shop. Wheelchair access to the train - platform 1 YES Wheelchair access to the train - platform 2 YES with staff assistance. THINGS TO SEE & DO Castle Grounds Bridgnorth Cliff Railway Shopping Eateries Refreshment room YES Sales Gift-shop. Stalls selling mainly second-hand books, magazines and railway items. Access information Take the footbridge from the station main entrance for 15-minute walk into the town. You will encounter some significant slopes and steps as Bridgnorth is split into a high and low town separated by a sandstone cliff. A cliff railway is in operation (additional charge). The Castle Grounds are famous for the castle that Cromwell s forces didn t quite manage to blow up! The Grounds are located in front of you as you leave the footbridge. This is a great place for a picnic on a sunny day, offering stunning views across the Severn Valley. From the Castle Grounds you can take the cliff-top pathway past the top station of the Cliff Railway ending in the centre of High Town. No visit to Bridgnorth is complete without a trip on the Cliff Railway which is the steepest inland funicular railway in England. If you have a fear of heights don t look down when you are in one of the cars! This is probably the easiest way to access Low Town and the riverside. Visit to find out more. A good mix of independent retailers and smaller shops belonging to national chains. There are also a number of gift-shops. Markets on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Visit to find out more. Food to suit every taste and pocket is available in Bridgnorth. Most cuisines available.

3 BRIDGNORTH TO EARDINGTON HALT (DISUSED) LOCOMOTIVE WORKS Four large buildings beyond the station platforms house the Locomotive Works. At the north end is a purpose-built Boiler Shop completed in Next to it, the former goods shed of 1863 now houses the Machine Shop. At the south end, the large locomotive shed doubles as the Erecting Shop and Running Depot. We regret that for your safety, unrestricted access to this fascinating complex is not possible. BRIDGNORTH CASTLE The castle site was first fortified in the 11th century and again in the 19th century. The stone keep and strong high town walls were built later. Bridgnorth was a Royalist stronghold during the Civil War and was besieged for 4 weeks before the King s men surrendered. The walls were then pulled down and an attempt made to blow up the keep. All that remains today is the leaning tower, locally famous as it leans more than its better-known rival at Pisa. BRIDGNORTH FOOTBRIDGE A hundred years ago, the Borough Council built a bridge so that railway passengers and townspeople could get to and from the station more easily. In 1988 a footbridge trust was formed to raise funds for a new bridge, completed in So once again, railway passengers can get to the town with ease. PAN PUDDING HILL The large grass- covered hill overlooking the station is Pan Pudding Hill, and was built as a siege castle by Henry I in From there, he bombarded Bridgnorth Castle using large catapults called Trebuchet, in order to subdue a troublesome Baron. Later in 1646 during the Civil War, the hill was used as a gun platform by Parliamentarian forces, to fire on the Royalist castle. KNOWLESANDS BRICKWORKS The last and largest brickworks in this area was once connected to the railway. Today, the site is a busy industrial estate. Oldbury Viaduct Oldbury Cutting Knowlesands Tunnel Daniel s Mill Eardington Summit EARDINGTON SUMMIT The summit of the line at 210 feet is marked by a board on the riverside of a long cutting which partially obscures the view. From near this point, a line to Wolverhampton was planned but never built. This is why Oldbury Viaduct and Knowlesands Tunnel were built wide enough for two tracks. EARDINGTON HALT Eardington Halt is a long way from the village of the same name and situated in an apparently remote location. It was sited to serve two ironworks: Upper Forge situated behind the halt and Lower Forge hidden out of sight on the riverbank. These ironworks were the last in England to produce cannons for the British Army, the last delivery went to South Africa during the Boer War. Under private ownership, Eardington was a busy intermediate stop and watering place for locomotives when services began, but is now disused and used principally as a track maintenance depot. BRIDGNORTH STATION The station here dates back to 1861 and is now a listed building. One feature is the refreshment room, today enlarged as the Railwayman s Arms and believed to be unique as the station refreshment room that never closed, even when the line was disused. BRIDGNORTH BY-PASS Opened in 1985, this much-needed road took heavy traffic away from the town s medieval streets. Sweeping over the Severn and under the railway, the bypass was a costly headache to the railway company, as it had to bear 30% of the cost of the railway bridge. Then only a week after it opened, part of the southern approach embankment slipped just after a train had passed over it! Crossing Cottage DANIEL S MILL As the train crosses Oldbury Viaduct, Daniel s Mill can be seen below on the riverside of the line. Milling has been carried on here for over 900 years and the 38ft water wheel powering the present Victorian mill is the largest of its type in England. The owner, who is also a founder member of the Severn Valley Railway, welcomes visitors at certain times. CROSSING COTTAGE The engine whistles for Crossing Cottage, built in 1859 where a private track crosses the line. The keeper who looked after the crossing gates also worked at Eardington and he used to cycle along the railway to get to work. The cottage is now the home of two working members of the Severn Valley Railway who enjoy the railway equivalent of living over the shop. COME AGAIN! For anyone interested in history, Bridgnorth has much to offer and is well worth a return trip by train. The town grew up around its castle and later became a river port on the Severn. It is divided dramatically into Low Town, where in 1808 Richard Trevithick built Britain s first steam locomotive specially designed for hauling passengers, and High Town on a sandstone bluff above, with steps, winding alleys and the Cliff Railway interconnecting them. The Tourist Information Centre in Listley Street supplies an excellent town trail leaflet; the trail itself can be joined in the castle grounds by crossing the footbridge and climbing Cannon Steps. Eardington OVER THE SUMMIT 1

4 EARDINGTON HALT (DISUSED) TO HAMPTON LOADE Eardington Halt (Closed) EARDINGTON BANK Hard work for northbound trains. Listen to the exhaust beat of the engine increase as it moves off from Sterns. The gradient is easy for a car, but is quite a climb for a locomotive pulling a heavy train. On the climb the train enters a long cutting and then passes the now-disused Eardington Halt. STERNS LANDSLIP The brakes come on and the train slows to 15mph at Sterns, infamous in Severn Valley Railway history as the location of a landslip which has led to a speed restriction at this point from the day the line was built. Hay Mor Brook The Concrete Path Between Sterns Cottage and the track, you will see what appears to be a short concrete path. This is actually the cap of the piling done here in 2007 as part of the flood repair! Sterns THE LONG COVERT The stretch of woodland across the river is the Long Covert, through which a footpath from Hampton Loade to Dudmaston passes. THE POLE THAT MOVES! Severe floods in early 1995 severely eroded the river bank and led to a major landslip that moved the track out of alignment. So 3000 tonnes of large stones were laid along the bank at the water s edge to minimize land movement. Look carefully for a telegraph pole about 20 yards from the line and almost hidden in the trees. It originally stood next to the track and over the years the slip has moved it to its present position. SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE WATER COMPANY The blue arches of the river bridge are in fact large water pipes, part of the system between reservoir and treatment plant. This company supplies water to the Severn Trent system. Decking suspended from the pipe arches carries a private road, which also crosses the railway at the gated Waterworks Crossing. Little Rock Cutting Waterworks Crossing COME AGAIN! The ideal venue to say I do. Your journey of a lifetime starts here! Get married with us and celebrate in heritage railway style on your special day with friends and family. Our fleet of historic dining carriages and our restaurant facilities at Kidderminster can provide the backdrop to your very special day. Alternatively, you and your guests may want to enjoy a wedding breakfast in one of our luxurious observation saloons as you travel by steam train along the beautiful Severn Valley. The Engine House, our Visitor Centre, is licenced for Civil Marriage Ceremonies which can be conducted in a variety of railway themed locations. So, what are you waiting for, the train now departing is reserved for you! Hampton Loade Station LANDSLIP! 2

5 ARE YOU SITTING COMFORTABLY? The Severn Valley Railway is home to one of Britain s largest heritage carriage collections with over sixty working vehicles, the youngest being at least fifty years old and the oldest in excess of one hundred. Many of these carriages arrived in terrible condition following years of secondary use as sheds, hen houses or even as restaurant annexes to hotels or public houses. Their loving restoration to original condition has been undertaken by enthusiastic people, often working out-doors and independently raising the necessary funds. Staggeringly, a single coach can cost up to 185,000 to restore. Your fares on our trains do not cover this cost. You may like to try your hand at identifying the carriages that you are travelling in either from the outside, probably the easiest, or from where you are sitting now. Ex - GREAT WESTERN: Usually, but not always, chocolate and cream in colour. Look out for the GWR monogram on the coach sides and the raised panelling and lining. Some of these carriages have small top light windows above the main windows. These are our oldest vehicles. Ex - LONDON MIDLAND & SCOTTISH: Built pre & post World War II, we uniquely have a complete working train of LMS carriages. Shorter in length than other members of the fleet, they carry the functional railway maroon livery which looks particularly smart when freshly varnished. Ex - LONDON & NORTH EASTERN: Dating from the mid-1930 s, the SVR is proud to run Britain s longest restored LNER teak train. They are the only carriages on the line to have a varnished teak panelled exterior. Some of these vehicles are high-capacity sixty-four seaters, but also look out for other carriages configured into snug compartments with upholstered bench seating on one or both sides. EX - BRITISH RAILWAYS: Developed after Nationalisation in 1948, these new designs were based on the best design practice of the pre-nationalisation railway companies. We have examples from the 1950s and 1960s, some in early carmine and cream livery known affectionately as blood & custard others in the later maroon. HAMPTON LOADE Hampton Loade is a little gem of a station! On most days trains pass each other here bringing noise and bustle to this otherwise sleepy hamlet. Once the trains have gone you can literally hear the butterflies flapping their wings! The River Severn is a short walk down the lane but, sadly, the last current - operated foot ferry in England has now ceased operation. STATION FACTFILE Parking LIMITED and not recommended. The lanes to the station are single track in parts. Toilets YES Disabled - friendly toilets NO Wheelchair access to the train - platform 1 &2YES - with staff assistance. THINGS TO SEE & DO Refreshment kiosk YES, usually at weekends only. Sales Coach selling mainly second-hand books, magazines and railway items. Model Railway Next to the line, this live steam model railway operates every Sunday when the train service is in operation and on other days when certain special events are taking place. Picnics There is a fenced picnic area located right next to the line and benches on both platforms. Riverside walks The river is only a short walk down the lane from the station. Route 45 cycleway passes close to the station and provides an easy safe walk along the side of the line. Eateries There is a pub and campsite adjacent to the station. A FINAL THOUGHT... When using our trains, please respect their painstaking and costly conservation; these carriages really are museum pieces. Please keep shoes and animals off the seats and do not allow children to stand on the tables or seats. Pushchairs and buggies should be carried in the guards van or where indicated by our staff.

6 HAMPTON LOADE TO HIGHLEY HAMPTON LOADE STATION When train services from Bridgnorth restarted under private ownership in 1970, they ran only to Hampton Loade which thus became the first country station to open on the present line. Today trains pass here, but road access is difficult and because of this, the station often exemplifies the country railway as it once was; long periods of calm with seemingly no-one around except the signalman, alternating with brief periods of intense activity with two trains in the station at once. NATIONAL CYCLE ROUTE 45 This section of the route runs parallel to the line from Hampton Loade station to near Country Park Halt. Hampton Loade Station THE UNICORN Hampton Loade village is actually on the other side of the river. This small settlement also had an iron furnace and brass foundry, and on hot summer days the workers were paid partly in beer. On the railway side, the station is in Hampton and the nearby Unicorn Inn is also located here. MILE POSTS Most railways provided distance markers at quarter mile intervals along the line. Here, they are on the river side and give the distance from London Paddington via Oxford and Worcester (the original route worked by the Great Western Railway). Marker 144/II (144.5 miles) at this point evokes sentimental memories for long-serving Severn Valley Railway members as it was also the boundary of the first section of line bought from British Railways in SEVERN VALLEY COUNTRY PARK For over 500 years, this area was exploited for quarrying stone and mining coal. After the last mine at Alveley closed in 1969, large tracts of derelict land remained and scarred an otherwise beautiful landscape. These have now been reclaimed as the Severn Valley Country Park. COAL WASHING PLANT Picnic tables now occupy the site of a washing plant where coal from the mine was screened. It was then loaded into rail wagons waiting in the adjacent Alveley sidings. Considerable coal traffic was worked from here, and much of it went 10 miles south to Stourport power station. Visitors can enjoy this area by alighting at Country Park Halt which was built as a request stop in THE MINERS TRACK Across the river, Alveley mine worked from 1939 to 1969 and was the largest in South Shropshire. Many of the miners lived in Highley on this side of the river and the footpath which crosses the line here was the miners track along which they walked to work. OLD MINERS BRIDGE Miners crossed the Severn by a concrete bridge built in 1937 which still exists and today gives walkers access to the country park. It also used to support an aerial ropeway which brought the coal from the mine back across the river to the washing plant. ALVELEY HALT Miners from further afield travelled to work by train, alighting at Alveley Halt, built where the miners track crosses the line. The halt, which was opened in 1939, was no more than a short platform with a primitive shelter. No trace of it remains today. Country Park Halt Alveley Halt (site of) HIGHLEY BANK To the north of Highley trains have to negotiate the steepest gradients and the sharpest curves on the line. Originally a direct line in a cutting was to have been built, but due to the unstable nature of the ground, the builders had to go around the problem. In autumn the line here is slippery with rain and leaves, and a driver needs all his skills to control a heavy train. GRADIENT POSTS Where the gradient of the line changes, railways provided markers to inform the train crews. There are two examples at Highley, the one at the north end shows that the line is level through the station, and that it rises at 1 in 100 from the platform end. COME AGAIN! Dining on a train is a delight. For a Saturday evening with a difference, enjoy a wine and dine murder mystery theme evening to experience the magical atmosphere of a steam railway at night. Lunch in style on Sunday, joining one of our two dining car trains. Break your return journey for an afternoon stroll or visit The Engine House, and forget about driving, cooking and washing up! Highley Station SEVERN VALLEY COUNTRY PARK VISITOR CENTRE Some of the finest scenery can be viewed from here. The Centre was built on the former spoil heap of Alveley mine which closed in 1969, now landscaped and planted over. The Centre houses a number of displays, which tell the story of past mining activity in the valley and provide details of flora and fauna that can be seen from waymarked footpaths. WYRE FOREST COALFIELD 3

7 BRIDGNORTH TOWN EVENTS Bridgnorth Town Events brings community events all year round. Featuring: Speciality Markets:- Spring, Summer & Autumn Easter Egg Hunt - Easter Sunday St. George s Day Market & Parade - 23rd April Proms in the Pews - June Bridgnorth Town Carnival - Last weekend in June Teddy Bears Picnic - July Christmas Lighting Up Night - Late November During your time in Bridgnorth why not visit the beautiful Castle Grounds, the historic Town Hall and the Northgate Museum. College House, St Leonard s Close, Bridgnorth, Shropshire WV16 4EJ Tel: townclerk@bridgnorthtowncouncil.gov.uk Town Clerk: Anne Wilson BA Hons AIH MIPM More information can be found on our website: For further information on dates, times and locations of these events plus many more organised events throughout the year, please visit HIGHLEY & THE ENGINE HOUSE You are now in Shropshire. Highley is one of our smallest stations but it can be one of the busiest as it is also the location of The Engine House, our Visitor & Education Centre which is just a short walk from the station. The station has one platform but its three tracks are a legacy from the days when Highley was a busy coal mining area. Despite its industrial past, Highley is a pretty station in the middle of the Severn Valley Country Park. TM STATION FACTFILE Parking YES but very limited at the station and at the Visitor Centre. Toilets YES, at the station and Visitor Centre but access to the Visitor Centre is by ticket only. Disabled - friendly toilets YES, at the Visitor Centre but access to the Visitor Centre is by ticket only. Wheelchair access to the train YES - with staff assistance. Refreshment kiosk YES - usually at weekends only. Sales No. Access information The Visitor Centre is a 150-yard walk from the station along a smooth and fairly level path. Highley village is a significant walk from the station and is not recommended. Opening times Summer - Mon to Sat 8.00am to 8.00pm - Sun 12.00pm to 8.00pm. Opening times Winter - Mon to Sat 8.00am to 6.30pm - Sun 12.00pm to 6.30pm. TICKETS 1.60 RETURN. CHILDREN UNDER 6 FREE. Discounts for parties of 15 or more. 6A Castle Terrace, Bridgnorth, Shropshire,WV16 4AH Station Tel: Office Tel and Fax: THINGS TO SEE & DO The Engine House Severn Valley Country Park Route 45 Cycleway Eateries This is a must for a visit with its display of locomotives, carriages and other railway artefacts. Other facilities include a children s play area, restaurant and gift-shop. Full access for the less able. Highley station is in the middle of the Country Park with lots of opportunities for walks from the station. By taking the Miners footbridge across the River Severn it is possible to visit the Country Park Visitor Centre. Visit to find out more. This cycleway passes close to the station. Cycles are carried free of charge on our trains (large groups of cyclists MUST make prior arrangements before travel). In addition to the Visitor Centre, there is a local pub with restaurant which is a short steep walk from the station.

8 HIGHLEY TO ARLEY HIGHLEY MINE At the south end of the station, a siding can be seen passing through a white gate and across the lane. This led to sidings and an incline to Highley Mine, which was worked from 1874 to The site of the sidings, which was known as The Landsale Yard, is now occupied by The Engine House. Highley Station HIGHLEY STATION Situated almost a mile from the centre of Highley, this area is actually called Stanley. The station is a delight, beautifully restored with meticulous attention to period detail and a well-deserved winner of the annual Best Preserved Station award. Look for the cattle dock once used for handling livestock and the water tower still used to replenish locomotives. By the signal box is a loading gauge, which enabled staff to check that loaded wagons leaving the goods yard would pass safely under bridges. A gate from the platform gives access to the river and the Ship Inn and the 2009 built footbridge starts the short walk to The Engine House. THE ENGINE HOUSE VISITOR CENTRE Sitting on the hillside just south of Highley Station is our Visitor & Education Centre. You may like to break your journey here for a tour of the exhibition and to see, at close quarters, our reserve collection of steam locomotives and other railway vehicles. Some of the exhibits you can go inside and one of the locomotives has ramped access right up to the footplate. The Engine House THE BARGE THAT SANK During the construction of the railway in the late 1850 s, large blocks of red sandstone were quarried from the hillside above the opposite side of the river, and horses hauled them down the grassy track which can still be seen. They were then loaded onto waiting barges and taken downstream. Unfortunately, one of the barges sank, and blocks in the water below those that can still be seen on the bank have been there ever since. This modern building has been very much designed with you, the visitor, in mind. The balcony views across the Severn Valley are stunning, especially if you are lucky enough to see a steam train pass by during your visit. A camera is a must here! There is a very popular licensed café restaurant called The Flag & Whistle Food Stop where you can enjoy anything from a coffee to a full meal. There is an attractive gift-shop; children s play area and a picnic area. Visitors holding Freedom of the Line, Kidderminster to Bridgnorth return tickets are admitted free of charge. For other ticket holders, and visitors by road, there is an admission charge payable at the door. We suggest that you allow at least two hours for your visit to The Engine House especially if you intend to have a bite to eat. Borle Brook Stanley Cutting BORLE VIADUCT One of five viaducts on the Severn Valley Railway, Borle has suffered from mining subsidence over the years. The track has been re-ballasted so many times to keep it level, that the line is now above the parapet walls. In 1795 an early horse-drawn wooden railway, that started at Billingsley nearly five miles away, terminated at the riverside here. Up to 50 tons of coal a day was once unloaded into awaiting barges, but the venture went bankrupt in All that remains here is the large restored mine manager s house and his clerk s cottage nearby. SEVERN VALLEY 10,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age, a vast amount of water flowed for hundreds of years carving out what is now the beautiful Severn Valley. Near Borle viaduct one of the longest and most scenic reaches can be seen curving gently away downstream. KINLET SIDINGS (SITE OF) The line formation widens here at the site of extensive sidings built in 1880 for the Billingsley and later Kinlet coal mines up the valley of the Borle Brook. The mineral branch and sidings were dismantled in 1941 but, although very much overgrown, remains of the track formation may just be seen through the trees. COUNTY BOUNDARY Keep a lookout for a small bridge in a field between the river and railway near this point. It marks the Worcester-Shropshire boundary. For about a mile upstream from here to Highley, the river Severn forms the county boundary with the opposite bank in Worcestershire. WYRE FOREST COALFIELD Notice where the river shallows and divides either side of a small islet. This marks the southern limit of the Highley and Alveley coal mines nearly two miles away. The eastern limit was five miles away across the river over the hills and into Staffordshire. Incredibly, underground workings extended to these points. BROOKSMOUTH BRIDGE Before the railway was built, the river was a major traffic route with barges called Severn Trows carrying goods and raw materials. When travelling upstream, men called bow hauliers were employed to pull the trows against the river s flow. By 1828, when the iron Brooksmouth cast at Coalbrookdale was completed, bow hauliers had largely been replaced by horses. BROMLEY FARM WINDPUMP Mixed farming has been carried on here for over a thousand years and Bromley farm on the skyline across the valley is one of several farms along the line. The disused windpump below once lifted water from a spring up to the farm buildings. COME AGAIN! Our Footplate Experiences are a fantastic opportunity to drive a steam engine on a journey of adventure that you will never forget! We offer the thrill of firing and driving a full-sized steam or diesel locomotive on one of Britain s premier preserved railways. Whether it s to realise a lifelong ambition, or as that very special railway gift, driving a railway locomotive is an amazing adventure. Arley Station TWO COUNTIES 4

9 A great gift idea! WHY NOT JOIN US? SAVE MONEY - AND HELP US AT THE SAME TIME! Join as a member of our supporting organisation, and benefit from:- substantial travel benefits on most operating days. a quarterly full colour members magazine keeping you up-to-date with activities on the Railway. the opportunity to help as a volunteer and meet new friends with similar interests (full training given where necessary). the knowledge that you will be helping to preserve an important part of our heritage for future generations to enjoy. We have a membership of around 12,000, and several hundred of our members are active volunteers, helping in the task of running the SVR indeed, without this voluntary help the SVR would simply not survive! So if you would like to join, save money on future visits and possibly help us in the running of this wonderful Railway along the beautiful valley of the River Severn, please complete the application form below. Our membership rates offer excellent value and also make a perfect Birthday, or Christmas Gift for any railway enthusiast. Your support will be much appreciated. Further information about the Severn Valley Railway Co Ltd can be found at our website. Severn Valley Railway Company Limited Membership Application Form I wish to pay by:- direct debit cheque I/We wish to apply for membership of the Severn Valley Railway Co. Ltd, and will comply with the Memorandum and Articles of Association, by-laws and other regulations thereof. 1 year 3 years Ordinary Joint Senior Citizen Joint Senior Citizen Family (includes children under 14) Junior (14-16) N/A Student N/A (or in full time education) Life Membership Joint Life Membership (Please tick the appropriate box) I/We enclose the membership fee of... (plus an optional donation of...), payable to Severn Valley Railway Co. Ltd. (Subscriptions include VAT.) (If you choose direct debit, a mandate form will be sent to you for completion) Full Name Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms... Partner s Name... Address Postcode... Daytime tel. no... Date... If you wish to pay by Credit or Debit Card, you can join easily by telephone. Simply call our Membership Secretary on (9.30am to 1.30pm, Mondays to Fridays) with your card details Please send the completed form to:- The Membership Secretary, Severn Valley Railway Co. Ltd., Number One, Comberton Place, Kidderminster, DY10 1QR Membership rates valid until 31/10/16. FTW16. ARLEY You are out in the heart of the Worcestershire countryside now. Arley is a peaceful place where you can leave the train and enjoy the quiet of the countryside. The village is 400 yards from the station down the country lane. A footbridge over the River Severn leads you into the village. STATION FACTFILE Parking LIMITED and not recommended. Toilets YES Disabled - friendly toilets NO Wheelchair access to the train - platform 1 YES Wheelchair access to the train - platform 2 YESwith staff assistance. THINGS TO SEE & DO Picnics Refreshment kiosk YES - usually at weekends only. Sales Small kiosk selling mainly second-hand items weekends only. Access information The village is a 10 minute walk from the station down a country lane. A footbridge takes you over the River Severn and into the village. The return walk to the station is uphill in parts. The station has a number of places where you can enjoy a picnic whilst you watch the trains go by. Over the road bridge to platform 2 provides the best option with benches located along the platform. A fenced picnic area with picnic tables is situated at the northern end of platform 2. Arley Arboretum Arley Arboretum is well worth a visit (separate charge applies). Once over the River Severn turn left through the village and look out for the local signs. A visit to Arley Arboretum will take a minimum of two hours including the walk from and to the station. There is a café in the grounds. Visit to find out more. Riverside walks Upstream in the direction of Highley and downstream to Bewdley. Strong shoes or walking boots are recommended particularly after periods of heavy rainfall. Eateries Pub grub is available from The Harbour Inn which is just 200 yards down the lane from the station. The Harbour also has a beer garden which is popular on sunny days. There is also a café and a shop in the village.

10 ARLEY TO NORTHWOOD HALT ARLEY VILLAGE Roman remains found nearby show that a settlement existed here long before the Domesday book was written. For over 600 years a succession of ferries operated across the Severn at Arley, until the footbridge was built in Much of the village is privately owned and it once boasted six pubs to cater for the river trade. Today only The Harbour remains open. A short walk through the village will take you to the Arboretum. Arley Station The Great Cutting ARLEY STATION An old photograph in the station waiting room shows Arley abandoned and near derelict in 1971, before it was restored by volunteers. Many visitors break their journey to watch the trains, picnic or enjoy the view. A man in red with a long white beard can be seen around the station at Christmas! ARLEY CHURCH The red sandstone tower of St. Peter s Church, Upper Arley can be seen on the hill across the river. The woodlands surrounding it were once the grounds of Arley castle, now demolished, but now form part of Arley Arboretum. Victoria Eymore THE WORCESTERSHIRE WAY The Worcestershire Way runs for 36 miles from Kingsford Country Park to the Malvern Hills. Part of it follows the west bank of the Severn from Arley to Bewdley, crossing under the line at Victoria, and the Way s descriptive leaflet suggests that tired walkers take a break and use the train for this section. Eymore Cutting VICTORIA BRIDGE The train slows to cross Victoria high above the Severn. This is the largest engineering structure on the line and its single span of 200 feet was the longest in the world when built in After extensive repairs in 1994, nearly 700 gallons of paint were used to restore it to its original colour. The bridge has been used as a location for filming, including sequences for the 1979 film The 39 Steps. TRIMPLEY RESERVOIRS Water abstracted from the River Severn at a regulated rate is stored in these reservoirs and, at times of peak demand, fed into the Elan Aqueduct via the pumping station on the other side of the line. The larger reservoir is a popular venue for dinghy racing and their brightly coloured sails on the water with a backdrop of the Wyre Forest make an attractive picture. FOLLY POINT Narrowest part of the valley along our route. The bends and rapids of the river 40 feet below can be seen best in early Spring before the trees are in leaf. This can be a troublesome section of the line to maintain; the formation was almost completely rebuilt following a landslip in ELAN AQUEDUCT Concerned Victorian industrialists in Birmingham raised capital and built the Elan reservoir in Wales. From there, water travels 80 miles to the city. The pipeline crosses the river on the substantial bridge, and then passes under the railway. Northwood Halt SW BOARDS Many notice boards bearing the legend SW or WHISTLE can be seen along the line. These were provided to remind drivers at locations where a warning whistle had to be sounded. Here it is to signal the train s approach to a gated crossing where a public footpath crosses the line; this leads up through Eyemore Woods to a hilltop which gives one of the best views of the Severn Valley in Worcestershire. Hill Farm Level Crossing THE WOODEN BUNGALOWS The riverside bungalows here were built before World War II, probably at about the time Northwood Halt opened, as holiday homes and weekend retreats for fishermen. Many special trains for fishermen were once run along the Severn Valley line, including the last train operated by British Railways before the line closed on 8 September ACROSS THE SEVERN 5

11 I would like to become an SVR Patron and make a monthly donation of Other I would like to make a one-off donation of I would like information on leaving a legacy of Name: Address: Postcode: Date: HELP PRESERVE MEMORIES If you ve enjoyed your day, please pledge your support to ensure the SVR can continue to give joy to families and enthusiasts for generations to come. Whilst the day-to-day income received from passenger fares, shops and catering covers the cost of running and maintaining the Railway, it does not generate enough income to invest in improving or developing it for future generations. That s why donations to the SVR Charitable Trust are a vital source of income for the Railway and there are a number of different ways you can contribute: Signature: Regular Payment Bankers Order Form Please pay until further notice per month to The Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust at HSBC Bank PLC. Please return to: Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust, Number One, Comberton Place, Kidderminster, DY10 1QR or hand in to your nearest ticket office. Give now a one-off cash donation The Heritage Lottery Fund is, for a short period, matching donations for. Add in Gift Aid, and a 50 donation becomes 125. Give regularly a monthly gift Regular gifts help us plan ahead to make best use of funds for the Railway and may also be eligible for Gift Aid. Give later a gift in your will If you are unable to donate at this time, have you considered supporting the Railway in your will? If you wish to make a gift, please complete the form below. To find out more about the work of the Trust, please visit our website or call or fundraising@svrtrust.org.uk The Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust raises funds to support the work of the Severn Valley Railway To: Sort Code: Address: Postcode: Please debit my account No: Date: Signature: Registered Charity No: (Your Bank): Gift Aid Declaration Boost your donation by 25p of Gift Aid for every 1 you donate. Gift Aid is reclaimed by the charity from the tax you pay for the current tax year. Your address is needed to identify you as a current UK taxpayer. In order to Gift Aid your donation you must tick the box below: [ ] I want to Gift Aid my donation of and any donations I make in the future or have made in the past 4 years to the SVR Charitable Trust. I am a UK taxpayer and understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations in that tax year it is my responsibility to pay any difference. FTW16. BEWDLEY Formerly a junction station and one of our largest stations with its three platforms, Bewdley station is a great place to watch the trains go by. Leave the train here for a leisurely walk down to the River Severn and the town. Once over the river bridge this lovely Georgian town is in front of you with lots of places to explore. STATION FACTFILE Parking YES - Pay & display Toilets YES Disabled - friendly toilets NO Wheelchair access to the train - platform 1 YES Wheelchair access to the train - platforms 2 & 3 YES - with staff assistance THINGS TO SEE & DO Bewdley Town Museum Jubilee Gardens Riverside walks Church trail Special events Eateries Refreshment room YES Sales Coaches selling mainly second-hand books, magazines and railway items Access information 10 minute walk into the town with some uphill slopes on the return Local craft demonstrations and changing exhibitions are a feature of this free museum which also has a café. Situated in Load Street. Visit to find out more. Hidden behind the shops and houses, Jubilee Gardens are Bewdley s best kept secret. Find the door into the secret garden from the South Quay or from the rear of the Museum gardens. Once over the river bridge take the north or south quays for a leisurely walk along the banks of the River Severn out into the Worcestershire countryside. For a small town, Bewdley is very well served for churches! If a church trail is your thing, you can visit St Anne s (C of E), a Baptist, Methodist or Catholic church and even a Quaker Meeting House. All are situated close together in Load Street or just around the corner in High Street. Opening times vary. A street market takes place 1st Sunday of the month. There is a Carnival in June and Rowing Regatta in July. Bewdley Festival takes place in October. Visit to find out more. Food to suit every taste and pocket is available in Bewdley. From fish & chips as you walk along to full meal options in one of the many restaurants. A range of cuisines are available.

12 NORTHWOOD HALT TO BEWDLEY AND RIFLE RANGE HALT (SITE OF) NORTHWOOD HALT Northwood Halt opened in 1939 and is the smallest stopping place on the line, where trains call only upon request. The level crossing, protected by automatic warning lights to comply with modern safety regulations, is the only one on the line. Northwood Halt THE WYRE FOREST This ancient and once-extensive forest, which dominates the high ground on the opposite side of the river, was heavily used in the making of charcoal up to about 100 years ago. The trees have grown back and now form a setting for many attractive woodland walks. NORTHWOOD COTTAGE Northwood Cottage is one of several dwellings built alongside the line, originally for railway staff. It is now a private residence. DOWLES BRIDGE (PIERS) At one time, a second line paralleled the present line north of Bewdley. An overgrown embankment can still be seen where it diverged, together with stone piers of the former Dowles which carried the rails across the Severn. The line then continued through the Wyre Forest, to Tenbury Wells and beyond. Tenbury Line (Remains of) GEORGIAN BEWDLEY At the north end of Bewdley station, the train crosses Wribbenhall viaduct high above the rooftops. Look out for the old rope works, Thomas Telford s river bridge of 1798, St. Anne s Church in the middle of the main street, and the town s Georgian waterfront - which was seen all too frequently on television during the severe floods of A portable flood defence system is now available and the town centre no longer floods. LOWER PARK HOUSE The Severn Valley Railway was already five years old when Stanley Baldwin was born here in He was Prime Minister three times (once during the abdication of King Edward VIII) and later became the first Earl Baldwin of Bewdley. BEWDLEY BY-PASS BRIDGE The bridge was actually constructed alongside the line in the summer of Only a few short weeks were available between summer and winter operation when trains were not running. In that time, track was lifted and the embankment removed. The bridge was then rolled into position and the line reinstated in time for the Christmas trains. The by-pass was completed in BEWDLEY STATION With three platforms, Bewdley station is the largest on the line and still retains the atmosphere of a small town junction. In the heritage railway business it is one of very few places where double line working is in operation, albeit a very short section between the two 1877-built signal boxes which are the oldest on the railway. Wribbenhall Viaduct Bewdley Station Sandbourne Viaduct WEST MIDLAND SAFARI PARK Several forms of wildlife are usually running free behind the strong security fences of the West Midland Safari Park. It is not accessible by rail as, for safety reasons, the animals can only be viewed from inside a closed vehicle. ORIGINAL SEVERN VALLEY LINE Earthworks and bridges of the original Severn Valley line can be seen from the site of Rifle Range Halt. It once continued to Stourport and Hartlebury. Today, a short siding at the south end of Sandbourne viaduct is all that remains. COME AGAIN! Bewdley is an ideal destination for an outing by train. Its wealth was built on river trade from the 14th century and some fine Georgian buildings along the riverside remain as evidence of this. Then the canal age arrived and nearby Stourport, which was chosen as the interchange point, flourished whilst Bewdley declined. The town centre is only about five minutes walk from the station and a craft museum behind the Guildhall there tells more of the town s story, whilst the Tourist Information Centre can supply detailed town trail leaflets. Hartlebury Line (Remains of) GEORGIAN RIVER PORT 6

13 REAL ALES FINE WINE OPEN FIRES FREE WIFI FOUR STAR ACCOMMODATION GOOD FOOD Lunch served pm Dinner pm Sunday Lunch pm Saturday & Sunday Breakfast from am Right opposite the SVR lower car park in Hollybush Road. Just turn left out of the station and walk down the ramp. Hollybush Road, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, WV16 4AX Tel: A FAMILY- OWNED INN Find us on Facebook LET SEVERN VALLEY RAILWAY MAKE YOUR DAY! KIDDERMINSTER Our main station at the southern end of the line. Most passengers join the Railway here. Full of atmospher this station was built in the mid 1980 s and is modelled on the design used for Ross-On-Wye station built by the - Great Western Railway. STATION FACTFILE Parking YES token - operated - Park first and obtain an exit token from the machines on the car park or from the Ticket Office when you purchase your tickets. Other car parks are available locally on busy days. Toilets - YES Disabled - friendly toilets - YES Wheelchair access to the train - YES Public House The King & Castle YES access from the station concourse. Restaurant The Valley Suite YES access from the station concourse. Sales Gift-shop. Confectionery stall and station fund kiosk. Access information 10 minute walk into the town with some uphill slopes on the return. THINGS TO SEE & DO Dining Experienceson the Train Private Train & Restaurant Hire Footplate Experience Licenced for Marriages & Civil Partnerships Birthday Parties, Anniversaries & Business Events Call (option 1) for more information. Kidderminster Railway Museum Coalyard Miniature Railway Museum of Carpet Kidderminster Located adjacent to platform 2, this small museum is packed with railway artefacts of all kinds and is full of atmosphere. Admission is free. The museum hosts a number of exhibitions annually which take place in the upstairs gallery. Visit to find out more. Located adjacent to platform 2, the miniature passenger - carrying railway usually operates on the same dates as our train service (small additional charge applies). Kidderminster was world famous for its Axminster and Wilton carpets. This new museum, about carpet manufacture in the town, is a ten - minute walk from the station. Turn left into Comberton Hill and walk towards the town centre. An admission charge is payable. Visit to find out more.

14 RIFLE RANGE HALT (SITE OF) TO KIDDERMINSTER TOWN Rifle Range Halt (site of) RIFLE RANGE HALT Rifle Range Halt was only open from 1905 to 1920 and was mainly used by Yeomanry volunteers training on the adjacent heath during World War I. Traces of the range they used still exist nearby, although the Halt has now disappeared completely. THE DEVIL S SPITTLEFUL The sandstone outcrop, now almost hidden by pine trees, is named after a legend claiming that the Devil dropped it here on his way to dam the river Severn. BEWDLEY TUNNEL If you are travelling towards Kidderminster, make sure the window is shut! For if not, the carriage may fill with smoke and steam as Bewdley Tunnel is 480 yards long and the engine is working hard on a rising gradient. FORMER KIDDERMINSTER SUGAR FACTORY Bewdley Tunnel One reason why Severn Valley services were not extended to Kidderminster until 1984 is that the sugar factory once had extensive railway sidings and provided the last traffic handled by British Rail over this section of the line. This area is now being developed for light industry, housing and leisure use. STAFFORDSHIRE AND WORCESTERHIRE CANAL James Brindley, England s canal genius, built the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal which was completed in 1770 and opened up an important link between the Severn and the Black Country. It runs from Stourport on Severn to Great Haywood near Stafford. It is 46 miles long and has 43 locks, one of which can sometimes be seen from the train. THE CARRIAGE SHED The Severn Valley Railway s Carriage Shed, which was constructed during 1999/2000 with the aid of Heritage Lottery Funding, is one of the largest buildings in Kidderminster. It can house up to 62 carriages from our historic collection. KIDDERMINSTER STATION SIGNAL BOX Another seemingly vintage structure. Kidderminster Station Signal Box, is also newly-built and was commissioned in It houses one of the largest signalling installations in use on a heritage railway in Britain. THE GOODS SHED Across the car park, the large brick building was formerly a goods shed, built to handle the transshipment of Kidderminster s main export - carpets. It was bought by the Severn Valley Railway in 1985 and is now the carriage workshops. Stourport Road Foley Park Halt (Site of) Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal Falling Sands Viaduct River Stour Worcester Road THE DIESEL DEPOT Constructed in 2015, the Diesel Depot provides under - cover storage and maintenance facilities to help preserve our fleet of heritage diesel locomotives, many of which are now over 50 years old. It includes two locomotive inspection pits, lifing jacks and 10 tonne overhead travelling crane. We regret that this facility is NOT open to the public. Hoo Road KIDDERMINSTER RAILWAY MUSEUM Adjacent to the station is a former Great Western Railway warehouse, once used for storing wool and grain. It is now Kidderminster Railway Museum, which has a large collection of artifacts. Admission is free. KIDDERMINSTER TOWN STATION The southern terminus of the Severn Valley Railway seems to be a vintage structure, but it is a relatively new building only opened in The concourse canopy and the Valley Suite Restaurant were added in COME AGAIN! Have you ever visited the Railway on one of our Special Event Days? From Festivals of Steam to family Fun, from Christmas experiences to themed events that take you back to the 1940s, your journey along the line on one of these special days has so much to offer. The Wooden Kidderminster Station Kidderminster Town Station (SVR) CARPETS AND CANAL 7