The Severn Valley Railway operates on an approximately 20 km long main line running alongside the Servern river, between the stations of Kidderminster and Bridgenorth. The railway is located west of Birmingham in the country of Shropshire, close to the border of Wales. Here, every year, at the end of April, the "Severn Valley Steam Gala", will take place, where not only the steam locomotives of the SVR but of many other visiting railways will be shown at work. This year, at least 8 different engines made the line a very busy one.

For overnigt accommodation we selected a hotel in the city of Worcester.

Itinerary:

Thursday 24 April 1998. The yourney started from Germany with Intercity 34 "Memling" up to Brussels Midi, from there Eurostar 3217 through the Channel tunnel to London Waterloo International. Here the journey was interrupted by a short programme which included a visit to the automatic running Docklands Light Railway and a tour to Island Garden, followed by a walk through the Thames tunnel to Greenwich and a boat tour on the Thamse to the city of London. Our journey was continued from London Paddington with IC 1822 for Worcester.

Friday 25 and Saturday 26 April. After Breakfast, a 20 minutes trip on a scheduled train took us to Kidderminster. The start of the Severn Valley Railway is at Bridgnorth. Here the museum train would turn, thus many steam locomotives could be watched here in the course of the day. No 80079 taking coal, and 76079 runs round her train after arrival.

Another remarkable station is Highley where a goods train was sent on its way. 47383 heads a short passenger train which does not travel the whole length of line and therefore is back after only a short time. The driver already has the signal ring ready.

Also of interest is the station of Arley. No 76079 with her train is waiting for the oncoming train headed by 1501.

Lots of museum trains can also be seen at Bewdley, since some of the trains start here. No 5764 is waiting for her new train, and 47383 arrives at the station, from Kidderminster. From the opposite direction 48773 arrives with her train.

Kidderminster is the junction station with the general railway network. Arriving from Bridgenorth, 48773 is just arriving. 2968 runs around her train to take it back to Bridgenorth.

Sunday 27 April. After an early breakfast we take an Intercity to London Paddington for our return journey. From London Waterloo International the Eurostar takes us back through the Channel tunnel to Brussels, and again with IC 35 "Memling" back to Germany.

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