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Arley Station - Severn Valley Railway


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Hi Guys....

In 2003 I became a working member on the SVR, having been a steam enthusiast since childhood and a frequent visitor to this superb heritage railway, it seemed a logically step and long held desire now that I have greater free time, to join the team somewhere on the valley, not only to contribute, hopefully something constructive back for all the fantastic times I have had on the railway previously, but also to make like minded new friends - to that end I was honoured to join the folks at Arley Station.

 

I have no great talent, but having been in horticulture for nearly 40 years now, I can there combine my dual loves or gardening and steam heritage.....although I have acquired in the years at the station 'skills' in maintenance and hard landscaping!

 

The SVR has been non-operational during the National Lockdown and that period has shown just how much we should value the time spent with friends, once it's gone it could be gone forever!

 

In this section I would like to just post as a volunteer on site, interesting images now and again when I am on the staff roster, of solely Arley Station, including operational locos passing through, any visitors and station infrastructure......that may prove interesting either for modelling purposes or any that are just appealing...?

If anyone has a Great Western Railway layout that requires an image anything they are modelling and requires and image of it, if we have it at Arley I'll gladly post a photo of it.

 

We (that is the SVR) hopefully will restart operations in mid-April......Take care guys.....

Regards always

Bob

 

As it was in 1959....! 

Copyright courtesy of Kidderminster Railway Museum

 

706390207__58198606_arley_station_976(1).jpg.729be44e049e56a96deaf7a760115b5d.jpg

 

 

Edited by BobM
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  • 3 weeks later...

'Back Home at Last'

 

After what has seemed an eternal lockdown,  a small socially distanced group (including myself) of 6 Arley volunteers have been permitted to return to the station today to have an inspection of the station and its facilities......so as promised from now on it should be possible to post now and again views of both the station and the 'traffic' passing through, also perhaps one or two of the gardens as they are a foil for the station itself?

 

I was pleasantly relieved to see that the gardens, which are my primary volunteer role at the station, although looking a bit 'winter bashed', with the debris of leaves and spent plant growth covering the beds, should be with a bit of tlc brought back to satisfaction within a few weeks given favourable weather.....?

So as soon as there's loco's steaming or 'fuming' their way through when I'm there, I'll post anything interesting.....if anyone is modelling a GWR themed layout and you want a reference item, if we have one I'll gladly image it on here.......

In the meantime.......

Here was the glorious view this morning of the advancing glorious weather that engulfed us here in the west midlands today, I have so much longed to see again.....at last I could!

 

The Clee Hiils to the west and the Wyre Forest below, snuggled somewhere in there is Arley Station, my 'second home'.....

 

IMG_0057.JPG.788f6fdfa09c40483b5810dc302b5d9e.JPG

 

 

The gardens are looking a bit battered by the combined effects of winter weather and four months without a sod being turned, but should soon be awakened!

 

IMG_0058.JPG.66b9a01001318b60690f9bef367f4819.JPG IMG_0059.JPG.0c32dab3cf8838e3129f48ea11c4a006.JPG

 

Will post as soon as able....

Regards always

Bob

 

 

 

Edited by BobM
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27 minutes ago, Tim V said:

Is the round point rodding still there? Attached my only decent picture of that rodding.

Arley 28 March 1976 Praktica 28-  (2).jpg

 

Hi......

Some of it yes...!

Hope this helps?

IMG_0013.JPG.b4af5a426f013462f6503a7b9e720176.JPG

Regards always

Bob

 

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Keep up the great work. I think Arley is the nicest station in the UK. I especially appreciate the gardens on the far side. I expect I will be there having a little picnic under the shade of the trees with grandchild no 3 this summer - I have done with previous 2.

 

I've missed Arley station more than any other heritage place. The last time I was on the platform was 8th March 2020. When I took this photo I was looking forward to the spring coming and all that goes with it, who would have thought what was about to happen?

 

IMG_20200308_112939 (2020_10_14 15_43_45 UTC).jpg

Edited by Chris M
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1 minute ago, Chris M said:

Keep up the great work. I think Arley is the nicest station in the UK. I especially appreciate the gardens on the far side. I expect I will be there having a little picnic under the shade of the trees with grandchild no 3 this summer - I have done with previous 2.

 

I've missed Arley station more than any other heritage place. The last time I was on the platform was 8th March 2020.

 

IMG_20200308_112939 (2020_10_14 15_43_45 UTC).jpg

 

Hi Chris.....

Great to hear from you. thanks for the kind comments, we have missed being there and the visitors that make the SVR what it is......

Keep an eye out for the details of service details  as due to Covid rules, Arley may have to remain closed to non-ticket holders sadly for a while yet despite the services running,...?

When about please say 'Hello'...

Regards always

Bob

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2 minutes ago, BobM said:

 

Hi Chris.....

Great to hear from you. thanks for the kind comments, we have missed being there and the visitors that make the SVR what it is......

Keep an eye out for the details of service details  as due to Covid rules, Arley may have to remain closed to non-ticket holders sadly for a while yet despite the services running,...?

When about please say 'Hello'...

Regards always

Bob

We probably have spoken but don't recognise each other. I guess neither of us look much like our avatars.

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

 

 

 

A 'Frost Bite and Vitamin D day'......!

 

Despite a few  snow and soft hail showers passing through on a chilly breeze, there were also spells of warm to the face spring sunshine, and what the heck if it is cold.....'we're back'!

 

With the resumption of services planned for tomorrow, 7714 and 2857 were both light engine movements today......but the 'star' of the day was to see 2999 'Saint' 'Lady of Legend' passing through on test runs....looked and sounded superb...1

 

Oh how I have missed the spectacle of steam and the tart aroma of burnt coal!

 

IMG_0041.JPG.5268b955061e6946b1d14beabd37fed3.JPG

 

 

 

IMG_0040.JPG.3b789a69b9ff6066111bd65f81d7ccef.JPG

 

Regards always

Bob

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by BobM
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I hope to get to Arley on Thursday. It would be nice to be able to go on the platform but its fun to be on the road bridge when a train goes under so that will be fine.  If you are there on Thursday Bob (around 11:00 to 11:30) I'm the short fat old bloke accompanied my wife and 2 year old grand daughter. 

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1 hour ago, Chris M said:

I hope to get to Arley on Thursday. It would be nice to be able to go on the platform but its fun to be on the road bridge when a train goes under so that will be fine.  If you are there on Thursday Bob (around 11:00 to 11:30) I'm the short fat old bloke accompanied my wife and 2 year old grand daughter. 

 

Hi...

Hope to be there Thursday....

Sadly the station and platforms at Arley, due to covid restrictions will have to remain closed, but there still should be as you say, a fine view from the road bridge.

Regards always

Bob

Edited by BobM
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Hi.....

Sadly 2999  'failed' with a broken pin today so wasn't operational.....

A couple of views of  'The Pig' passing through Arley on another glorious spring sunshine day.....from a Arley gardeners point of view though..please can we have some rain!

 

IMG_0103.JPG.e5e0b63b2f643b9773b3abee0685d250.JPG

 

IMG_0114.JPG.68f0a162726c9770d4cce75c90e8844a.JPG

 

Regards always

Bob

 

 

 

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Sorry did not see you Bob, as I was concentrating on stopping in the right place. What a glorious day and weekend it was. Happy visitors, happy volunteers and a beer or two to finish it off at the end of the day. Not sure about you, but it was like putting on an old pair of comfortable slippers. The pig was a delight and you would never think she is near the end of her ticket. She steams well, no knocks to speak of, good and steam tight, well apart from the offside valve chest drain, but what's new. 

 

 

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This was my view of Arley yesterday whilst waiting, we did not stop on the way back.

 

This photo has had to be removed due to a change in rules which now prohibit such images even though taken when stationary, in mid gear, breaks hard on. 

Edited by Blandford1969
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I’m very much enjoying this thread. Thanks for starting it Bob, and for all the work at the station. Here’s a selection of photos from a 1940s weekend some years ago. 

 

DSC_3493.jpg.3a126db23a88637dad8c1d8d552991ca.jpg

 

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DSC_3502.jpg.25539ac799b68485da0c7287f0fc926c.jpg

 

DSC_3501.jpg.cc07be8b52e8f03e17c2df2e6ba6871d.jpg

 

DSC_3504.jpg.54eba57e7695f571b3d3fb392507507c.jpg

 

DSC_3505.jpg.2736ca15ace0a4dc3f21900f169aa08d.jpg

 

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DSC_3515.jpg.b3531bb5233081bd634fb729b5b74374.jpg

 

DSC_3516.jpg.8369621534edcb46823e06afc6e7b017.jpg

 

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2 hours ago, Mikkel said:

I’m very much enjoying this thread. Thanks for starting it Bob, and for all the work at the station. Here’s a selection of photos from a 1940s weekend some years ago. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DSC_3501.jpg.cc07be8b52e8f03e17c2df2e6ba6871d.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nice photos, blimey that is a few years ago, 4 July 2015 , and I still escape the camera on my face, lol

Edited by Blandford1969
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6 hours ago, Mikkel said:

 

 

DSC_3502.jpg.25539ac799b68485da0c7287f0fc926c.jpg

 

 

 

That Army fellow

 

His shoes are a disgrace :O:rtfm:

 

An officer (Lieutenant ?) should know better :D

 

Andy

 

Who's hoping to drop by and watch some trains go past some time

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