Recent highlights, with a link in each case to more details, include:
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- Our visit to the SVR’s Bridgnorth Engine Shed on Wednesday 4 September 2024 is now fully booked; apologies for any disappointment. Details of this and our other social events, past and forthcoming, ar on our social events page – if you are considering joining the Friends, take a look at this page to see the range of socials that we offer to members.
- Unfortunately we have had to postpone the social that was planned for Wednesday 9 October 2024. We hope to offer this in early 2025; we will keep members updated through our regular email updates and on this website. Apologies for any disappointment.
- As part of Birmingham Heritage Week 2024 Vintage Trains are offering Tyseley Guided Depot Tours at 11am & 2pm on Saturday 7th September 2024, noting that these are chargeable events as per their normal tours. Last year these quickly sold out, so visit their dedicated booking site to avoid disappointment.
- We continue to offer occasional turn-up-and-go trips . For these trips there is no need to book; just turn up at the meeting point where you will find some members ready to go. Everyone, members and non-members alike, are welcome on these trips; the more the merrier. Note that all costs such as train fares, refreshment and any entrance fees are the responsibility of the individual. Recent ones included a visit to the Llangollen branch line gala on Saturday 13 April 2024 and a trip to Aberystwyth on Thursday 6 June 2024.
- A low-resolution copy of the Spring 2024 edition (Issue 54) of Steam in Trust is now available from the publications page. Steam in Trust is the Friends’ flagship publication, circulated in printed copy to all members twice a year- the low-resolution on-line copy of Steam in Trust is made available on this site approximately a month after the printed copies have been circulated, although reading on-line or printing the PDF cannot reflect the quality of the printed publication. If you are not a member of the Friends please have a look at this and consider if receiving a high-quality printed copy, and other benefits, would warrant the modest membership fee. This issue of Steam in Trust has an article by Rob Ferris Historical Usage Of Open Wagons and Covered Vans Part 2 where the references were omitted due to space constraints. These references can be found here.
- We visited the SVR Diesel Depot on 22 May 2024.
- Our recent social at the Severn Valley Railway (SVR) Railway Museum at Kidderminster on Wednesday 28 February 2024 attracted over 50 members. Our guest speaker was Mike Corbett who was engaged by the National Railway Museum as project manager for the period of final restoration of Flying Scotsman to operational service in early 2016. The afternoon featured an audience with Les Ross, Ray Churchill and Ray Poole. More details can be found on our socials page.
- Don’t forget that our 2024 calendar is still available, with superb images of a variety of motive power through the ages, historic stations and info snippets for each month. Follow this link for more details, including an order form.
- Thanks to Geoff Middleton and Peter Jeffs, the 22 May 2024 Stock and In the Workshop lists are now available.
- Chris Schroeder has contributed a video that he took of a VT run up the Lickey on 14 October 2001 with a pannier banking. The video quality is not the best but the sound is very good.
This video was filmed in 2001 and you will notice that there were many heads and shoulders leaning out of the door droplight windows of the coaches. Back in the early days of the 21st century when this video was shot the ‘Do not lean out of the window or open this door when the train is moving’ notices on every door were often ignored, especially on steam hauled excursions.
You will not see any heads leaning out of windows on today’s excursions. The Office of Rail Regulation has put in place specific rules for mainline excursions using carriages which have doors with opening windows prohibiting passengers leaning out of opening windows or standing in coach end vestibules near to doors. These rules are strictly enforced by Train Operating Companies such as Vintage Trains Ltd. - The volunteer Archivist for Vintage Trains has kindly agreed to provide articles based on items in the Tyseley archives that will, we hope, be of interest to all members of the Friends. These can be found on our publications page.
Please revisit this page for updates on these, and other, events for the Friends.
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This page was last updated on 19 August 2024