FIFTY years ago, the Severn Valley Railway ran its first public train between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade.

A section of the line was opened for public passenger services on May 23, 1970 - the first service being the 2pm from Bridgnorth, hauled by locomotive 3205.

The only trains to run on the line before that date had been for SVR members and day members only, with the approval of British Rail.

Kidderminster Shuttle: The first public SVR service was the 2pm from Bridgnorth, hauled by locomotive 3205. Photo by Ben BrooksbankThe first public SVR service was the 2pm from Bridgnorth, hauled by locomotive 3205. Photo by Ben Brooksbank

Opening the line to the public was the culmination of the unstinting efforts of a pioneering group of railway enthusiasts.

They had formed the Severn Valley Railway Society at the Coopers Arms pub in Kidderminster five years earlier in 1965.

The SVR Society managed to raise 25 per cent of the £25,000 purchase price for a closed five-mile section of the line from Bridgnorth to Alveley.

By 1967, the first rolling stock, an engine and four coaches, had been received.

The next three years were spent restoring the line to operating condition, and overcoming considerable difficulties to obtain the legal authority, a Light Railway Order, from the Department of Environment.

The remainder of the purchase price was paid shortly after the first public train took to the tracks.

Chairman of the SVR Company David Williams says the first day of running was a rather rushed affair, and didn’t allow him the pleasure of being there in person.

He said: "This seemingly inexcusable fact was because the date of reopening was not known until the Light Railway Order dropped through the SVR Company letterbox, with only a fortnight’s notice.

"This meant that two of the railway’s most prolific and keen photographers, David Cooke and myself, newly equipped with Pentaxes, were on holiday!

"An SVR party of eight had booked flights to Portugal some three months earlier.”

Read more:

This clash of events, along with some uncharacteristically dull and hazy weather on launch day meant that very few photos were taken of the first day of running.

David said: “Don’t forget that it was a period when young, keen SVR supporters were quite poor, and colour photography was very expensive.

"The nation’s top wealthy photographers had yet to discover where Bridgnorth was on the map, and were still mourning the then recent loss of BR steam.”

Saturday marked the 50th anniversary of that historic day, although the railway's enforced closure due to coronavirus has meant its plans to celebrate couldn't go ahead.

General manager Helen Smith said: “Although it’s very sad that we’ve not been able to mark this historic milestone as we would have wished, I think it’s fitting that as an organisation we’re still working hard to overcome the challenges now thrown at us by the impact of coronavirus.

Kidderminster Shuttle: The Severn Valley Railway is celebrating 50 years since its first public train took to the tracks at Bridgnorth. Photo by Dave HillThe Severn Valley Railway is celebrating 50 years since its first public train took to the tracks at Bridgnorth. Photo by Dave Hill

"Plenty of virtual celebration has taken place on social media, with many people posting memories and photographs from 50 years ago, and we’re grateful to The Shuttle for allowing us to use items from its archive.

"We’re proud to honour the spirit of those fearless pioneers who started everything, because without their tireless efforts, we wouldn’t have this wonderful railway.

"Thank you to everyone who’s given money to our Fight Back Fund, which now stands at £700,000.”

People can help the SVR recover its losses as a result of the pandemic by donating online at svrtrust.org.uk.