TRACK has been re-laid at the Severn Valley Railway across its newly repaired Mor Brook bridge at zero cost following a landslip earlier this year.
With only a short timescale to complete the job, one of the SVR’s directors used his extensive network of mainline railway contacts to secure volunteer people power, equipment, support services and consumables at no cost to the heritage line.
On Wednesday, July 16, the ‘Orange Army Volunteer All Stars’ came together to complete the work, following repairs to the damaged bridge and embankment at Mor Brook.
It was achieved in record time ahead of ‘Flying Scotsman’ hauling the first public service this season to reunite the whole line on Friday, July 25.
SVR director Steve Featherstone said: “It was clear we needed a very fast solution for our track re-lay, once we’d secured the visit of ‘Flying Scotsman’, and we had an incredibly short timescale to get things done. I started making phone calls to contacts in the rail industry, and was completely knocked out by their willingness to get involved and the generosity of so many companies.
“It’s been quite a job pulling all this together, but it has worked out tremendously well. The camaraderie and atmosphere on site was amazing.”
The companies taking part in the exercise included A P Webb, AWE Technologies, Balfour Beatty, Central Rail Systems Alliance, CML, Colas, Crown Group, Forestry, Rail & Civils Ltd, Ganymede Solutions, Interflon, Network Rail, Rail Power and Construction Ltd, Shannon Rail, Staytite, Vital and VP Rail.
“Whilst repairs to the embankment and bridge structure were covered largely by insurance, the track re-lay element wasn’t,” added Steve. “In record time, this superb team has been able to carry out a task that would have taken the railway’s own very small permanent way gang around three weeks to complete. It’s made all the difference, and we are hugely grateful.”
Denise Wetton, Network Rail Central Route director said: “In 2023, the SVR’s managing director Gus Dunster and I signed the first ever partnership agreement between Network Rail and a heritage railway. The Mor Brook rebuild and reinstatement is a great example of what can be achieved when everyone works closely together.”
SVR managing director Jonathan ‘Gus’ Dunster added: “It has been great to see the whole railway community pitching in to help us. With ‘Flying Scotsman’ coming for our grand reopening, it was essential we got the track reinstated safely and quickly. Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who played a part in the Orange Army Volunteer All Stars. What an achievement this has been.”
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