SVR Embankment collapse

[kje7812]

What serviceable locos and carriages etc are now marooned at Bridgnorth and may need roading to Kidder if needed for service trains between Kidder and Hampton Loade I wonder?

All steam locos are at Bridgnorth, plans are for either 7714 or 75069 to be low loaded to KR to operate the February half term service.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

What serviceable locos and carriages etc are now marooned at Bridgnorth and may need roading to Kidder if needed for service trains between Kidder and Hampton Loade I wonder?

The majority of the steam loco fleet will be at Bridgnorth, there are usually a small number of locomotives (maybe 2?) at Bewdley but during the off-season this may be different.

The diesel fleet and all but one rake of carriages are normally at Kidderminster.

 

[kje7812]

The majority of the steam loco fleet will be at Bridgnorth, there are usually a small number of locomotives (maybe 2?) at Bewdley but during the off-season this may be different.

The diesel fleet and all but one rake of carriages are normally at Kidderminster.

All the steam fleet is at Bridgnorth for winter maintenance.

 

[YorkshireBear]

AS the new wing wall will need a proper foundation which will entail dredging a hole for it in the bed of the stream (and maybe a cofferdam too) I am sure they will be interested. It could well be a spawning reach for river fish etc...

Natural England don't get involved in that. It's all the environment agency. Bats is the only thing I can imagine Natural England having interest in this scheme for, badgers is the other common railway one but I don't think I could see any badger setts in photos in adjacent sections.

 

[AndrewE]

thanks, I was naively assuming the two would have the same objectives! Anyway, a hydro power scheme I am involved with was prevented from dredging its intake after storms completely filled it with stone because the angling interest made sure that authority was not given by the EA - and then the method statement was not approved until it was too late to get it done in the year before the spawning season began. The chair of the Hydro scheme was very outspoken in his criticism...
So, beware the EA, SVR!

 

[778]

A million or so should pay for the design and environmental studies, a year or so to get a decision from the Environment Agency and Natural England , then a tendering process to get the construction cost , another appeal, so the job could be complete by the end of 2027!

When the floods damaged the railway in the summer of 2007, it re-opened the following March so hopefully should be well before 2027.

 

[railfan99]

Does anyone know the balance of SVR's Resilience Fund?

I hope many donate: even GBP25 helps. Worthy cause.

 

[D Williams]

Does anyone know the balance of SVR's Resilience Fund?

I hope many donate: even GBP25 helps. Worthy cause.

From the SVR Website;

The Survival Fund was launched last year in 2023, when the SVR faced a crisis that threatened its very existence. Thanks to the generous support of thousands of people, this appeal raised £500,000, which has enabled the SVR to get through one of the most challenging periods in its history. We are extremely grateful to everyone who supported the Railway in its hour of need.

NEWS FLASH: On 29 January, our permanent way team discovered an embankment failure, north of the area known as Sterns, between our Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade stations. It’s left our line completely impassable at this point.

We are in the early stages of assessing the damage and determining what remedial work is needed. But one thing is certain – it’s going to cost a lot of money.

We’ve had a lot of publicity on TV, radio, the press and social media since the news broke, and have already received many donations to help us deal with this dreadful situation. We are very, very grateful for these.

If you are able to make a contribution to help us get the problems fixed, we would very much appreciate your support. Thank you.

 

[SLC001]

I was going to go to the SVR, the first time in decades but now I will delay it. Bridgnorth is a lovely town and cutting it off will lessen the experience and probably reduce income for both the railway and the town. How many other potential visitors will feel the same? Instead I'll probably go to the GCR. I feel for the SVR, worry about it's financial future and ask myself, should I support their appeal? The sooner they come up with a plan to repair the damage, the sooner I will make a donation knowing it will be used for a specific purpose rather than go into a general survival fund.
Such sad news but the recent rainfall has impacted many areas, overwhelming flood defences, culverts, drainage ditches etc. There doesn't appear to be enough money to repair and maintain these and I fear there could be more collapses.

 

[swt_passenger]

Is there an element of “bad news management” in continuing to refer to it just as an embankment failure? Surely it’s a major failure of the bridge stonework, half the outer leaf of the arch and the entire stonework above it is missing, and it must have also lost a wing wall as already mentioned. (The best photo of the bridge failure seems to have been removed.)

 

[Killingworth]

As a member of other heritage railway groups, although not as an active volunteer, I feel gutted for the SVR. That is one massive challenge on all levels from assessing the full enormity of the damage, getting estimates for rebuilding the section and completely reorganising operations over the next few months, possibly years.

The financial challenge is key to getting things under way as soon as possible. Rather than avoiding the SVR I have made a donation today. I expect nothing back but for the hope I'll be able to reach Bridgnorth by rail at an early date. The sooner more funds are received the easier that will be.

 

[Highview]

Is there an element of “bad news management” in continuing to refer to it just as an embankment failure? Surely it’s a major failure of the bridge stonework, half the outer leaf of the arch and the entire stonework above it is missing, and it must have also lost a wing wall as already mentioned. (The best photo of the bridge failure seems to have been removed.)

Looking at drone footage of the damage on You Tube by @Rail125 it appears that it is embankment and bridge failure.

 

[swt_passenger]

Looking at drone footage of the damage on You Tube by @Rail125 it appears that it is embankment and bridge failure.

Here’s a link to the video of the bridge just mentioned:

 

[railfan99]

A friend with engineering knowledge (and who works for a heavy haulage railway in Australia) said it looks so bad SVR may have to totally remove the formation above the culvert and start again.

 

[Harpo]

The long aerial shots show the Severn in the background which the brook runs into.

Until I’d seen the drone footage, I’d wrongly assumed that the affected side of the structure was the exit side for the water’s flow, but as the video shows, it’s actually the entry side.

The footage also shows (top right) Sterns cottage and the bend in the river which, If I understand it correctly, left the layers of slippery glacial deposits that cause the land there to slide towards the river. (Geologists, feel free to correct this layman!)

 

[D Williams]

I wonder how long the Great Western would have taken to get the line open in ye olden days?

 

[BRX]

The drone footage makes it pretty clear that it's a failure of a wing wall. You can see on the other side, there are two wing walls, one extending out from each side of the arched opening. I think we can assume that there was the same arrangement on the side where the damage has occurred.

It's not really the embankment that's failed - that would imply the embankment had slipped, in a direction at right angles to the tracks. Instead, the wing wall has collapsed and a portion of the embankment, that was previously retained by it, has slipped sideways.

 

[simonw]

I wonder how long the Great Western would have taken to get the line open in ye olden days?

Most likely wouldn't have bothered. Would have been a ready made excuse to close a loss making line.

 

[swt_passenger]

The drone footage makes it pretty clear that it's a failure of a wing wall. You can see on the other side, there are two wing walls, one extending out from each side of the arched opening. I think we can assume that there was the same arrangement on the side where the damage has occurred.

It's not really the embankment that's failed - that would imply the embankment had slipped, in a direction at right angles to the tracks. Instead, the wing wall has collapsed and a portion of the embankment, that was previously retained by it, has slipped sideways.

I also saw an overhead view somewhere online that seems to show a pile of stone and rubble in the brook on the upstream side, exactly where you’d expect such a wing wall to fall. I’m with you, it would be an extremely unusual case for it not to have a similar arrangement of wing walls on all four positions, although the angle might vary slightly (in plan view) to suit the course of the brook.

(I’ve just searched for a view showing the ‘before’ layout without success..)

 

[AndrewE]

I also saw an overhead view somewhere online that seems to show a pile of stone and rubble in the brook on the upstream side, exactly where you’d expect such a wing wall to fall. I’m with you, it would be an extremely unusual case for it not to have a similar arrangement of wing walls on all four positions, although the angle might vary slightly (in plan view) to suit the course of the brook.

(I’ve just searched for a view showing the ‘before’ layout without success..)

It was clearly shown in a picture upthread, since deleted.

 

[Taunton]

Natural England don't get involved in that. It's all the environment agency. Bats is the only thing I can imagine Natural England having interest in this scheme for

Possibly HS2 can be asked to help, sending a contractor to help with the piling etc remedials, as part of their renowned Bat Tunnel installation near Banbury. The costs should be just a rounding error for that particular part of the project.

 

[Dave S 56F]

What serviceable locos and carriages etc are now marooned at Bridgnorth and may need roading to Kidder if needed for service trains between Kidder and Hampton Loade I wonder?

Carriages stored at Kidderminster aren't they usually?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Feb 2025 ==

All steam locos are at Bridgnorth, plans are for either 7714 or 75069 to be low loaded to KR to operate the February half term service.

75069 is been moved to kidder 7802 is been moved to Kidder for running in 7714 is staying at Bridgnorth according to posts on unofficial S.V.R. Facebook page.

 

[Meerkat]

Not sure I would have been happy standing where the blokes in orange are in that video!
Looking at where the river is I wonder whether the river got behind the wingwall (though it might be higher post collapse because of the collapsed material)
Is that really the sole access to the cottage - looks surprisingly close to the railway? Also complicates the repair job if the access has to be maintained.
Whats the likely cost difference between trying to repair to prior state and digging out to replace with a girder bridge?

 

[kje7812]

Is that really the sole access to the cottage - looks surprisingly close to the railway? Also complicates the repair job if the access has to be maintained.

Yes, the cottage was provided to the local PW ganger during GWR/BR days to keep an eye on Sterns. There's been movement at Sterns since the line was built. This slip is in a new place.

 

[Sheldonian]

Central News just reported that SVR has thanked people for their donations and the line due to reopen next weekend. Made it sound like the problem was fixed.
I am assuming they mean part reopen.
If so, bit misleading and hope it doesnt put people off donating.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Central News just reported that SVR has thanked people for their donations and the line due to reopen next weekend. Made it sound like the problem was fixed.
I am assuming they mean part reopen.
If so, bit misleading and hope it doesnt put people off donating.

Must be part reopening.... As you say not clear to potential donators though.

 

[GWR Modeller]

Network Rail already made an assessment on scene. I wonder what help the SVR might get from NR?

BBC News - Thousands raised after Severn Valley Railway landslip - BBC News

Thousands raised after Severn Valley Railway landslip

A landslide has cut off about four miles of tracks and will cost thousands to fix, the railway says.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[swt_passenger]

Network Rail already made an assessment on scene. I wonder what help the SVR might get from NR?

BBC News - Thousands raised after Severn Valley Railway landslip - BBC News

Thousands raised after Severn Valley Railway landslip

A landslide has cut off about four miles of tracks and will cost thousands to fix, the railway says.

www.bbc.co.uk

It looks far more obvious in this new photo in the BBC article exactly what’s happened. Now that the water level in the brook has reduced significantly the lumps of the bridge sitting in the channel are much more visible.

The Network Rail rep has offered his opinion:

“Adam Checkley, from Network Rail, said they believed the damage was storm-related.

"It's the river and the sheer power of the river that's probably taken the wing wall of this particular structure away and the earthwork has followed it through," he told the BBC.

"That's the initial assumption - we'll work on that with the teams and the engineering teams to work out exactly what happened but it's definitely storm-related."

 

[duffield]

Network Rail already made an assessment on scene. I wonder what help the SVR might get from NR?

BBC News - Thousands raised after Severn Valley Railway landslip - BBC News

Thousands raised after Severn Valley Railway landslip

A landslide has cut off about four miles of tracks and will cost thousands to fix, the railway says.

www.bbc.co.uk

I wonder if NR can justify giving at least some valuable assistance as a learning/training exercise, perhaps involving innovative techniques, especially given that they are facing increasingly frequent vintage infrastructure failure problems on the national network?

 

[james_the_xv]

I wonder if NR can justify giving at least some valuable assistance as a learning/training exercise, perhaps involving innovative techniques, especially given that they are facing increasingly frequent vintage infrastructure failure problems on the national network?

They will be as part of the NR/SVR partnership