Preservation pioneer Clun Castle is to haul a dedicated anniversary train from Birmingham to the Severn Valley Railway marking 75 years of heritage railways and celebrating the role of volunteers.
The special train, on November 2, which is a partnership between the Heritage Railway Association, Vintage Trains and the Severn Valley Railway, has been scheduled to coincide with the HRA Autumn Conference in Birmingham.
The anniversary train, titled ‘The Volunteer’ to celebrate their role in creating the successful sector we have today, will mark the first time that the Heritage Railway Association in its current form has been part of a mainline rail tour. But the trip has been designed to evoke memories from the early days of railway preservation when mainline trips behind steam locomotives ventured out to scores of fledgling heritage railways.
The train will run on a not-for-profit basis with the SVR and HRA waiving all of their costs and Vintage Trains looking to cover only its direct operational expenses. The generous move has allowed ticket prices to be kept to an absolute minimum in the hope that many current and former heritage rail volunteers can take part in the trip with Clun Castle.
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Great Western Railway-designed ‘Castle Class’ locomotive No. 7029 Clun Castle was one of the heroes of those exciting 1960s rail tours. It is currently celebrating 60-years in preservation itself as the flagship locomotive of Vintage Trains.
‘The Volunteer’ will head out from Birmingham Snow Hill station, scene of many of Clun Castle’s early preservation exploits, at around 11.30am – allowing plenty of time for those travelling to the Midlands. It will then travel over familiar metals to Stratford-Upon-Avon before heading for the Severn Valley Railway. The train will traverse SVR metals behind Clun Castle to Highley where passengers will have the chance to visit the ‘Engine House’ museum. Although exact timings are still to be confirmed with Network Rail, the train is expected to arrive back at Birmingham, Snow Hill by 7pm.
Heritage Railway Association Chief Executive, Steve Oates, said: “The 75th anniversary of heritage rail is a huge and important milestone.
“Heritage rail has achieved some astonishing feats in the last 75 years – from rebuilding railways most thought had been lost forever to restoring locomotives and rolling stock seen as nothing more than rusting scrap. Hundreds of thousands of volunteers have made all that possible so this train is a celebration of their determination and achievement as much as the anniversary itself.
“With an iconic locomotive, a high-speed trip over the mainline and a journey along one of Britain’s most successful heritage railways all in one trip – I can’t think of a better way to celebrate.”
Vintage Trains is the UK's only charitably controlled train operating company. Based at Tyseley Locomotive Works in Birmingham, the charity restores and operates historic steam and diesel locomotives on mainline tours across the country. Ticket sales directly fund the engineering and restoration work carried out at Tyseley, keeping locomotives such as No. 7029 Clun Castle in operation for future generations.
Vintage Trains Managing Director Nick Ralls said: "7029 Clun Castle has been at the heart of heritage rail, a pioneer locomotive bridging the gap running many noticeable farewell to steam services and beginning the main line preservation story at Tyseley. It felt right that she should lead this train. Every heritage railway in the country exists because of volunteers, and running 'The Volunteer' on a not-for-profit basis was the right way to properly thank the people who have kept this movement going for 75 years."
Severn Valley Railway Chief Executive, Jonathan Dunster, said: “The SVR is pleased and proud to be playing our part in this unique event to mark 75 years of the UK heritage railway movement.
“In particular, it is so important that we recognise the dedication and commitment of the generations of volunteers who have devoted their time to keep the spirit of ‘travel as it used to be’ alive for future generations to enjoy. This special train is both a unique and fitting way to do just that, and we look to forward to what surely will be a most memorable day.”
Tickets for ‘The Volunteer’ have been priced from just £100.00 per person - with a further discount of 25% for those also attending the Heritage Railway Association Autumn Conference in Birmingham over the following two days. First class seats and reserved compartments with high-quality catering and afternoon tea are also available for those who want to celebrate the milestone in style.
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