When we attended the SideTracked in Brum Event we were given a
couple of caches to extend the SideTracked series. So we put one
here, inbetween the Kidderminster railway stations.
The current Severn Valley railway is a steam preservation
railway running from a new station in Kidderminster following the
river valley of the Severn north to Bridgenorth. Different parts
were opened from 1970 until it was completed in 1984. The railway
crosses the river at Victoria Bridge. The other railway station at
Kidderminster serves one of the mainlines between Worcester and
Birmingham.
The original Severn valley railway ran from a branch line just
north of Hartlebury around the edge of Stourport and through
Bewdley following the current line to Bridgenorth and then on to
Shrewsbury. Construction commenced in 1859 with the official
opening on 31st January 1862 and public services starting the next
day. In 1872 construction of the section between Bewdley and
Kidderminster began and opened to the public in 1878.
This was not just a passenger line. The southern section in
particular supplied coal to the power station in Stourport and
there were sidings to Regent Oil and the sugar factory.
The heavy rain in 2007 damaged a number of embankments closing
the railway for the rest of the year but the railway was completely
reopened from Easter 2008. It is well worth a trip with plenty to
occupy you for a day and you can do the (
Severn Valley Virtual Reward cache). For more information visit
the website here.
There is parking nearby if you do not come by train but please
note it is a pay and display carpark. Please make sure you
completely hide the cache but do not push it in too far.