Severn Valley Railway Day - A report from Steve Share

Run to Severn Valley Railway Vintage Vehicle Day, 11 10 09

I left home at about 9.00 a.m. with a view to meet others at the Swan at Forton at 10.00. The weather was dull but dry and the weather forecast was for a reasonable day. When I arrived at the Swan, Phil was already there and others soon appeared.  We set off shortly after 10.00, there being 7 BSAs, 2 modern Triumphs and a Honda.  Myles led us round Newport, past the agricultural college, heading for our first stop, a coffee break at the Museum of Iron at Coalbrookdale. How we got there I don’t know, my navigational skills are obviously useless. I think I remember a sign for Wrockwardine and one for Wellington. By this time it had started to drizzle a little, not much, just enough to make the road greasy – especially the last stretch into Coalbrookdale where the narrow lane had moss growing on the surface! Certainly, one member of the party expressed the statement that the slick on the back of his Starfire did not like the conditions!

After a cup of coffee and use of the “facilities” it was back on the road through Much Wenlock and on to the Bridgnorth bypass, then turning south on the Kidderminster road.  We arrived at Kidderminster at 12.10 to be greeted by Birmingham Roger on his Triumph Tiger outfit accompanied by his two daughters.  We had a good look round the vehicles outside the station and inside on the station forecourt.  There were a wide variety of cars ranging from a fairly modern Fiat 500, a Ford 97e (sit up and beg Popular), a beautiful Bristol, a Jaguar, and inside, amongst others, a 1955 Riley RME, a 1930’s Cluley (no, I’d never heard of them either. They were a car built by a small family firm and this one was owned by a descendant.), a Rover 100, and a flat tank Sunbeam motor cycle.

Leaving Kidderminster, we set off for Bewdley (picking up a couple on a Royal Enfield en route) where we found Jon and Hazel waiting for us.  Jon’s Enfield was having a sulk, refusing to go any further until Myles gave back the battery he’d borrowed.  This problem was soon sorted.

Looking around the site there were a large number of vehicles ranging from an Ariel motor bike, a Messerschmitt bubble car (I think), a Nash Metropolitan , Land Rovers, and many others. Our next stop was Arley where the military Land Rovers had set up camp in one corner, accompanied by a military Morris 1000/1100 Traveller. There was a rather lovely Lotus sports car and a ‘30s car whose occupants appeared to have the wicker picnic basket in use. We stayed there for a time to watch the train through and then some of us left to go to Highley. What happened to Jon and Hazel I don’t know! (We were in the pub at Arley!)

Arriving at Highley we parked where we could (it was a little cramped!) with me parking near a pair of MGA sports cars.  I discovered a minor problem at Highley.  Walking to the Kiosk I passed the Station Master who took one look and said “I suppose it’s you brought that gang of Hells Angels!”  It’s a good job I know him well enough!  We left there and headed for Hampton Loade station although three peeled off to go straight home.  When we reached the station it was to find that, due to an unfortunate mishap two or three weeks previously, the station was not as well attended as in previous years.  We did, however, meet a couple with their own Tribsa – although they brought one-upmanship into play when they heard about Hazel’s Tribsa.  Like hers, this one has a B25 frame, but it has a 500 Daytona engine squeezed in and it has a lovely alloy tank.  Did anyone think to obtain their details and invite them to N Staffs branch?  I think they came from the Wolverhampton area.  We phoned Hazel to be told that they were at Bridgnorth and would see us there.  The couple with the 500 came with us. I had a slight upset at the junction of the Hampton Loade road where I stalled the A65 and had severe difficulty starting again – because I couldn’t hold the bike on the slope whilst trying to turn the kick start lever out!  I managed eventually and arrived at Bridgnorth to find the others drinking and talking.  I had a swift (soft) drink from the bar and left to make my way home after having had an enjoyable day out where the weather had been mostly reasonable, and I had been in the company of like minded friends. I just hope somebody managed to take some good photographs, and here’s to next year!


Steve Share


Thank you,  Steve.   There are some photos in the slideshow section of the blog - if anyone has any more, I would be happy to add them.

Stafford Show report and slideshow will also be available soon.