SUPPORTING HERITAGE RAILWAYS

Alight from the train at Kidderminster main line station on the Worcester to Birmingham Snow Hill line, walk through the drap ticket hall and, across the car park, you will see a beautifully restored Victorian train station. This majestic structure is the start of one of Britain’s premier heritage lines, the Severn Valley Railway. Soaking up the period atmosphere inside, taking in the antique glazed concourse canopy, the museum, tea room, licensed restaurant and the ‘King and Castle’ pub, it is hard to believe that the building has been here less than ten years. Erected in 2006, it is an exact replica of a Great Western Railway from the 19th century and a monument to the work and determination of the staff and volunteers that keep this railway alive and expanding each year. One of the full-time staff, RMT member Colin Bromley, is on board the first steam train out of the station on its 16 mile journey through some beautiful countryside, across the 200 foot cast iron Victoria Bridge located between Bewdley and Arley, and on to its final destination Bridgnorth. He is our guide as we journey though the 480 yard Foley Park Tunnel before being greeted by the sight of elephants bordering the railway (yes, elephants, the SVR crosses a wildlife park) before making the ascent to Bridgnorth - its castle is worth a visit in itself. Colin explains that, along with the restoration of the Severn Valley railway, a maintenance facility has been built at Bridgnorth, where he works as a fitter, as well as a carriage restoration and maintenance facility at Kidderminster. He started working at SVR as a volunteer after finishing an engineering degree. He explains above the noise of the stream train while listening for any wheel slippage. “Quite steep this gradient,” he says while pointing out that there are around 80 dedicated full-time staff as well as an army of fantastic volunteers that give their time and skills to the railway. He says that they could all benefit from trade union membership. “You insure your car, so why not insure your job. “Ultimately you never know when you might need help, whether it is representation at work or legal assistance,” he says. Colin appreciates that RMT not only represents volunteer and full-time workers in the heritage sector, but also supports its expansion and calls for more government assistance to protect an important part of our industrial history. “Heritage railways have often become important parts of the local economy, bringing tourists into the area, and it’s not easy to find jobs around here,” he says listing some of the weirder jobs he has taken up in order to stay in the area. He also explains the strong bonds of solidarity between heritage railways which has literally kept the SVR line going. During violent thunderstorms in 2007 the SVR railway suffered major damage, including numerous landslides with many sections of the line left suspended in mid-air. At Highley station the Up Starter signal and the embankment was SUPPORTING HERITAGE RAILWAYS RMT News discovers solidarity brought the spectacular Severn Valley Railway back from the brink RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: january 2015 :: RMTnews 24 Colin Bromley, fitter at the maintenance works at Bridgnorth