SEVERN & WYE RAILWAY

The Severn & Wye Railway began life in 1810 as a 3 foot 6 inch gauge plateway running Lydney and Lydbrook in the Forest of Dean. The first steam loco was obtained in 1860 and in 1869 was converted to broad gauge, converting yet again to standard gauge in 1872. Parts of the line were very steeply graded. Traffic was mainly minerals including coal but there were limited passenger services. In 1879 the Severn Railway Bridge was built and connection made with the Midland Railway near to Sharpness. By 1893 the railway was in serious financial trouble and in July 1894 the railway was sold jointly to the Midland and GWR. The former was to deal with locomotive matters and the latter with track and signalling with other responsibilities shared. From 1929, loss-making passenger services were cut back and steadily withdrawn, ceasing completely in 1960, following the collapse of the Severn Bridge after being rammed by an oil barge. Mineral traffic went into steady decline and, once British Railways took over in 1948, rationalisation of the network began in earnest, closing in sections thereafter. By 1967, the only section still in operation was to Parkend Colliery. The section between Parkend and Lydney is now restored and operating as the Dean Forest Railway.
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