Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2026
This page provides a timeline of events on the Severn Valley Railway during 2026.
January 2026[edit | edit source]
The 2025 season ending Winter Steam Gala on 3-4 January featured locomotives from the home fleet; GWR 1450 with 2 autocoaches, 7802 Bradley Manor, 7714, 13268; 4930 Hagley Hall (Saturday) and 75069 (Sunday). Passenger numbers totalled almost 2,400.[1]
After the 2025 season ended, work restarted on the project to extend the platform at Kidderminster.
On 6 January, The Erlestoke Manor Fund announced that 7802 Bradley Manor would spend the summer at the West Somerset Railway, leaving at the end of April and returning in November in time for the Winter services. The SVR had kindly agreed to condense the year's agreed steaming days into the period before and after the loan. The locomotive would be joining 7812 Erlestoke Manor which was already on extended hire to the WSR.[2]
On 19 January 2026 the SVR Class 14 Company Limited annonced that they were becoming the new owner of BR Class 07 D2996 which would relocate to the SVR and be based at Bridgnorth.
February 2026[edit | edit source]
The Railway staged a 'Branchline Weekend' on Saturday 28 February and Sunday 1 March, marking 35 years since the arrival of the first DMU on the Severn Valley Railway in March 1991. Both the Class 101 DMU and Class 108 DMU three-car sets were in use, together with 7714 on the local set. Saturday saw GWR 1450 with two autocoaches and 7802 Bradley Manor, while Sunday saw 1450 with one autocoach and 75069. The timetable included 23 services stopping at Eardington, thought to be more than at any other time in its history.[3]
March 2026[edit | edit source]
The SVR received the Chairman's Special Award at the 2026 HRA Awards ceremony on 8 March, in recognition of the tremendous team effort by volunteers, staff and partnership organisations in reinstating the railway after the devastating Mor Brook bridge collapse. Three other entries were highly commended; Jack Baldwin in the Rising Star Award category for his work in engineering and for his project management and leadership skills working on the HydroShunter project, the unique restoration of GWR 9581 Wheelchair accessible Buffet Car in the Rolling Stock category, and the Boogie Lights Express in the Innovation of the Year category.[4]
On 12 March the Railway hosted emergency services teams at Kidderminster as part of 'Exercise Saber', a full-scale simulated emergency portraying a collision between a hydrogen train and a diesel train. The exercise involved Network Rail, West Mercia Police, British Transport Police, West Midlands Ambulance Service, Hereford & Worcester and Shropshire fire and rescue services, West Midland Trains as well as the SVR, with 200 volunteers playing passengers and other members of the public.[5]
April 2026[edit | edit source]
On 16 April 2026 the (SVR) announced that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) had approved its application to convert Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) Plc into a charitable community benefit society (CCBS). The newly constituted organisation would be named Severn Valley Railway Society Limited.
The Spring Steam Gala on 16-19 April featured three guest locomotives:
- 71000 Duke of Gloucester : BR Riddles Standard 8P class Pacific
- LMS 11243: L&YR Aspinall 21 0F Pug (first visit to the SVR, also operated brake van rides from Bewdley to Kidderminter and Arley on the following weekend)
- Port of Par Judy : Bagnall 0-4-0ST (first visit to the SVR)
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71000 Duke of Gloucester -
LMS 'Pug' 11243 -
Port of Par Judy
May 2026[edit | edit source]
The platform extension at Kidderminster was officially opened on 7 May.[6]
The Spring Diesel Festival on 14-17 May featured an assortment of guest locomotives along with members of the home fleet.
June 2026[edit | edit source]
On 1 June 2026 the first stage of the 'One Railway' project was completed with the conversion of the Public Limited Company SVR(H) into the Charitable Community Benefit Society (CCBS) Severn Valley Railway Society Limited.[7][note 1]
Also on 1 June, GWR Large Prairie 4150 became the final SVR-based locomotive to be steamed in preservation.
On 3 June the Charitable Trust launched a 'Raise the Roof' campaign to help secure £1,000,000 to build a heritage canopy along the newly-extended double platform at Kidderminster. (external link) By late August 2026 the appeal had passed £300,000 including Gift Aid.[8]
On 6 June the 82045 Fund AGM was followed by the 'AGM DMU Special' taking members and supporters from the AGM at Kidderminster to inspect the progress of New-build BR 3MT 82045 in Bridgnorth works.
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82045 at Bridgnorth, 6 June 2026
On Tuesday 16 June, GWR Large Prairie 4150 moved under its own power for the first time in Bridgnorth yard. On Wednesday 17 June it made a light engine run to Highley and back, with a repeat run on Thursday 18 June.
On Friday 19 June the SVR staged a third SVR Supporters' Day. The following day saw the final SVR(H) AGM, which in future years would become SVRS AGMs.
The Railway decided to cancel all midweek services on 24-25 June due to weather warnings that the area around the SVR would be experiencing extreme heat over that period. The SVR's website noted that "Staff & Customer welfare is paramount along with protection of our infrastructure and it is felt the risk in the extreme heats forecast, is too high for us to do this. We apologise for any inconvenience caused." The first Step Back to the 1940s weekend went ahead on 27-28 June, although Saturday saw only two steam locos with 3 diesels in use due to the ongoing fire risk.
July 2026[edit | edit source]
On Wednesday 1 July, GWR Large Prairie 4150 reached Kidderminster for the first time with a test train. A special service timetable was in use on the day, with Arley station closed for a private function. Test running continued on 2 and 3 July.
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GWR 4150 during test running (2 July)
On Sunday 12 July, 4930 Hagley Hall was involved in an incident at Bridgnorth MPD. SVR CEO Gus Dunster issued a formal statement on behalf of the Railway, "An incident involving the Severn Valley Railway's 4930 Hagley Hall occurred at Bridgnorth motive power depot on the evening of Sunday 12 July. The locomotive is currently awaiting assessment, and I'm pleased to report that no one was injured. We have begun a full investigation to establish exactly what happened and cannot comment further until that is complete. We have informed the Office of Rail and Road, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch and our insurers. Once we know the extent of the damage to the locomotive and its tender we will commence repairs. As the damage is still to be fully determined, we cannot give a timescale for the locomotive's return to service."[9] An update in August 2026 provided some additional details: "The locomotive was travelling back light engine from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth and for reasons that we don't yet fully understand, it came into contact with the shed doors at the front of Bridgnorth MPD, and the motion was such that the tender went through the doors and the locomotive came to rest at that point. As with any railway accident, a multitude of factors can combine to cause it and so it would be premature to say we know what happened. The investigation is ongoing."[10]
Over 18-19 July, the railway hosted its first Summer Gala with visitors Kerr Stuart 'Witch class' No. 4388 (from the Foxfield Railway) and Neilson & Co No. 2937 (from the Chasewater Railway) alongside 7714, 813 and various smaller diesel locomotives. Hunslet 3783 "Holly Bank No. 3" (also visiting from Chasewater Railway) was declared a failure prior to the start of the event and was put on display at Kidderminster Platform 1 dock for the duration of the event.
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Neilsen 2937 -
Kerr Stuart 4388 -
Hunslet 3783
On 22 July the SVR announced that the Railway would carry out an eight-week trial commencing 1 September 2026, in conjunction with the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) and West Midlands Railway, to test the feasibility of extending regular passenger rail services from Birmingham to Bewdley. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, SVR heritage steam and diesel trains (including the DMU) will operate two morning and evening services between Bewdley and Kidderminster, connecting with West Midlands Railway services to and from Birmingham; passengers will change trains at Kidderminster to complete their journey. SVR announcement (external link)
On 27 July Chris Walton stepped down as a Director and Chairman of the Severn Valley Railway Society, and was succeeded as Chairman by Charlie Wright.[11]
August 2026[edit | edit source]
On Monday 3 August the SVR announced that because of the continuing dry weather, all services would be diesel hauled until further notice.[12] The announcement followed a a lineside fire next to the Foot crossing off Northwood Lane the day before.[13] The restriction affected the Vintage Transport Extravaganza on 8-9 August.
On 5 August the SVR and the Stanier Mogul Fund announced that Stanier Mogul 13268 would return to the main line with Vintage Trains. Vintage Trains' Managing Director Nick Ralls, welcoming the locomotive into the Vintage Trains' fleet, confirmed that "Subject to all the usual caveats, we're planning for the Stanier Mogul to haul the Worcester Shakespeare Express on Sunday 8 November."[14]
On 8 August the Warwickshire Industrial Locomotive Preservation Trust celebrated the centenary of Manning Wardle 0-6-0ST 2047 Warwickshire with a small sales stand at Bewdley.[15]
On 12 August a post on the SVR Diesels Facebook page referred to services being delayed due to leaves on the line at Hampton Loade, the leaves in question still being attached to their tree!
On 13 August a major fire at nearby Stourbridge destroyed 19 houses and damaged many others, prompting a national government alert 2 days later.[16] The SVR confirmed that due to the fire risk, steam services would remain suspended throughout the month, including the Bank Holiday on Monday 31 August.
September 2026[edit | edit source]
The 8-week Bewdley Express trial commuter service began on Tuesday 1 September, with the day's services using the Class 101 DMU.
On Tuesday 8 September the 'bottom end' of 2857 left by road for overhaul by Riley & Son at Bury.[17]
On Thursday 10 September 4150 hauled a passenger train for the first time since restoration, double headed with 7714.
The Autumn Steam Gala took place between Thursday 17 and Sunday 20 September. The event celebrated the pre-preservation days of the SVR and featured four visiting locomotives:
- 41313: LMS Ivatt 2MT Prairie (first visit to the SVR & first IOW steam engine to visit SVR); two members of the class (41304 and 41207) worked the last ever Bridgnorth-Shrewsbury passenger service on 7 September 1963.
- 9681: GWR 5700 0-6-0 Pannier Tank (first visit to the SVR); operated double-headed with 7714 both in BR black livery with late insignia
- 3850: GWR Collett 2884 2-8-0 (first visit to the SVR, late replacement for GWR Small Prairie 5526 which was unable to attend)
- 46115 Scots Guardsman: LMS Royal Scot (late replacement for BR Standard 4MT 80097 which was unable to attend)
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41313 -
9681 -
3850 -
46115 Scots Guardsman
The event also saw the debut into passenger service of 4150, the last SVR locomotive to be restored from Barry scrapyard condition. The locomotive, which had previously only worked test trains and one double-headed passenger train, was still in undercoat awaiting final painting during winter 2026-27.
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4150's debut solo passenger service
Autumn Steam Gala guest, 46115 Scots Guardsman also operated public services over the following weekend 26/27 September before returning to Carnforth light engine on 28 September.
An article from Paul Fathers in SVR News 235 for Autumn 2026 confirmed that the Bridgnorth Turntable Committee "...have regrettably concluded that unless a miracle happens the project has failed."
October 2026[edit | edit source]
The Autumn Diesel Bash on 1-4 October included West Coast Railways' 47804, along with members of the home fleet. The Class 47 had arrived as pilot for 46115 Scots Guardsman but remained at the Railway.
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47804
Steam locomotives used[edit | edit source]
A table of steam locomotives used since 2020 and their mileages (where published) can be found on the Steam Locomotive Mileages page.
See also[edit | edit source]
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Notes[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Branch Lines, January 2026
- ↑ EMF press release, 6 January 2026
- ↑ SVR News item (retrieved 28 February 2026])
- ↑ SVR Website
- ↑ Heritage Railway, Issue 344, p. 40.
- ↑ SVR Website news item
- ↑ SVR Website, Historic day for the SVR as the Severn Valley Railway Society is formally launched
- ↑ SVR News 235, p. 282, Charitable Trust Update
- ↑ SVR Website, Incident involving 4930 Hagley Hall
- ↑ Branch Lines, August 2026
- ↑ SVR Announcement, 23 July 2026, New chairman and directors appointed to lead Severn Valley Railway Society
- ↑ SVR Website, Locomotive Roster
- ↑ Kidderminster Shuttle, Fires crews battle blaze on SVR Bewdley rail line (retrieved 3 August 2026)
- ↑ SVR announcement, 5 August 2026, SVR resident Stanier Mogul 13268 to return to the main line with Vintage Trains
- ↑ SVR News 235, p. 39., Happy Birthday Warwickshire
- ↑ BBC News, Fires prompt national alert as 19 homes destroyed
- ↑ National Preservation Forum, GWR 28xx 2857 thread