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[[File:60019 20120325.jpg|thumb|300px|right|2012 Spring Steam Gala guest 60019 Bittern]]The '''Spring Steam Gala''' is the smaller of the two annual enthusiasts' galas with visiting locomotives and a more intensive timetable, but without the all night running of the [[Autumn Steam Gala]]. This event is typically takes place in late March and is now in recent years was billed by the SVR as "opening the season", even though trains commence commenced for the February half-term week. The event incorporates normally incorporated three days of Gala gala from Friday to Sunday. Other common features include included demonstration freight trains and shorter local, part-line services.
From time to time visiting locomotives are have been utilised for regular passenger services in the days after the gala. They were are again also often used for private photographic charters until , after a gap in the practice was ended in between 2021. The 2022 Spring Steam Gala is scheduled to take place between 21-24 April. Visiting locomotives announced are '''2999 Lady of Legend''' (re-created GWR 2900 Saint class 4-6-0), '''32678 Knowle''' [LBSCR 2678] (LBSCR Stroudley A1X Terrier class 0-6-0T) and '''60007 Sir Nigel Gresley''' [LNER 4498]: LNER Gresley A4 Pacific. [[WD 71516 Welsh Guardsman]] is also scheduled to appear. Details may be found on the [https://www.svr.co.uk/whats-on/spring-steam-gala-2022/ SVR Website Spring Steam Gala page]2023.
==History==
In 2000 the Spring Steam Gala moved to March, the first being a 3-day event on 8-10 March 2000 advertised as a 'Branch Line Gala Weekend'.<ref>SVR News 131</ref> A number of subsequent galas were also branded as Branch Line Galas, some taking local themes such as 'Somerset and Dorset' or 'Welsh'.<ref>SVR News 138,141</ref>
From 2020 it was held in an April spot.
==Notable events==
*'''2020''' Due to work on [[Falling Sands Viaduct]] closing the line between Bewdley and Kidderminster, the gala was retimed towards the end of April before being one of the events cancelled due to the [[2020 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic|COVID-19 pandemic]].
*'''2021''' The event was again arranged for April due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and also marketed as the 'Spring Steam Up', the SVR opting not to use the term 'Gala'.
*'''2022''' Again arranged for April, due to the replacement of [[Kidderminster Footbridge]] and the need to prepare for [[Bridgnorth Loco Works|Bridgnorth Loco Shed]] reroofing.*'''2023''' Again arranged for April due to the first phase of the [[Bridgnorth MPD|Bridgnorth yard relay project]]. Advertised as a three day event (Friday to Sunday). The preceding Thursday featured curated excursion trains with [[Steam Locomotives visiting the SVR for galas#2020-present|visiting GWR Collett 4073 Castle class 4-6-0 4079 Pendennis Castle]].
==Passenger numbers==
| 2021 || 2,588 || <ref name="NBI"/> || "Spring Steam Up" special event held over 4 days but with reduced capacity, replacing Gala due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions
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| 2022 || ~7,500 || SVR's PR: "around 7,500 visitors" || Reverted to normal format, held over 4 days but without the usual full line demonstration goods trains to conserve coal stocks.|-| 2023 || 5,002 || The Railway Magazine, May 2023 || Paying passengers only, excluding shareholder vouchers and passes. Held over 3 days.
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