SVR Spring Steam Gala 16-19 April 2026

A good day yesterday. Managed to get a good couple of rides in behind the Duke, and a trip in the 'very bouncy' Pug & Judy show.
It was amusing being able to see a clear view of the line from the auto-coach over the *top* of the hauling loco!
Was certainly busy at times, but didn't feel quite so rammed as some past galas. I was always able to get a seat, even boarding at Highley in the mid-afternoon, which has always been dicey in the past.

The late running wasn't too bad by SVR Gala standards, though as always, it does seem to be the Highley shunts that slow everything down!
The Clayton was at least an 'unusual' substitute for the Hall/1450, and I actually changed my plan to get a short run behind it, just because I'd never been hauled by it before!

Disappointed that Bewdley refreshment room had run out of cake by the time I got there around 3, but hopefully that's a sign that the gala was well attended!

Thanks to all who are involved in putting these spectacles on. I do sometimes think how lucky we are.
A railway I visit in Canada has only one steam loco, that has been out of service and is finally due back this year. When it is, it will probably be the only operating steam loco in Ontario. Meanwhile, the SVR can field 10 steam locos for an event, several times a year!

Looking forward to the next one!

 

I have to respond to the above.
I am sure the Diesel Traction Group will be delighted with your feedback - but I must take issue with your use of the word 'neglect'. This loco was completely rebuilt around a decade ago and the volunteers went to great lengths to try and cure reliability issues that this class were (in)famous for. Since then it has travelled far and wide with very few issues. A quick glance at the latest SVR news shows it has had work done to both the radiators and exhaust systems this winter, as well as corrosion work to windscreens. It had a full repaint into BR Blue around 5 years ago. None of the locos in the care of the DTG are neglected, they have access to some of the best expertise and facilities in the heritage diesel sector.
This was one of its first runs out in 2026 and at short notice it picked up 1450's turns - I would suggest it did pretty well as a super sub.
You may not be a fan, but its as unique a survivor as 71000 is.

 

Well said I’ll second that especially at short notice imagine what would have happened if a class 50 had been the replacement loco, the Clayton’s were a 1960’s steam era Diesel

 

Unpopular opinion I prefer the Clayton over 1450.

 

Its each to their own, I am disappointed I didn't get a run behind 1450 (but I did get some miles behind it at the Branchline event).
But we all have our preferences and the Clayton is someone's pride and joy just as much as the autotank is. I'm afraid diesels appearing at a steam event will always bring out the worst in some..

 

I'm sure the diesel choice was whatever was easiest to prep, crew and get off the depot. The Clayton is an interesting beastie, I wouldn't have been too disappointed if it appeared on Friday (not that I ever want any loco to fail)

 

Ah well, just to stir that pot .

'brdatabase' lists the class up to D434 as already in service before August 68.
I still have some notes from 68 and my earliest entry for a class 50 is on 8th April when I logged D403 / 7 / 12 / 14 / 15 at Warrington, also seeing 45305 and 73128 on the same day.
45305, D415 and D417 are of course all survivors.

 

Another great day yesterday and today.

Stayed at The Grange in Arley, very comfortable small hotel where you are based in the quiet rural centre of the line. And leaving the Duke last night and walking back in the dark with it's chime whistle echoing down the valley was very special. Food options are a bit limited out that way but I always try and eat at railway facilities to help boost secondary spend (though why the Engine House didn't run a breakfast menu and instead was selling curry at 9am is a bit beyond me).

The Duke certainly seemed to be a huge draw. Crossed it as Bewdley this morning and I had a carriage to myself behind the mogul but they were very full with aisles filled (not helped by the delay) I suppose the other big draw would have been 4150 but it's absense meant the crowds flocked to the one rare engine doing full line trips.

The timetable took some hits, fit example we arrived at Bewdley to pass the goods only for it to still be at Highley. And now the brake van rides are part of it it makes service changing to keep the full line running more complex I suppose.

Didn't notice any rowdy behaviours that become synonymous with the late night SVR trains so that was good to see.

Had a great time, thanks to all, especially those dealing with the problems and solutions with 7714, 1450, and any other we didn't even notice.

 

Class 50 officially entered service in October 1967 though I have distinct memories of seeing them on Shap in August 1967. No doubt on acceptance trials.
They were used double headed and IIRC had to reduce speed at Shap Summit because the then, purely theoretical for steam, line limit was 75 at the summit. I believe it is now 80

 

Can I just say an absolutely huge thankyou to you all for your support this weekend. I will post a bit more of a full wrap up later, but for now, from team gala, Thankyou!!

 

Thanks to all the volunteers who make these galas possible. Especially those willing to work the late turns to produce, as mentioned above, something very special.

 

I think the rowdy behaviour is more related to the diesel galas.

 

Maybe, though it's not unknown at steam galas. I did hear about a bit of bother late last night, and I had to deal with an rather intoxicated individual earlier today.

 

Very noticeable that there was a younger demographic* (& lots of families) present this weekend. Obviously good news for the future, but it only takes 1 or 2 idiots - I have witnessed it at both steam and diesel events.
However, the younger folk are not so partisan between steam and diesel - they just seem to like trains, that can only be a good thing!

*(And being as pi*sed as a rat isn't just limited to the younger folk. At the Branchline gala an older guy got on the train at Highley supported by 2 others as he literally couldn't stand up - that was at 2pm in the afternoon! I think they left him propped up in the vestibule..)

 

A few from me (look away if you don't like Claytons!)

 

Due to clashing with Epping and Ongar's gala, and other personal things meant I could no longer do two days to the event as hoped. But Friday, the timetable ran mostly to time all day albeit with a few 5 minute slips a few times before a 10 minute deficit later in the late afternoon. It did work really well. I enjoyed the Pug and Judy. 71000 looked glorious in the sun.

I was hoping to do the Sunday of the event mainly for the GWR triple header but timings with NR didn't work out as did the associated costs and obviously the failure of 1450 the following day prevented that from taking place.

A bit of a cheeky request for the Summer or Autumn Gala - any possibility if the triple header of 813/1450/7714 could be tried again? Lovely day on Friday. Thank you to the organisers. Looking forward to July.

 

Quick thoughts on the Sunday, the first time I'd attended on that day for a while.

Generally a very good day. I liked the atmosphere a lot, and it felt busy without being overcrowded (the odd 71000 trip unsurprisingly aside). To reference a previous comment in the threat, I too have experienced occasional rowdy and off-putting behaviour later on Fri/Sat nights at steam galas in the recent past. (One incident of someone whose words suggested he was an SVR volunteer shouting and swearing with his mates in a compartment at about 6-7pm, with families still around in neighbouring compartments, happened in the last year or so.) I chose Sunday this time partly because the pull of late-evening trains has decreased as a result of that experience. I don't regret changing and may well attend on Sundays again in the future. I recognise I am lucky in not being dependent on Sunday National Rail services!

But back to happier things. As I said, the atmosphere was good, doubtless helped by the kind April weather. Everyone seemed to be having a good time, bar perhaps the near-hour delay on Judy+71000 from Bewdley in the morning which inevitably frayed a few people slightly. All I can say about that trip once we did get going was that it is no reflection at all on the crew to say it was fairly obvious it wasn't a standard pairing! The railway did a very good job of recovering to about 15 down by late afternoon, before 813 (I think) on the goods ran late enough to cause another longish delay. I ended up about 30-35 late by the time I called it a day. For a gala, that's well within the bounds of acceptability.

As usual, compliments on the cakes at both Arley and Hampton Loade! The double-header running late in the morning meant I didn't have time to sample the delights of the refreshed Kidderminster tea room, but it seemed to be popular when I had a brief look through the door. And as for the actual home fleet locomotives, I was delighted to get a very good run with Bradley Manor before it departs for the summer, and there was another fine run with the Mogul late on. A pity none of the weekend's four advertised triple-headers could run as such, but these things happen. The timetable had the usual slight irritations where one train terminated at Highley and the next northbound one was a Hampton-Bridgnorth shuttle, but no timetable will please everyone!

Finally, a very big thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make this gala happen. The interest and pride in the railway showed, and that noticeably enhanced the day.

 

Fabulous event as always at the SVR, thanks to everyone involved and for dealing with the various dramas involved. First time I've ever seen either the Duke or Judy and both left me impressed for different reasons. The shuttle with the tiddlers was certainly an interesting experience!

Some photos now up at https://railwaygalleries.smugmug.com/Severn-Valley-Railway/Spring-Steam-Gala-April-2026 with a selection below;