The First Merchant Navy to work Severn Valley Railway! Autumn Steam Gala 2025

The 60th anniversary of the Severn Valley Railway was celebrated in style this weekend. Aswell as a variety of visiting locos and intensive timetable, the event celebrated the return to full length running with Bridgnorth reopened following the landslip at Sterns.

We begin at Kidderminster, with Port Talbot 813 leaving with the goods set to Bewdley, at Bewdley we see a loco swap with 813 running off the goods and onto a local train to Highley. We spent a few hours at Highley having ridden behind 813 from Bewdley to capture 73082 Camelot and the 3F Jinty on the goods. The rain came down on NCB 49s pass at Waterworks Crossing, as the rainfall persisted we decided to ride the trains for the rest of the afternoon.

There were a series of visiting locomotives of interest for example 35006 Peninsular & Oriental becoming the first Merchant Navy Pacific to run on the line in the 60 years of preservation, the loco broke the record in time for its current overhaul expiry as it bows out in the coming months. BR Standard 5mt 73082 Camelot makes its first visit to the railway and 47324 recreates scenes of 47383 when it was a regular performer on the line up until 2002.

GWR 1450, 4930 Hagley Hall, Pannier Tank 7714, 7802 Bradley Manor, NCB 49, 73082 Camelot, 35006 Peninsular & Oriental, 3F 47324

Overall, an enjoyable day despite the weather with an intensive timetable in operation with goods, local shuttles, auto trains. Thanks for watching.