Severn Valley Railway confirms position on future steam locomotive overhauls

The Severn Valley Railway has released an official statement on its position surrounding future overhauls of steam locomotives based at the line.

Currently, the engineering department at the Severn Valley Railway has their attention focussed on completing Stanier Mogul No. 13268 as well as 4085 ‘Dunrobin' for the Beamish Museum.

Alongside these, in service locos such as 75069 is undergoing a winter valve and piston exam and a repaint, whilst 34027 Taw Valley is being repainted into its SR Wartime Black livery.

Following up the rear for in-progress projects are 4150 and 82045, and interim managing director, Jonathan Dunster, says that until some of these projects are completed, there are no plans for any new projects or overhauls to start.

As current projects progress and are completed, the SVR says it will then look at overhaul plans for other locomotives.

In his full statement, Interim managing director Jonathan ‘Gus' Dunster says: “Our engineering department currently has completion of 13268 to achieve, along with 4085 ‘Dunrobin' for Beamish Museum. On top of that a winter valve and piston exam beckons for 75069, along with a repaint, and we've recently completed a good deal of maintenance on 34027 ‘Taw Valley' which is now being repainted into its temporary wartime black livery.

“In addition, the overhaul of 4150 is in progress, and the new-build 82045 is coming up behind it. Until some of these projects are concluded or completed there are no plans for any new projects or overhauls to start on the SVR. As the current projects progress, we will begin to look at the subsequent overhaul plan for steam locomotives.

“Past experience has taught us that running too many overhauls concurrently isn't the most efficient way of managing these complex projects.”