The Severn Valley Railway has concluded its 2025 operating season and 60th Anniversary year on a high, following successful winter events that culminated in the Diesel Day and Winter Steam Gala.

With a very successful and well-attended programme of events leading up to Christmas, the Christmas to New Year period normally sees a winding down of operations before winter maintenance takes place across most heritage lines.

In recent years, the popularity of winter galas over the festive season has provided a great way to round off the year and offers enthusiasts a chance to ride behind heritage locomotives one more time before operating services resume in the spring.

The Diesel Day at the Severn Valley featured nine different classes of diesels running during the day. The two visiting Class 37s operated by LORAM UK and owned by Steve Benniston ran double-headed on the 10.15 departure, which left Kidderminster standing room only.

Over 1,100 people attended the one-day event despite the miserable weather. A last-minute change saw Class 50 No. 50049 replace the advertised No.50007, which was unavailable.

The Winter Steam Gala, which took place after the New Year, the first official event of 2026, counts as part of the 2025 running season, saw fantastic weather with a good selection of Western Region steam motive power, along with the Class 5 mogul and a Class 108 DMU.

The home fleet performed well over the two-day event, which saw blue skies and frosty and snowy admirably suitable for capturing the atmosphere of steam. Several well-known locations along the 16-mile line looked stunning in the low winter sun, and photographers who braved the cold were rewarded with the quality of their photographs.

Adding to the winter wonderland atmosphere, the trains and stations were still decorated following the Christmas festivities, offering visions of a white Christmas. There were also rounds of applause as the trains crossed Victoria Bridge, providing a superb wintery view of the River Severn below.

The Severn Valley Railway is now closed until the February Half-Term Week reopening on Valentine’s Day, 14th February. Paddington Bear will be making an appearance at the railway during the same week from the 17th to the 19th of February.

Looking towards the 2026 operating season a Boogie Nights Express will be running on Friday and Saturday nights from mid-February, and a three-day Branch Line weekend will be held from 28th February to 1st March.

“The Winter Steam Gala was the perfect way to close the season, coming straight after the very successful Winter Diesel Day. Both events featured imaginative timetables, excellent performances from our fleets and were very well supported by visitors, with feedback once again comprehensively positive. One email I received summed it up perfectly, simply saying: ‘Two brilliant events – the SVR is just the best railway ever!

I would like to thank all our volunteers and staff, not only for these two events but for their dedication throughout the whole season. It’s been a challenging year at times, but in true SVR fashion we’ve prevailed through sheer determination. My thanks go to every single person involved.”

Gus Dunster, managing director