Severn Valley Railway | Winter Steam Gala - 1450 returns - in the snow! 4th & 5th January 2025

#steam #train #snow

January 2024 saw a brand new event at the Severn Valley Railway, the Winter Steam Gala, which featured the return of Stanier Mogul no.2968 and a farewell to WC no.34027 'Taw Valley' and Ivatt Class 4 no.43106 (see my video...    • Severn Valley Railway | Winter Steam ...   ). Such was the success of the event that it was quickly confirmed into the calender again for 2025 as a way to close the 2024 running season after the Christmas period before the railway closes until February half term. For this years event the star would be the return to the Severn Valley of 14xx no.1450 after overhaul. She had left the Severn Valley Railway in 2021 after the expiry of her boiler certificate in December 2020 and has been overhauled at the Flour Mill in the Forest of Dean. She returns to the Severn Valley after starring in the Avon Valley Railway's End of Season Gala in November 2024 and joined the steam home fleet Std 4 no.75069, Hall no.4930 'Hagley Hall', Manor no.7812 'Erlestoke Manor', Stanier Mogul no.13268 and Pannier Tank no.7714 to make 6 engines in steam.

For the event 1450 and 7714 would double head over both days, with 75069, 7812, 13268 & 4930 operating a set each for 5 sets in service, all running full line every 45-55 minutes from both ends of the line. This was done to make the timetable as simple as possible avoid any potential cold weather frozen point issues etc, and this turned out to be a wise move as various weather warnings were in place as the weekend got closer.

For us our eldest son had a training day at school on Monday 6th January which meant we could stay two nights in Kidderminster Premier Inn and make our first gala weekend since our second son Zack was born in October. Saturday dawned cold and frosty, but dry, and we headed to Highley and spent three hours there watching the action and keeping warm in the Engine House in-between. We headed back to our hotel in Kidderminster via Northwood Lane and some lineside shots in the last of the light. Overnight Sunday saw snow falling across the country, but not to a great extend in the Severn Valley thankfully. We travelled Sunday morning, taking a round trip on the 10.10am from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth and back on the 12.25pm behind 75069, before headed for Bewdley for a couple of hours where the snow had turned to persistent and heavy rain as the last of the light turned to dusk.

As always its a great show at the Severn Valley Railway, everything ran to time and it was nice to get out the house post Christmas and get away for a weekend. Many thanks to all involved as always.

Photos...

To follow.

Locations and Locos...

7812 at Bridgnorth 05/01/25.
7812 at Highley 04/01/25.
75069 at Highley 04/01/25.
13268 at Highley 04/01/25.
4930 at Highley 04/01/25.
13268 at Bewdley 05/01/25.
1450 & 7714 at Bewdley 05/01/25.
75069 at Orchard Crossing, Bewdley 04/01/25.
13268 at Northwood Lane, Bewdley 04/01/25.
4930 at Orchard Crossing, Bewdley 04/01/25.
4930 at Bewdley 05/01/25.
13268 at Bewdley 05/01/25.