Spring Steam Gala
Thursday 16 – Sunday 19 April
The annual Spring Steam Gala returns to kick-off our main season! 2026 marks a remarkable 50 years since our very first Spring Steam Gala, way back in April 1976, so we’ve got plenty of exciting things planned. Tickets can be purchased in advance, saving 10%, or on the day from station Booking Offices.
What to expect at the Spring Steam Gala? Our four day festival of steam will feature both guest and home-fleet locomotives operating a busy timetable between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth. If you love steam, this is the place to be! Ride behind every locomotive, visit The Engine House at Highley to break your day, or sample the finest real-ales in our pubs, as you experience the Severn Valley at its steamiest!
Start planning your visit with the Spring Steam Gala timetable and facility opening hours.
Our first guest locomotive has been announced as BR 71000 ‘Duke of Gloucester’, thanks to BR Class 8 Steam Locomotive Trust and Locomotive Services. The locomotive is a British Railways Standard Class 8P built at Crewe works in 1954. Designed by Robert Riddles to work the heavy express trains between Euston and Scotland, ‘Duke of Gloucester’ was a prototype for the BR Standard Class 8 express passenger locomotives but was the only one of the class ever to be built.
Our final guest locomotives are Port of Par ‘Judy’ and LMS Pug 11243. The pair will operate an intensive shuttle service between Bewdley and Kidderminster throughout the gala, including some double-headed appearances that promise plenty of character in a surprisingly compact package. Their presence of the two guest locos offers a striking contrast to the mighty BR 71000 Duke of Gloucester, already confirmed as the event’s star attraction. While 71000 is one of the most powerful express passenger locomotives ever built in Britain, Judy is among the smallest standard gauge steam locomotives in preservation; proof that at the SVR Spring Steam Gala, size really doesn’t matter. LMS 11243 appears with thanks to the East Lancashire Railway and Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Trust, and ‘Judy’ with thanks to the Bodmin Railway.
Online ticket sales close at 6pm on the day prior, tickets can be purchased on the day from the booking offices. A limited number of Working Timetables are available to purchase for £8, from Kidderminster Booking Office only, on a first come first serve basis.
Stars of the show:
- BR 71000 ‘Duke of Gloucester’ (K), making its first heritage railway appearance since overhaul
- Port of Par Bagnall ‘Judy’ (K), one of the smallest standard gauge steam locomotives in preservation
- LMS Pug 11243 (B), an iconic 1910-built locomotive
- GWR 813 (B)
- GWR 1450 (B)
- GWR 4930 ‘Hagley Hall’ (K)
- GWR 7714 (B)
- GWR 7802 ‘Bradley Manor’ (K)
- LMS 13268 (K)
- BR 75069 (B)
We had hoped GWR 4150 would make the Spring Steam Gala following restoration, however, this is now unlikely to happen.
Key: B, facing Bridgnorth. K, facing Kidderminster.
Highlights:
Thursday 16 April
- GWR 4930 Hagley Hall on our Goods Train, with pre-bookable brakevan rides.
- GWR 1450 & GWR 813 will pair up with our GWR set of carriages for the whole day.
- BR 71000 paired up with British Railways MK1 carriages.
Friday 17 April
- GWR 1450 & GWR 7714 open up the day with a double-headed working, whilst GWR 813 & GWR 7714 will close the day with another double-header.
- GWR 1450 works a BR local between Hampton Loade and Bridgnorth all day.
- BR 71000 completes three round trips.
Saturday 18 April
- GWR 813 & GWR 7714 will open up the day with a double-header.
- BR 71000 completes three round trips.
Sunday 19 April
- The only triple-header of the day, as GWR 813, GWR 1450, and GWR 7714, will work a Bewdley to Bridgnorth service together!
- It’s GWR 7802 Bradley Manor’s last day in SVR service until it returns later this year.
- The Pug works a solo round trip between Kidderminster and Bewdley.
Due to unforeseen issues with coupling arrangements between the LMS ‘Pug’ and mainline locomotives, triple‑headed workings involving this locomotive will unfortunately not take place. These amendments are necessary for safety reasons.
Brake Van Rides – SOLD OUT
New for the 2026 Spring Steam Gala, experience a heritage goods train and travel in the brake van. Take a trip along the railway in a former Great Western Railway ‘Toad’ brake van, restored by our volunteers at Bewdley, and get a unique view of the railway. A limited number of places are available and must be pre-booked in advance. Tickets must be purchased with Spring Steam Gala Day Rovers.
Prices from:
Important Information:
- One, two, three and four day rover tickets available.
- Tickets can be purchased in advance, saving 10%, or on the day from station Booking Offices.
- Day Rovers are the only ticket type available, short journey and single tickets are not available.
- Passengers can occupy 1st class seats without being charged a supplement.
- SVR Shareholder and working members passes – valid.
- SVR Member discounts available.
- SVR Unlimited Pass upgrades payable.
- Ex-BR & LT Staff, Train Operating Companies Staff, Network Railway Staff Priv Travel Passes and Heritage Railway Association Inter-Rail Pass – not valid.
- Reciprocal Travel Scheme – on production of valid Staff Pass from a Railway in our Reciprocal Travel Scheme, you are entitled to travel at the SVR Member Rate. Only available from the Booking Office on the day of your visit.
- Access to stations is free of charge to non-ticket holders. However, access may be restricted at anytime to ticket holders only if areas become busy.
