SVR | Winter Steam Gala | 3rd and 4th January 2026

7802 "Bradley Manor"
7714
1450
13268
4930 "Hagley Hall" (Saturday only)
75069 (Sunday only)

Timetable Winter-Steam-TT-2025.pdf
webpage: Winter Steam Gala - Severn Valley Railway

 

Timetable seems lop sided, trains grouped together.

Off KR there's 4 full line trains between 9 and 1140, but then only the 1305 until 1440, which in turn means there's only one train north off HY/HL for BH for nearly three hours.

Similarly off BH, plenty of trains around lunchtime to KR, but then after 14:00, only 15:20 until 16:55 before another run of departures after dark. Can see that 15:20 being full and standing long before departure.

Haven't been to a winter gala yet but I remember the timetable before was just full line trains, I guess attempting something different here with the auto locals.

 

Still haven't done one of the SVR winter galas but this one will come down to comparing working timetables between the Severn Valley, Swanage and South Devon to see what looks most fun for whichever day of that weekend I head out. Are the locos all facing the same way that they were at the end of the autumn gala? I remember reading on here that the idea was that loco directions would be set for Christmas services by the end of that.

 

The timetable does seem a little odd, but it was quite common in the naughties

 

The South Devon doesn’t have its Winter Steam Gala timetable published yet.

 

Odd?! In what way odd might I ask? I had a hand in writing it so would love any feedback you may have!

 

7802/7714/1450 will face Bridgnorth
75069/4930/13268 will face Kidderminster

 

Thank you!

 

Hello Harry,

I find it rather a shame that the first steam service from Bridgnorth is not until 11.ooam, which means a lunchtime arrival at Kidderminster. I'd have though that as it's a "Gala" an earlier start would have been better, especially as it's a "Winter Steam Gala", rather than a "Winter DMU Gala", reversing the first two departures would have been better in my view. It still seems that "Bridgnorth" is a secondary thought these days.

Best regards,

Reg.

 

Hi Reg,

Thanks for this I will feed it back. Unfortuantely we are restricted this year on stock (Due to the unfortunate shutning incident at KDR, and also exams/coaches out of service), as such we were rather dictated to that the DMU needed to start and end at Bridgnorth Saturday, and start there Sunday. This was done to prevent additional stock moves and reforming of trains in the hectic post Xmas period. For next year (2027) we haven’t yet chosen a Winter Gala date yet, but we would hope to push it back to 9/10 January, giving more flexibility on steam services, stock moves/reforming, etc.

In terms of timings of when services start/end these are largely dictated by the brief of the event so we have to stick within those parameters normally. But again I will feedback and see if we can move forward for next time.

All in all we’ve done a lot with a very small fleet this time. Hopefully next year should be a lot better

 

Many thanks for the reply Harry.

 

My video coverage of the SVR's Winter Steam Gala.

 

My effort from today. My hands have nearly warmed up!

 

I travelled earlier in the week on one of the festive timetables - normally would start from BN but drove to KR with the timetable to mind as there is no steam based at BN. Suspect people have done something similar for this gala - move this evening to get three back to BN looks interesting though!

 

Hello Harry,

A good Steam Gala, but why use the DMU, when advertised as a "STEAM GALA"? Each day there was a light engine move from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster (08.15ish), with a rake of GWR coaches left in Hollybush Road siding, surely this could have been turned into a revenue earning move?

Cheers,

Reg.

 

A wide range of steam-hauled services remained available, and any passenger opposed to using a DMU could simply choose an alternative working from the timetable. There was no obligation to travel by DMU.

 

Are you sure? Pretty sure all steam off depot on Sat and Sun was handled at the south end?

 

Erm, not quite that simple as per my previous post. The DMU was forming both the start and end service of each day up to and including the gala. Avoiding it on the Festive days only provided circa three hours to get out and back to Bridgnorth without spending the night in country park shelter (or somewhere else quaint).

 

Hi Reg,

Glad you enjoyed. We thought it was great fun.

Set of coaches in the Hollybush not suitable for passenger use due to a number of factors but largely due to their Christmas use as the Elf Explorer set. Guards van, wheelchair coach, and other bits all in the wrong place. Plus still heavily “elfed” up. So couldn’t use those.

The 0815 Light Engine had another diagram to work, and there has to be a spare steam loco in accordance with our gala rules. So 75 spare Sat, 4930 Sunday.

DMU wasn’t ideal but best of a bad job. We will seek improvement next year.