The group behind the Severn Valley Railway‘s Step Back to the 1940s event has come up with an alternative to 2020’s cancellation.

The group have launched two films showcasing a virtual version of the event, including specially filmed performances.

The films are available through the Severn Valley Railway YouTube channel below and include atmospheric footage from previous events.

Putting together the virtual event has been a labour of love for the committee, as vice chairman Paul Bowler explains: “We wanted to maintain the level of interest in all things SVR so that we are at the top of the list ‘places to visit’ when this crisis is over. We decided to create a virtual event for those who had planned to visit this year, and encourage those who have never been, to join us in 2021. It is vital therefore that the virtual event replicates the standard of the real event, and I believe that we have achieved that, with a production that we can all be proud of. Viewers will see performances, specially created by the entertainers who would have been with us, along with clips from past years and some tear-jerking moments at those points where emphasis is put on remembrance.

“The SVR’s 1940s weekends are the benchmark against which all other similar event are measured. These are serious revenue earners for the SVR, and not being able to welcome the public this year is another element of financial loss. For committees past and present, the priority has always been one of education. We believe it to be important that we remember those who gave their lives for our freedom, and to inform generations that followed the scale and importance of those sacrifices.”

The Severn Valley Railway 1940s event has been held every year since the Mid 1990s and they normally take place at the end of June and beginning of July.

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