A number of lineside fires on the land next to the Severn Valley Railway has meant that the decision has been made to remove steam traction and return to heritage diesel services.

This is the third time this season this has happened due to tinder dry conditions, with the steam ban in effect from tomorrow, 31st August.

The fires were caused by the SVR steam locomtives and were put out by Shropshire Fire Service, with most taking place at Eardington Bank, between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade.

“During hot, dry weather, we have to be constantly alert to the risks of lineside fires,” said Steve Wainwright, the SVR’s head of operations. “We have already switched to heritage diesel-only services twice this season; first in July and then earlier this month. Now we’re repeating the measure for third time, in order to avoid further fires.

“It is very frustrating for us, but this is the right thing to do. Once again, we hope that our visitors will understand the difficulty of the situation we’re in. In fact, we’re extremely lucky that we have a superb fleet of heritage diesel locomotives that we can turn to at times like this, otherwise we’d be faced with having to suspend all passenger services.

“The heritage diesel services will run until at least Friday this week, when we’ll review the situation.”

Check the latest timetable and information over on the SVR website.