Following its recent highly successful diesel gala the Severn Valley Railway (SVR) is offering the opportunity to step into the extraordinary realm of Bridgnorth Motive Power Depot.

At the depot, skillful engineers of Severn Valley Railway (SVR) work tirelessly to maintain, overhaul, and restore the magnificent fleet of steam locomotives.

Normally shrouded in secrecy for safety reasons, these operational areas have long been off-limits to the public. However, prepare for an exciting change, as SVR announces exclusive guided tours on selected weekends in June and July.

This provides a rare opportunity to discover the inner workings that keep the steam locomotive fleet in impeccable shape.

Mark your calendars for June 17th, 18th, July 8th, 9th, 15th, and 16th, as SVR invites visitors to embark on expertly guided tours that will take them behind the scenes of Bridgnorth’s motive power depot.

To ensure an intimate and immersive experience, the groups will be intentionally small, with a maximum of eight people per tour. This exclusivity grants visitors an up-close encounter with a diverse range of locomotives at various stages of repair and overhaul.

Among the notable locomotives featured are the awe-inspiring new-build Riddles BR 3MT 2 6 2 No 82045 and the venerable Stanier Mogul No 13268, which is on the verge of completing its extensive refurbishment.

To secure your spot on these exclusive Bridgnorth works guided tours, visit svr.co.uk and make your booking.

Please note that participants must be at least 16 years old and equipped with stout footwear, ensuring both their safety and comfort throughout the experience.

A number of the SVR’s volunteers will lead the tours, sharing their experience and passion with participants. Shed master Martin White has volunteered at the heritage railway for 47 years, and says visitors are guaranteed a real insight into what goes on: “There’ll be a mixture of routine maintenance and heavy overhaul tasks taking place, on both the SVR’s home fleet as well as contract work on locomotives owned by other organisations. The youngest steam locomotives are now more than 60 years old and the oldest are well over 100 years old, and they’re all at different stages of their repair, from almost complete to stripped down into basic components”.

“We think these tours are going to be really popular, as opportunities to visit the works on a guided tour are extremely rare. You’ll get the chance to take as many photographs and ask as many questions as time allows. We’re keeping the numbers low so this can be a more personalised experience.”
The hour-long tours will take in the locomotive yard, works, machine shop and paint shop. The first tour of each day has been timed so passengers arriving for the first service of the day from Bridgnorth at 11.55 can fit it in before catching their train. The six dates will run as a trial, and the railway plans to add more in the coming months if they prove successful.