The Severn Valley Railway (SVR) has issued an update on work being carried out at its Bridgnorth Motive Power Depot (MPD).

Volunteer shed master Martin White reports that SVR has been considering feedback from its recent Autumn Steam Gala.

A debrief meeting discussed to timetabling and time-keeping, and the gala committee believes that it has learned lessons for future events.

​The steam locomotives ran reasonably well at the event until visiting S160, ‘Omaha’, failed on Saturday evening.

The spindle on one of its injector steam valves sheared, meaning that the injector could not operate. Without both injectors putting water into the boiler, the loco cannot operate on SVR.

Duty officer Matt Robinson worked overnight rescheduling locomotives and diagrams, so that Sunday’s timetable was covered by the remaining steam fleet.

Meanwhile, Martin reports that at Bridgnorth locomotive works, Stanier Mogul, 2968, is “moving ever-closer to the point in time when smoke will be coming out of the chimney and steam out of the cylinder drain cocks”, though it is not possible to give an exact date for completion.

On Saturday 7 October, a team completed work on the fire grate rocking mechanism installed a new brick arch in the firebox, making two clear steps closer towards a steam test. However, the chimney itself still awaits fitting.

​Progress is also being made in the works on GWR large prairie tank 4150. The owning group volunteer team is helping staff experts, and has begun the substantial task of fitting hundreds of relatively small-diameter rivets to the side tank. So far, all the ‘easy’ rivets have been fitted to the fireman’s side tank in the boiler shop.

Recent work has also included pressure testing of the superheater header, and preparing the regulator box for testing. Work will also be carried out on the copper steam pipes. The materials for the steel main steam pipes are being prepared for coded welding, to be carried out by a person with the appropriate certification and competency.

Also, the drag box casting for 813 has now returned to Bridgnorth after some remedial work by its manufacturer. More on this will be provided in the coming months.