Steam Saturdays bring additional heritage charm to Bridgnorth

The Severn Valley Railway is set to bring an extra touch of steam-era nostalgia to Bridgnorth this summer, with steam-hauled services operating on the first train of the day from the town every Saturday in June, July and August.

The services will see one of the railway’s smaller steam locomotives paired with a set of historic Great Western Railway carriages, offering passengers the chance to begin their day with steam from the SVR’s original preserved station.

The steam-hauled departures will replace services that would usually be operated by a heritage diesel locomotive or the Diesel Multiple Unit, giving more passengers the opportunity to travel behind steam from the northern end of the line during the busy summer season.

The historic carriage set will include GWR 4786, which was recently restored by volunteers at Bewdley and is celebrating its 100th year in service during 2026.

Lewis Maddox, visitor engagement manager at the SVR, said: “These special Saturday departures are all about celebrating what makes the Severn Valley Railway so unique. There is something very special about boarding a steam train at Bridgnorth behind a beautifully presented locomotive and travelling in some of our oldest and most historic carriages.

“We know there’s demand from visitors who want to start their journey behind steam from Bridgnorth, particularly during the summer months when Shropshire welcomes so many tourists and day-trippers. These services give passengers more flexibility while also helping us maximise capacity on some of our busiest operating days.

“We are especially excited to showcase GWR 4786 during its centenary year. The carriage has recently undergone restoration work by our volunteers at Bewdley and it will be wonderful to see passengers enjoying travel in a vehicle with such an incredible history behind it.”

The initiative forms part of the railway’s efforts to enhance the visitor experience at Bridgnorth while showcasing its nationally significant collection of historic rolling stock in the setting where preservation on the SVR first began.