This weekend (25 and 26 May) will see the 95th birthday of one of the Severn Valley Railway’s (SVR) most cherished steam locomotives, No 4930 ‘Hagley Hall’.
‘Hagley Hall’ became established as the SVR’s flagship loco 40 years ago, when it hauled the inaugural passenger train out of the embryonic Kidderminster Town station. This July, it will re-enact history, with special commemorative trips on the weekend of 27 and 28 July, when the SVR marks the ruby anniversary of this very important development in its history.
This coming weekend, 25 and 26 May, will see ‘Hagley Hall’ in steam, hauling passenger services, including premium afternoon teas in the SVR’s beautifully restored first-class dining cars. Bookings for the afternoon teas have now closed, but passengers will still be able to travel behind the locomotive on both Saturday and Sunday.
“We’d like to wish our special locomotive very many happy returns,” said the SVR’s managing director Jonathan ‘Gus’ Dunster. “It has a special place in the hearts of many of our volunteers and visitors. We were absolutely thrilled to welcome it back in 2022, following 36 years out of service when it was on static display and under restoration.”
SVR volunteers rescued the locomotive from the cutter’s torch at the famous Woodham’s scrapyard in Barry in 1973. They brought it to the SVR, where, after restoration, it entered service on the line in 1979, also making a number of appearances on the main line. However, the SVR withdrew it from service in 1986 after several boiler stays failed, and it was nearing the end of its 10-year boiler ticket.
Tickets to travel are available at svr.co.uk and at booking offices.
