Severn Valley Railway’s busy festive diesel action

of one of the booked steam locomotives on December 29 saw 40106 Atlantic Conveyor cover the steam diagram all day on the Severn Valley Railway, while 50035 Ark Royal was allocated onto the diesel turn that had been originally earmarked for the Class 40.

To add to the occasion, Class 17 D8568 was also out on the railway on the same date, operating empty coaching stock workings, while GB Railfreight’s appropriately-named 66763 Severn Valley Railway arrived on the line to collect a Beyer test train from Bewdley.

On January 1, 40106 had to run light engine to Bewdley after the completion of its diagram to bring the steam service train into Kidderminster, due to another steam locomotive failure. With the steam locomotive still unavailable the following day, 40106 worked the 10.15 steam service out of Kidderminster, while D8568 handled the 11.30 diesel departure. Upon arrival at Bridgnorth, a replacement steam locomotive took over the steam diagram in place of the Class 40, so 40106 moved back onto the diesel turn at Bridgnorth and D8568 returned to Kidderminster.