Bridgnorth Works fit for the future

THE Severn Valley Railway’s locomotive shed at Bridgnorth was officially reopened on September 7 after months of fundraising, meticulous planning and hard work.

The £475,000 project was delivered on time and on budget and will transform the engineering team’s facilities.

Improvements include a new insulated roof with translucent panels, as well as insulated cladding on the walls. LED lighting now provides infinitely better illumination and will also be many times more efficient to power, which is particularly welcome as energy costs soar. The second-hand 6.3 tonne crane will save the team time and money each month.

During the opening ceremony, engineering team leader Will Marsh pressed the button to set the overhead travelling crane in motion, watched closely by some of those who made significant donations to the £475,000 project, along with volunteers and staff who had helped deliver the project.

The £475,000 required for the project was raised by the SVR Charitable Trust, attracting thousands of donations and several awards from grantmaking organisations. An extra ‘flash fundraising’ appeal by the Charitable Trust raised a further £16,000 in just two weeks towards the cost of installing an epoxy resin floor coating. This provides a more robust and safer surface than the old and uneven one.