Winter work at Bridgnorth

THE latest stage of civil engineering work to upgrade the Severn Valley Railway’s Bridgnorth yard has resulted in all roads outside the loco shed being on the same level.

Phase 2A of the Bridgnorth MPD yard re-lay project, which started on January 9, has seen roads 1 and 2 – the sidings nearest to the station – lifted for replacement.

After the rails were removed and surrounding concrete cut back, the surface was prepared to receive an additional 270mm of concrete – the height gain needed to raise road 2 to the same level as the rest of the yard.

Some of the old track is thought to have survived from BR days, and in places, the rails in the section used only to store locos and wagons was very wasted below the surface.

Replacement trackwork has included components recovered from Brownhills (RM December 2023). Completion of Phase 2A was expected by mid-March.

Life-expired signalling and track circuit wiring dating back to the 1970s, has been replaced in the signalbox.

On the loco front, Stanier Mogul No. 2968 has been receiving attention to finish off several tasks and complete some fettling following its operation during the Festive period. The 2-6-0 has had a number of deep cleans with soapy water, ahead of it being shunted into the paint shop for its transformation into

No. 13268.

‘S160’ No. 2253 Omaha returned to its Dartmouth

Steam Railway home in early February.

Repairs to GWR 0-6-0ST

No. 813 continue to progress. The large drag box casting has been returned from the external contract-machinists with all of the casting’s mounting holes drilled in the correct places. The bunker/cab assembly and buffer beam have been moved back inside from their storage area. It is hoped that reassembly of the loco will progress shortly.