WALKING into Kidderminster diesel depot is like stepping back in time. In a good way. The facility supports the large Severn Valley Railway diesel fleet with modern engineering equipment. There’s an overhead crane capable of lifts up to 10 tonnes. There are jacks that allow locomotives to be lifted from their bogies and there are pits which enable volunteers and staff to go under their machines to conduct maintenance.
And yet it still feels like a Western Region depot in the mid-1970s or 80s. That’s probably because of what was in there. When RE visited on March 25, No. 50035 Ark Royal was undergoing a B-exam, No. D1015 Western Champion was undergoing an engine change, No. D1062 Western Courier was receiving engine maintenance, No. D821 Greyhound was undergoing final preparations before its relaunch at the SVR event in May, work was continuing on the conversion of No. 08635 into a hydrogen-powered shunter, while Nos. 12099 and D4100 were also undergoing repairs. The shed was full.
Outside the shed were Nos. 31466, 33108 freshly painted, 40106 Atlantic Conveyor and 50033 Glorious. Nearby, but under tarpaulins, were Nos. 50031 Hood and 50044 Exeter.
This facility, opened in 2016, is vital to the upkeep of the locomotive fleet. It enables major repairs to be carried out much easier than otherwise would have been the case, and means running repairs can be undertaken undercover rather than ‘out in the field’ as previously.
The main line locomotives in the shed during RE’s visit are all scheduled to operate at the May 18-21 gala, which will celebrate 50 years of diesel preservation, with No. D821 set to be the star of the show. Yet its Diesel Traction Group stablemate No. D1015 Western Champion is only able to attend the event in part due to the opportunity afforded to its owners to undertake major internal surgery, the fitting of two new engines, in an undercover, modern environment. As one volunteer candidly said: “it could have been game over for D1015 without this facility.”
The SVR has been through a tough period. As have many heritage railways. The pandemic caused major issues for the in a Teams interview on March 23: “If you wind back to January 2022, we were thinking about a return to normal and the economic situation for the line looked good. We set out plans and budgets and forecast what we thought would be reasonable situations.”
