Spring Diesel Festival
Thursday 14 – Sunday 17 May
The annual Spring Diesel Festival returns – the biggest diesel event around! Tickets can be purchased in advance, saving 10%, or on the day from station Booking Offices.
What to expect at the Spring Diesel Festival? Our four day diesel festival will feature both guest and home-fleet locomotives operating a busy timetable between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth. If you love diesel, this is the place to be! Ride behind every locomotive, visit The Engine House at Highley to break your day, or sample the finest real-ales in our pubs, as you experience the Severn Valley at its loudest!
Diesel Depot Tours TMD tours are for a maximum of eight people and cost £10 per person. The tour takes approximately 1 hour, during which time, you will see everything that is in the TMD. TMD and Carriage Shed tours are for a maximum of eight people and cost £20 per person. The tour takes approximately 2 hours and in that time, you will see everything that is in the TMD and in the Carriage Shed. The Carriage Shed is not usually open to the public. Kidderminster TMD and Carriage Shed are working engineering sites with rails and uneven surfaces. The site is often muddy and dirty with frequent vehicle and train movements. Due to the uneven ground and the amount of walking involved, the tour is not accessible to wheelchair users or people who are not fully mobile without assistance. Stout footwear must be worn (sandals or open-toed shoes will not be allowed). Tours can be booked on the day at the Fifty Fund sales stand on Kidderminster Station Concourse (cash only please).
Deltic Footplate Experiences! There is nothing quite like the sight and sound of a diesel locomotive in full cry! Climb aboard 55009 ‘Alycidon’ and experience the power and surge of adrenaline as you take the controls on our full day experience, including a tour of Kidderminster Diesel Depot! One place left on 12 June (1 place remaining).
A limited number of Working Timetables are available to purchase for £8. They can be purchased online and any remaining copies will be for sale at the Booking Offices on the day, on a first come first served basis.
See what’s open and when during the Festival, with opening times for food, drink and gift shops.
The stars of the show:
- Class 35 Hymek D7018, courtesy of DEPG.
- Class 55 Deltic 55009 ‘Alycidon’, courtesy of The Deltic Preservation Society.
- Class 56 56049, courtesy of Colas. (56049 expected)
- Class 57/0 57010, courtesy of West Coast Railways.
- Class 57/3 57306, courtesy of GBRf.
- Class 57/6 57604, courtesy of GWR.
- Class 59 59001, courtesy of Heavy Haul Rail.
- Class 67 67006, courtesy of DB Cargo.
-
Class 14 D9551
-
Class 17 D8568
-
Class 20s 20048, 20189, 20142 Courtesy of Michael Owen and 20189 Ltd.
-
Class 33 33108
-
Class 42 D821
-
Class 46 46045
-
Class 50 50033 ‘Glorious’
-
Class 52 D1015 ‘Western Champion’
-
Class 101 or 108 DMU
All locomotives appear subject to availability and traffic requirements, and may be subject to change without notice.
The Greatest Gathering Presentation
We’re delighted to be joined by James Dobson and Jonathan “Gus” Dunster, FCIRO, from the Greatest Gathering organising team, who will share an illustrated talk at The Engine House on how they planned and delivered the largest ever railway event in the UK in Derby in August 2025. The Greatest Gathering Presentation takes place on Thursday 14 May.
Prices from:
Important Information:
- One, two, three and four day rover tickets available.
- Tickets can be purchased in advance, saving 10%, or on the day from station Booking Offices.
- Day Rovers are the only ticket type available, short journey and single tickets are not available.
- Passengers can occupy 1st class seats without being charged a supplement.
- SVR Shareholder and working members passes – valid.
- SVR Member discounts available.
- SVR Unlimited Pass upgrades payable.
- Ex-BR & LT Staff, Train Operating Companies Staff, Network Railway Staff Priv Travel Passes and Heritage Railway Association Inter-Rail Pass – not valid.
- Reciprocal Travel Scheme – on production of valid Staff Pass from a Railway in our Reciprocal Travel Scheme, you are entitled to travel at the SVR Member Rate. Only available from the Booking Office on the day of your visit.
