The Severn Valley Railway is celebrating after receiving the Chairman’s Special Award at the 2026 Heritage Railway Association awards in Llandudno on Saturday 7 March. This was given in recognition of the tremendous team effort by volunteers, staff and partnership organisations in reinstating the railway after the devastating Mor Brook bridge collapse last year.
The Chairman’s Special Award is only occasionally presented at the discretion of the HRA chairman, for a stand-out entry that “no other award can really do justice to.”
Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, the HRA chairman, said:
“After suffering a devastating landslip at Mor Brook, severing the railway into two, the railway was told it could take nine to 12 months to recover, but in reality the line was reinstated in only six months. A significant achievement and, with remedial works taking just eight weeks, the railway then welcomed 60103 Flying Scotsman to reopen the line on a date that was thought impossible when the landslip took place.”
As he accepted the award with other representatives of the SVR team, managing director Gus Dunster said:
“I’m immensely proud of the whole team across the Severn Valley Railway, who triumphed last year in the face of extreme adversity. We are delighted to have won the Chairman’s Special Award for the team of SVR volunteers, staff, and the numerous industry partners that achieved the daunting task of reinstating our railway after the devastating damage at Mor Brook in 2025.
“It was also fantastic that one of our young volunteers, Jack Baldwin, was nominated in the Rising Star Award category and was highly commended for his work in engineering and for his project management and leadership skills working on the HydroShunter project, a joint venture with Vanguard Sustainable Transport Solutions. Jack is a major young talent who I am certain will go on to make a significant contribution to this industry in his career.”
Another two SVR entries were highly commended; the unique restoration of Great Western Railway coach No 9581 into an accessible buffet and saloon car for the Rolling Stock award, and the Boogie Lights Express for Innovation of the Year award.