THE SEVERN Valley Railway (SVR) is celebrating after receiving a prestigious award for the work to restore Mor Brook bridge after its devastating collapse last year, writes Ellie Taylor.
The Chairman’s Special Award was presented at the 2026 Heritage Railway Association (HRA) awards in Llandudno last Saturday.
The accolade is only occasionally presented at the discretion of HRA chairman, Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, who described the reinstating of the railway as ‘a significant achievement’.
It recognises the tremendous team effort from volunteers, staff and partnership organisations to reinstate the railway in only six months after it was severed into two.
The SVR was told the railway was told it could take nine to 12 months to recover.
Gus Dunster, managing director of the SVR team, said: “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.”
Jack Baldwin, a volunteer at the SVR, was nominated in the Rising Star Award category for his work on the HydroShunter project, a joint venture with Vanguard Sustainable Transport Solutions.
Gus said: “Jack is a major young talent who I am certain will go on to a make a significant contribution to this industry in his career.”
Two further SVR entries were highly commended, the restoration of Great Western Railway coach No 9581 for the Rolling Stock award, and the Boogie Lights Express for Innovation of the Year award.
