Percy Bear

25/03/2026

2857’s boiler has been lifted off with a big crane and is getting cleaned up in the boiler shop before the metal can be tested for any cracks. The rust is cleaned off with a needle gun which is very noisy and bits of metal ping off in all directions. I am allowed to watch if I wear my ear protectors and safety glasses and don’t get in the way 🐾

16/11/2025

Today my friends took the engine’s jacket off! All the metal sheets which cover the boiler, and all the stuffing underneath (they call it lagging) which stops the heat escaping from the boiler.
Brrrr she looks chilly now 🥶

15/11/2025

Well done to Sara Cox and Bear for completing their marathon madness for , £9.5 million raised by completing five marathons in five days!

11/11/2025

Go Pudsey! From one bear to another I wish you and Sara the best of luck for your amazing 135 mile trek this week for Children In Need. I hope you don’t get too soggy, it looks like it might rain a bit today.

19/04/2025

Having a lovely day at the Spring Steam Gala, come along to say Hello! I’m just enjoying a little tester of our fabulous 2857 beer brewed by Bewdley Brewery.

28/03/2025

Well this is exciting! A big day out to look forward to in June 🐾

Be the first to visit Inspiration, the Railway 200 Exhibition Train! As part of our Railway200 celebrations, a new and unique exhibition train is due to open to the public on 27 June.

The touring train, named Inspiration, is expected to visit 60 locations across Britain over 12 months up to summer 2026. Curated in partnership with the National Railway Museum, it will be the only exhibition train on the rail network and will promote the past, present and future of the railway, helping to attract the next generation of pioneering talent.

Get your FREE tickets now! https://svr.co.uk/event/railway-200-celebrations/

24/02/2025

Oooooh that was a new experience! I visited Jones Metals with my friends to take all the steel tubes out of 2857’s boiler to be recycled. I was so scared I stayed in the van and watched all the action from a safe distance. The tubes will be melted down and made into something new and useful again.

19/02/2025

The Best Day! My friend and I rode in the cab of Earlstoke Manor today. The driver and fireman told us all about how the controls work to make the engine move and we were allowed to toot the whistle before we moved off. We also learned about waiting for the right signal to go back down the line. Thankyou Severn Valley Railway, what a very special trip!

18/02/2025

I got to see 2857 today at her temporary home at Kidderminster where we are allowed to do noisy jobs on her. All the old tubes from the boiler are out on the floor, I lost count but there are an awful lot. Some of them are very heavy so they were chopped in half. Not by me, the on/off switch on the grinder is hard to operate safely with these paws 🐾

08/02/2025

Only eleven sleeps until my very first cab ride! 🧸🚂🛤️

This February half term break, enjoy a short footplate ride on-board one of our historic steam locomotives at Bridgnorth.

Available on selected dates, join the driver and fireman in the cab for 10 minutes to experience life on-board the locomotive. You’ll even blow the whistle! The rides will last for approximately 10 minutes as you travel up and down platform at Bridgnorth on-board GWR 1450.

Footplate rides are available for a maximum of two participants (aged 8+) per slot, for £20.00 per person. Children aged 16 and under must be accompanied by a parent/guardian

Although we can’t currently operate trains to/from Bridgnorth following the embankment collapse, it would be great to see you at Bridgnorth and the team there look forward to welcoming you.

https://svr.co.uk/event/footplate-rides-at-bridgnorth/

📸 David Bissett

05/01/2025

I had a fun day today helping my friends at Kidderminster Station to sell some of our woolly hats to raise money to fix our engine. They even let me wear one for the day. I was actually very hot what with all my bear fluff too, but I didn’t say anything because they all seemed to be complaining about it being rather cold.