The Severn Valley Railway is delighted to announce the second guest locomotive confirmed for its Autumn Steam Gala, taking place from 17 to 20 September 2026, with BR(W) Pannier Tank 9681 set to make a rare visit away from its long-time home on the Dean Forest Railway.
The appearance of 9681 represents a particularly significant occasion in preservation. It will be almost 30 years since the locomotive last operated away from the Dean Forest Railway.
SVR chief executive officer Gus Dunster said:
“We’re absolutely delighted to confirm 9681 is coming for our Autumn Steam Gala and are extremely grateful to the Dean Forest Locomotive Group and the Dean Forest Railway for making this special visit possible.
“The locomotive’s appearance is particularly significant because opportunities to see No 9681 away from its home railway are exceptionally rare. It will be almost three decades since its last visit elsewhere, making this a genuinely noteworthy occasion for enthusiasts and photographers alike.
“Perhaps most exciting of all will be the opportunity to see 9681 paired with our own BR black pannier tank 7714. With 7714 due for overhaul soon, this could represent the last opportunity for many years to witness two BR black panniers working together on the Severn Valley Railway. We’re sure it will be one of the highlights of the gala.”
During the four-day event, 9681 will be rostered on a variety of passenger workings and is scheduled to operate alongside SVR resident 7714, including on a special double-headed service that is expected to be a major attraction for visitors.
Built at GWR’s Swindon Works in 1949, No 9681 is a member of the 5700 class of pannier tanks, one of Britain’s most successful and numerous locomotive designs. Developed for a wide range of duties, the class became synonymous with branch line, shunting and local freight work across the Western Region.
The locomotive was rescued from Barry Scrapyard in 1975 by the Forest Pannier Tank Fund, an organisation established specifically to secure its future. The fund later became the Dean Forest Locomotive Group in 1998 and has since overseen several successful periods of operation for the locomotive. The Group also owns fellow pannier tanks Nos 9682 and 5541.
No 9681 joins Isle of Wight Steam Railway’s Ivatt Class 2 tank locomotive 41313 in the growing list of visiting engines for the 2026 Autumn Steam Gala. Subject to successful testing and the completion of final snagging work, the event is also expected to feature the gala debut of the newly restored GWR Prairie tank 4150, alongside an impressive selection of other locomotives from the SVR’s home fleet.
With two guest locomotives now confirmed and further announcements expected in the coming weeks, the Severn Valley Railway’s Autumn Steam Gala is already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated heritage railway events of 2026.
Further details, including timetables and ticket information, are available at svr.co.uk and additional guest locomotive announcements will be released in due course.