The guest list has grown for the Severn Valley Railway’s Autumn Steam Gala, as the railway confirmed LMS Jinty 47298 will join the roster at the four-day event between 18 and 21 September.
Jonathan ‘Gus’ Dunster, the SVR’s managing director said:
“It’s a pleasure to announce that 47298 will be appearing at our event, particularly as it will be the first Jinty that’s run on the line since 2012. We’re extremely grateful to the East Lancashire Railway for allowing it to appear.
“For the SVR’s 60th anniversary year, we want to make sure our Autumn Steam Gala is very much one not to be missed, and part of that is putting together a guest list of locos that have never been to us before.”
The Jinty joins the already-announced first time visitors Merchant Navy 35006 ‘Peninsular and Oriental S N & Co’, BR Standard Class 5 73082 ‘Camelot’ and NCB No 49, as well as an impressive line-up of the SVR’s home fleet. This includes 4930 ‘Hagley Hall’, 7714, 7802 ‘Bradley Manor’, 13268, 75069 and 1450 operating as an Autotrain.
Additionally, the SVR-based GWR Port Talbot Tank 813 will make a welcome return to traffic following overhaul. It will appear in temporary NCB livery as No 11, offering a rare opportunity to be seen without its brass safety valve bonnet and cabside numbers. It will be re-painted in its GWR livery in due course.
In a special move to celebrate the SVR’s 60th anniversary year, the railway will mount an overnight running operation on both the Friday and Saturday nights of the event, with the line in continuous operation for 60 hours, from early Friday morning to mid-evening on Sunday.
Advance tickets are discounted by up to 10% and great value multi-day rovers are available at svr.co.uk.