The Severn Valley Railway is delighted to announce the debut appearance of GWR Class No. 2999 Lady of Legend at its season-opening Spring Steam Gala from April 16th-19th.
The SVR is the first heritage railway to welcome the much-anticipated ‘new-re-build’ locomotive following its completion last year at Didcot Railway Centre.
Dubbed the ‘78th Saint’, Lady of Legend is the first new example of George Jackson Churchward’s Edwardian Saint class 4-6-0 locomotives to be built since 1913. The iconic design influenced almost all subsequent British steam locomotive development, yet the last ‘Saint’ was scrapped in 1953.
Seventeen years on, a project was launched by the Great Western Society to re-create a ‘Saint’. As none were saved for preservation, No. 4942 Maindy Hall was purchased to be used as a base for one. Last year, No. 2999 Lady of Legend was completed.
Brian Malyon, SVR Gala Chairman, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be bringing Lady of Legend to the SVR and are sure that it will really draw the crowds, just as ‘new’ locomotive Tornado has done during its very popular visits to the Railway.
The Spring Steam Gala will run for four days in its new April slot, and will feature up to four visiting locomotives in action alongside its homefleet.
For more, see www.svr.co.uk call 01562 757900 or visit the Severn Valley Railway Official Site or Families pages on Facebook.