Visitors to the Severn Valley Railway’s Autumn Steam Gala will be able to enjoy an evocative glimpse into the line’s pre-preservation days, with the announcement of a third visiting locomotive for the four-day spectacular.
GWR Small Prairie No 5526 will visit the Railway between 17 and 20 September, courtesy of the South Devon Railway. It joins an impressive line-up of guest locomotives for one of the SVR’s most anticipated events of the year.
The popular tank engine will make a fitting companion to the SVR’s own newly overhauled GWR Large Prairie No 4150, which is expected to make its gala debut following restoration. Together with previously announced visitors Ivatt Class 2MT No 41313 and GWR Pannier Tank No 9681, the line-up promises to recreate the atmosphere of the Severn Valley in the years before preservation.
The 45xx and 4575 class Prairie tanks were synonymous with branch line operations across much of the Great Western Railway network, making No 5526 an ideal addition to this year’s pre-preservation theme. It will be only the second time the locomotive has visited the SVR.
Gus Dunster, the SVR’s chief executive officer, said: “We’re delighted to welcome No 5526 to the Autumn Steam Gala and are very grateful to our friends at the South Devon Railway for making the visit possible.
“Our aim this year is to transport visitors back to the Severn Valley of old, and this latest announcement helps us do exactly that. Seeing a Small Prairie working alongside our own beautifully restored Large Prairie No 4150, together with our other guest locomotives, will create some wonderful sights and sounds for enthusiasts and families alike.”
The Autumn Steam Gala will feature an intensive timetable of guest and home-fleet steam locomotives operating on the 16-mile line between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth. Visitors can break their journey with a visit to The Engine House at Highley, or relax in the Railway’s pubs while enjoying one of the SVR’s busiest steam events of the year.
Gus added: “We also have one more visiting locomotive still to announce, so there’s even more to look forward to.”
Further information and advance tickets are available at svr.co.uk.