❖ ‘Brit’ joins Royal Scot at SVR gala
Prototype BR ‘7MT’ No. 70000 Britannia is a surprise addition to the Severn Valley Railway’s Autumn Steam Gala locomotive line-up.
Having been re-wheeled at Crewe on July 23 (SR483) and passing its annual boiler inspection on August 23, the Locomotive Services Ltdowned ‘Brit’ will appear at the September 20-23 event subject to the successful completion of its running-in trials (scheduled for the first week of September). The Riddles ‘Pacific’ arrived at the SVR on September 4.
If Britannia is ready in time, the event will mean the Riddles ‘Pacific’ in service once again at its first permanent preservation home, having been based at the SVR from 1971 until 1980 when it moved to the Nene Valley Railway.
It is the second Crewe-based locomotive booked to appear at the gala, as No. 46100 Royal Scot has also been added to the line-up. The rebuilt Stanier ‘7P’ replaces Crewe stablemate ‘Black Five’ No. 45231 ‘The Sherwood Forester’, which was also to have participated in the line’s ‘Last Days of Steam’ event on August 4.
Royal Scot & General Locomotive Trust trustee Peter Greenwood says: “No. 45231 was intended to go to the SVR at the beginning of May to help it with its high season. Owing to the fact that we found many more issues with the locomotive than we expected, this got later and later until we have got to the point where the need for it has passed – except for the September gala, for which we have offered No. 46100 as a worthy substitute.”
Royal Scot and Britannia will join visiting ‘Princess Coronation’ No. 6233 Duchess of Sutherland and ‘Q6’ No. 63395, as well as members of the SVR’s resident steam fleet.