‘StaNdard 4’ to Star at SeverN valley’S SoUtHerN-tHemed Gala
BR ‘4MT’ 2-6-0 No. 76017 is to visit the Severn Valley Railway for its Autumn Steam Gala on September 19-22.
The Mid-Hants Railway-based Riddles ‘Mogul’, a former Eastleigh and Salisbury machine, fits the Southern Region theme planned for the event, to celebrate the return to steam of SVR-based ‘4MT’ 4-6-0 No. 75069 earlier this year.
As this issue went to press, No. 75069 was undergoing repairs after running into a tree and derailing near Highley on July 22, but is expected to be back in action in time for the gala (see page 13).
Other guest locomotives are still to be confirmed. Said SVR events co-ordinator Lewis Maddox: “We’re pursuing two Southern locos, one of which will be making its first visit to the SVR, while the other hasn’t visited for over 25 years. A number of plans have fallen through, hence being later with the announcements than usual.”
It will also be No. 76017’s first appearance on the SVR, and the first BR ‘4MT’ 2-6-0 on the line since the spring of 1998, when No. 76079 was a guest. One of the class – No. 76039 of Oxley shed – was the last steam locomotive to work to Bridgnorth in BR service, with a district engineer’s inspection train on February 22 1966.
Two more locomotives currently on hire to the SVR – ‘Large Prairie’ No. 4144 from Didcot, and ‘Modified Hall’ No. 6960 Raveningham Hall from the West Somerset Railway – are expected to take part in the gala.
From the home fleet, the SVR expects to field ‘14XX’ 0-4-2T No. 1450, ‘28XX’ 2-8-0 No. 2857, ‘15XX’ and ‘57XX’ 0-6-0PTs Nos. 1501 and 7714, ‘West Country’ No. 34027 Taw Valley and Ivatt ‘4MT’ 2-6-0 No. 43106, along with No. 75069.
The two pannier tanks will take charge of the traditional all-night trains on the Friday and Saturday. The timetable also includes early morning non-stop expresses, two local trains between Kidderminster and Hampton Loade, and goods trains during Thursday, Friday and on Saturday evening;
No. 1450 will work single-coach and two-coach autotrains.
Eardington station, a popular vantage point at the foot of the 1-in-100 Eardington Bank, will open its doors for the gala – and will change its appearance throughout the event. On the Friday, Saturday and Sunday, it will first be decorated to reflect the 1900s, before moving to the 1930s around lunchtime, followed by a wartime theme, then the 1950s and finally the 1960s, with a ‘closure notice’ being posted just before the station is locked up.