HERITAGE RAILWAY

Summertime – and the living should be steamy! Following the relaxation of lockdown restrictions in the wake of falling Covid-19 infection rates and the success of the national vaccination programme, the Severn Valley Railway is set to go ahead with its showpiece Spring Steam Up gala on April 15-18, at which, as we reported last issue, the star guest will be new-build GWR Saint 4-6-0 No.2999 Lady of Legend, pictured running on the demonstration line at its Didcot Railway Centre home on July 26 last year, as a family enjoys a picnic while savouring the view. The event is already more than 60% sold out, with passengers booking travel in their own private compartments – theirs for the whole day. Meanwhile, Didcot’s popular Steam Days will resume on April 14 and take place at weekends and on Wednesdays, again with compartment carriages allowing each group of visitors to be accommodated in their own individual spaces for the trips on the demonstration line. FRANK DUMBLETON