Three modern freight locomotives set to join busy SVR diesel festival

THREE modern freight locomotives are scheduled to join visiting Class 44 D4 Great Gable and Class 46 No. 46045 at the Severn Valley Railway’s May 19-22 Spring Diesel Festival.

The exact locomotives were still to be decided as we closed for press, but the trio will include a Class 66 or 68 from Direct Rail Services, a Class 67 from DB Cargo and a Class 69 from GBRailfreight.

No. 69001 was tested at the SVR in 2021, and one of the fleet will return to the line to haul its first passenger services. The Class 67 will be making its first-ever visit to an SVR gala-style event.

The modern visitors will be joined by three Class 50s, two Class 52s, Class 40 No. 40106, Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9851 and Clayton Class 17 D8568, which is still in blue livery.

Class 31 No. 31466 remains at the SVR following its appearance at the 2021 Autumn Diesel Bash and will work services during the May festival. The railway hoped to announce two further visiting locomotives in due course.

The festival comes on the back of a busy start to the season for the SVR with more than 7000 visitors attending the Spring Steam Gala in April (feature – pages 48-53). Tickets can be booked at svr.co.uk