Steam News
DIDCOT’S NEW-BUILD Saint 4-6-0 2999 Lady of Legend is to make its first visit away from the confines of its short demonstration line when it stars at the Severn Valley Railway’s ‘Spring Steam Up’, a four-day event from April 15. Tickets are pre-book only and on sale now.
Due to lockdown, the unique Saint, the culmination of a 45year project by the Great Western Society, has only made a handful of public demonstration runs at Didcot since completion in 2019. With 96 miles of steam travel behind seven different locos, tickets include three round trips of the line, with each leg of the journey hauled by a different loco, including one double-headed leg. The event is also one of the final showcase appearances for 6960 Raveningham Hall, before it is withdrawn pending overhaul. During the gala six SVR-based locos will be used.
Passengers will have use of the same compartment in the same rake all day, but clever planning means that visitors will be able to ride behind every loco running that day. The Severn Valley Railway re-opens on April 2, in time for Easter, with normal running days to follow the SVR’s successful 2020 pattern of ‘social distance’ specials. This includes two departures from Kidderminster and one from Bridgnorth most days. Named ‘The Explorer’, ‘Flyer’ and ‘Adventurer’, they offer a full day out on steam-hauled services, while diesel fans can enjoy the ‘Pioneer’ service, on selected dates.
For the first time since March 2020 Hampton Loade and Arley stations reopen to serve ‘The Explorer’. Departing from Kidderminster, it calls at every station on the line. Stations are only open to passengers. Passengers can only join at Bridgnorth or Kidderminster, and although they can explore some stations, they will remain closed to the general public. The SVR is offering a ‘COVID guarantee’ of refunds if people are unable to travel.