TWO ‘64XXS’ TURN SVR GALA INTO AUTO EXTRAVAGANZA
Having already signed up Llangollen-based No. 6430 for its branch line-themed ‘Spring Steam Gala’ of March 18-20, the SVR has now added the South Devon Railway’s No. 6412 to the mix. Both are making their preservation debuts at the SVR, although No. 6430 has visited the area previously, having been allocated new to Kidderminster in March 1937. With resident ‘14XX’ 0-4-2T No. 1450 to be in steam for auto-trains between intermediate stations, it will be the first time that the SVR has had three auto-fitted locomotives in operation. It is also planned to doublehead the two ‘64XXs’, which - because the DVR stripped No. 6430 for spares - have run together only once before in preservation, at the South Devon Railway’s May 2006 gala. A third GWR-design locomotive making its first SVR appearance at the gala is BR-built ‘Modified Hall’ No. 6990 Witherslack Hall, on its first ‘away’ visit from its Great Central Railway base since returning to steam last July. The main attraction from the home fleet is recently-overhauled ‘Manor’ No. 7802 Bradley Manor, returned to steam at the ‘Cambrian 50’ mini-gala last November. The fourth guest is former Corris Railway
TWO OF the three preserved Collett ‘64XX’ pannier tanks that were saved for the Dart Valley Railway in the 1960s are to be brought together by another ‘elder statesman’ preserved line the Severn Valley.
0-4-2ST No. 4 Edward Thomas, the second locomotive to visit the SVR from the Talyllyn Railway, after sister engine No. 3 Sir Haydn in 2013. On that occasion, the diminutive saddle tank was displayed on a wagon and was hauled in the demonstration goods train - but this time, Edward Thomas will be in steam on a temporary length of 2ft 3in gauge track.