‘LARGE PRAIRIE’ AND ‘4MT’ TANK FOR ‘WATERCRESS LINE’ GALA

GWR ‘Large Prairie’ No. 5199 and BR ‘4MT’ 2-6-4T No. 80078 have joined the guest list for the Mid-Hants Railway’s Autumn Steam Gala on October 19-21.

The Llangollen-based ‘5101’ 2-6-2T will be making its first appearance on the ‘Watercress Line’, while the Standard tank – which previously visited the railway for the ‘End of Southern Steam’ gala in July 2017 – is returning to the hire circuit after receiving a new cylinder (SR484).

Already confirmed for the event was BR-built ‘Manor’ No. 7822 Foxcote Manor, which will also be making its debut on the MHR’s ‘Alps’, and recalling the use of the Collett 4-6-0s on the Reading-Redhill route in steam days.

Locomotives expected to be in steam from the home fleet are Maunsell ‘Schools’ 4-4-0 No. 925 Cheltenham, Ivatt ‘2MT’ 2-6-2T No. 41312, Riddles ‘4MT’ 2-6-0 No. 76017 and ‘9F’ 2-10-0 No. 92212.