Arrivals and departures at new Severn Valley winter steam gala
THERE WILL be several locomotives making their debuts and finales at the Severn Valley Railway’s forthcoming Winter Steam Gala on January 6/7.
The event is a new addition to the SVR’s calendar for 2024, joining the regular Spring and Autumn Steam Galas (planned for April 18-21 and September 19-22 respectively). Although the Winter Steam Gala will primarily be a home fleet event, it is also set to feature visiting USATC ‘S160’ 2-8-0 No. 2253 ‘Omaha’. The 1943-built locomotive, appearing courtesy of the Dartmouth Steam Railway, has been at the SVR since September, when it arrived ahead of its appearance at this year’s Autumn Steam Gala; the January event will be its final workings on the SVR before returning to Devon.
Also taking a bow at the gala will be SVR-based Ivatt ‘Class 4’ 2-6-0 No. 43106, making its final appearance prior to the expiry of its boiler ‘ticket’, and ‘West Country’ No. 21C127 Taw Valley.
The Bulleid ‘Pacific’ is set to enter
Bridgnorth works after the gala for an intermediate overhaul and repaint back into authentic BR lined green livery as No. 34027.
Making its public debut following its recent overhaul will be the SVR’s resident Stanier ‘5MT’ 2-6-0 No. 2968, which steamed for the first time since 2012 on October 19 (SR551). After the gala, the 1934-built 2-6-0 will enter the paint shop, where it will be repainted into its original LMS guise as No. 13268, never seen before in preservation. Another returnee will be ‘Manor’ No. 7812 Erlestoke Manor, making its first appearance on the SVR since returning from its period on loan to the West Somerset Railway for much of 2023.
Also in action will be ‘57XX’ 0-6-0PT No. 7714 on local services between Bewdley-Highley and HighleyBridgnorth, and BR ‘4MT’ 4-6-0
No. 75069, which will be working the 3.05pm departure from Bewdley to Bridgnorth on the Sunday only.