The Severn Valley Railway has announced two g for its Spring Steam Gala on 21st - 24th April.

GWR 2999 ‘Lady of Legend’ and LB&SCR A1X Terrier class 2678 will join other special guests and popular locos from the railway’s home fleet for the four-day event.

The new-build 2999 Saint class ‘Lady of Legend’ will return to the SVR from Didcot Railway Centre, following its much-anticipated debut at last year’s Spring Steam Up. It took the Great Western Society more than 45 years to build and is the only locomotive of its type in existence.

Locomotive 2678 is the only Terrier that’s ever run on the SVR, and it hasn’t visited since 2003’s Autumn Steam Gala. Only three Terrier class engines remain in preservation, and 2678’s appearance will be courtesy of the Terrier Trust and Kent & East Sussex Railway.

Weighing in at around 68 and 28 tons respectively, the guest pair are set to be a real ‘little and large’ duo, both making a big impact with visiting passengers.

SVR home fleet members 43106 ‘The Flying Pig’, 75069, 813, 7714, 1501 along with 71516 ‘Welsh Guardsman’ will accompany 2999 and 2678.

The SVR will announce further guest locomotives in the coming weeks, and promises a bumper Steam Gala event. Services will run traditionally, following the relaxation of Covid measures, with passengers free to hop on and off at all SVR stations as they wish.

Michael Dunn, head of visitor experience said: “This is the first ‘normal’ Steam Gala we’ve been able to put on since 2019, and we want to offer an outstanding enthusiast event with a wide variety of motive power.

“We’re particularly pleased to see 2999 return to the SVR after its popular visit last year, allowing even more people to see this impressive feat of engineering. It’s testament to our talented team that the Great Western Society Limited are allowing ‘Lady of Legend’ to return.

“In due course, we’ll be announcing even more guests, and we’re certain that our line-up this year will put the Severn Valley Railway’s Spring Steam Gala at the top of the calendar!”

The guest loco announcement comes on the back of the return of Multi-Day Rover tickets for the Gala events, offering passengers the opportunity to save money against one-day visits. Further savings can be made by purchasing tickets in advance, rather than on-the-day.

Tickets are available for the Spring Steam Gala now at svr.co.uk or by calling 01562 757 900.