SPRING is in the air – and with it the traditional steam gala season, offering plenty of interest for enthusiasts on several standard gauge heritage railways.
The Swanage Railway’s March 24-26 Spring Steam Gala is to feature two visiting BR ‘Standard’ locos – Locomotive Services Group’s BR ‘7MT’ Pacific No. 70000 Britannia and BR ‘4MT’ 2-6-0 No. 76084 from the North Norfolk Railway.
Alongside the resident loco fleet including SR Bulleid Pacifics No. 34028 Eddystone and No. 34070 Manston and SR ‘U’ No. 31806, the visiting loco will haul trains along almost the entire length of the branch line – from Swanage to the River Frome and back – almost 10 miles each way.
The North Norfolk Railway has confirmed that Swanage Railway-based SR Bulleid Pacific No. 34028 Eddystone is to star in the line’s April 14-16 Spring Steam Gala. The Pacific will work alongside home fleet locos which include GER ‘Y14’ 0-6-0 No. 564, BR ‘4MT’ 2-6-0 No. 76084, BR ‘9F’ 2-10-0 No. 92203 Black Prince, Somerset & Dorset ‘7F’ No. 53809 and WD 2-10-0 No. 90775 The Royal Norfolk Regiment. While the exact loco line-up is due to vary each day, the intensive timetable will feature selected double-heading, nonstop expresses, local stoppers and demonstration goods trains.
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The Great Western Society’s 4-6-0 No. 4079 will be headlining the Severn Valley Railway’s (SVR) GWR-themed April 14-16 Spring
