I was among more than 5000 people who turned up to travel on the Severn Valley Railway during its eagerly-expected Spring Steam Gala. I joined the first train south from Highley at 9.20am on April 14 and it was already packed: riding later trains, it appeared there was no reduction in passenger numbers. There was a tremendous lead-up to the gala that had all departments working flat-out to ensure its success. Organising a gala with visiting engines is no easy task and it fell on the shoulders of the Bridgnorth Shed staff to ensure that all locomotives performed to the highest standards.
The star of the event was undoubtedly GWR 4-6-0 No. 4079 appearing on service trains for the first time on a heritage line away from its Didcot Railway Centre home. After arriving on April 6 on
