1920s locomotive to star at Severn Valley Railway gala

A locomotive synonymous with branch line operations across the Great Western Railway network is the latest guest train confirmed to appear at a steam railway gala later this year.

Courtesy of the South Devon Railway, the GWR Small Prairie No 5526 will visit Severn Valley Railway's Autumn Steam Gala between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth in September.

It is the third visiting locomotive to be announced for the event from September 17 to 20, joining the Ivatt Class 2MT No 41313 and GWR Pannier Tank No 9681.

Built in Swindon in 1928, the GWR Small Prairie No 5526 will join Severn Valley Railway's own, newly overhauled GWR Large Prairie No 4150 which is expected to make its gala debut following restoration.

The Prairie tanks were synonymous with branch line operations across much of the Great Western Railway network and this will be only the second time the No 5526 has visited the railway.

The Autumn Steam Gala will have a timetable of guest and home-fleet steam locomotives operating on the 16-mile line between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth.

Severn Valley Railway's chief executive Gus Dunster said: "We're delighted to welcome No 5526 to the Autumn Steam Gala and are very grateful to our friends at the South Devon Railway for making the visit possible.

Sign up for our daily email newsletters here

"Our aim this year is to transport visitors back to the Severn Valley of old and this latest announcement helps us do exactly that.

"Seeing a Small Prairie working alongside our own beautifully restored Large Prairie No 4150, together with our other guest locomotives, will create some wonderful sights and sounds for enthusiasts and families alike.

"We also have one more visiting locomotive still to announce so there's even more to look forward to."