Guest 1950s locomotive to star at Severn Valley Railway gala
Ivatt Class 2 tank locomotive is the first confirmed guest train to be appearing at the Autumn Steam Gala in September
A locomotive from the 1950s will feature in a steam rally later this year.
The Ivatt Class 2 tank locomotive No 41313 is the first confirmed guest train to be appearing at Severn Valley Railway's Autumn Steam Gala between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth in September.
Built at Crewe Works in 1952, No 41313 is one of George Ivatt's versatile Class 2 2-6-2 tank locomotives, originally designed for the London, Midland and Scottish Railway.
It was intended for light passenger and mixed-traffic duties and incorporated advanced labour-saving features more commonly associated with larger locomotives, including hopper ashpans and rocking grates.
The design also featured 1,350-gallon side tanks and a distinctive sloping bunker that improved rearward visibility for crews. No 41313 entered service in May 1952 at Brighton before moving to Exmouth Junction.
The locomotive will be appearing courtesy of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, marking several notable milestones including its first ever appearance at Severn Valley Railway and the first visit by an Isle of Wight-based locomotive to the line.
It will also become only the third member of the Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2 tank family to visit Severn Valley Railway in preservation.
The railway said it was pleased to be able to make this announcement at such an early stage in its preparations for the gala and it expected to reveal further visiting locomotives in the coming weeks.
Chief executive Gus Dunster said: "We're delighted to announce our first guest locomotive for the Autumn Steam Gala so early in the planning process.
"No 41313 will be making history as the first locomotive from the Isle of Wight Steam Railway to visit the Severn Valley Railway and we're very grateful to our colleagues there for making this possible.
"Combined with the anticipated gala debut of our newly restored Prairie tank GWR No 4150, and a strong home fleet line-up, 41313 is a fantastic addition to the event. We're continuing to work hard behind the scenes on further guest locomotive arrangements and hope to be able to share more exciting news with enthusiasts very soon."
During the Autumn Steam Gala, 41313 will work alongside the recently restored GWR Prairie No 4150, which, subject to successful testing and the completion of final snagging work, is expected to make its first gala appearance in preservation.
The gala takes place from September 17 to 20.
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