Severn Valley Railway has announced more guest locomotives for its Spring Diesel Festival between 18 and 21 May.
Class 37 37263 and Class 20 20189 are to join the ever-growing roster for the event.
- Class 37 37263 was built in 1965, and visits from Telford Steam Railway.
- Class 20 20189 will join classmate 20048 courtesy of Class 20189 Limited and Michael Owen.
The event will also feature locomotives on static display:
- Class 20 20142, also courtesy of Michael Owen
- A Class 73/9
The four-day festival will celebrate five decades of diesel preservation, and will also feature SVR home fleet, D821, the first diesel to enter preservation fifty years ago.
The confirmed list for the event includes fifteen different classes, both in preservation and currently in main line operation.
- D821 and Class 33108 will appear at the event in brand new liveries, following extensive overhauls.
Tickets, including money-saving multi-day rovers, are available from the SVR website.
Severn Valley Railway, which is based in Kidderminster, said, “We've worked hard to deliver a line-up that's worthy of such a momentous occasion as the 50th anniversary of diesel preservation. And I think everyone will agree, we've certainly delivered on that!
“This is a diesel event on a scale that hasn't been previously seen and we're looking forward to welcoming passengers from across the enthusiast fraternity to join us in celebrating the work and dedication of diesel preservationists over the years. Plus there's the chance to clock up some serious mileage behind our impressive selection of locomotives.”
As it has been mentioned in the latest edition of Steam Rail mag, the SVR need boat loads of money, for repairs to things on the line and just to keep it running.
They hope lots of people will go to the gala and spend precious money, but am wondering could it be that the SVR is the first Heritage line that has to close, I hope not.