The Severn Valley Railway has confirmed that Bagnall No. 401 ‘Vulcan' will be visiting them for the gala, which is set to take place between the 14th and 17th September.
Vulcan, which spent time working at Austin Motor Company's Longbridge Works in the early 1970s, is the first Bagnall steam locomotive to visit the Severn Valley Railway.
401 visits thanks to The North Tyneside Steam Railway and the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway.
Vulcan joins visiting LNER B1 No. 61306 Mayflower at the gala, as well as the SVR's home fleet of locomotives.
“It will be real pleasure to welcome this particular guest,” said SVR managing director Jonathan ‘Gus' Dunster. “The class was commissioned in the early 1950s to compete with the diesel shunters that were growing in number and usage. It featured what was very modern technology at the time, such as roller bearings, Walschaerts valve gear and a rocking grate. They were notorious for their rough riding, and got the nickname ‘camel class'. We're delighted to be welcoming the first-ever Bagnall locomotive to the SVR!”
I would absolutely love to go to the SVR’s Autumn Steam Gala but my 7.25″ gauge locomotive is taking part in an event that weekend!