As well as operational locomotives, a host of artefacts from steam locomotives will be on display at this year’s Spring Steam Gala at the Severn Valley Railway.

The gala is being held over the Easter weekend from Good Friday, the 18th of April until Easter Monday, the 21st of April, and visitors will have the chance to view number and date plates from Locomotion No 1, a locomotive with a unique place in the history of railway travel.

As well as the plates from Locomotion No. 1, a nameplate from Class 9F No. 92220 Evening Star, which was the last steam locomotive built for British Railways in 1960, and the smokebox numberplate from A4 Class Pacific Mallard will be on display on the concourse at Kidderminster Town station.

Evening Star was built in 1960 and Swindon Works, and was the last steam locomotive built for British Railways, whilst Mallard broke the world record for a speed locomotive in 1938, a record that stands today.

Locomotion No. 1 was built in 1825, although it didn’t carry a number or name until at least the 1830s.

The plates are among the oldest tangible links with the original engine and were believed lost until their current owner, David Gray, discovered them in storage.

David’s grandfather Peter Gray was the manager at Darlington Locomotive Works in the 1960s and was presented with them as a gift.

The plates from Locomotion No. 1 will be auctioned in October by Railwayana Auctions UK. Before then, the company is taking them on a tour of railway venues around the UK as part of the Railway 200 celebrations, and the Severn Valley’s Gala is the first venue on the tour.

Operational steam locomotives at the gala include visiting locomotives 45596 Bahamas, 6880 Betton Grange, and another guest locomotive yet to be announced, as well as members of the home fleet including 7802 Bradley Manor, 7812 Erlstoke Manor, 75069, 7714 and 1450.

As well as displaying artefacts at the gala, Railwayana Auctions UK, will be holding a walk-in valuation service.

“Having these unique artefacts together on display for the first time ever at Kidderminster will be a wonderful addition to our Spring Steam Gala. They represent the earliest, last and fastest steam locomotives, and this will be a rare opportunity.”

Jonathan Gus Dunster, Severn Valley Railway managing director