The Swanage Railway has announced that GWR Grange No. 6880 Betton Grange will be visiting them for their Spring Steam Gala.

The gala will run from the 27th March until the 29th March.

6880, which is usually based at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway, visits thanks to the 6880 Betton Grange Society.

Betton Grange will haul trains alongside already announced visitors, 68067 and WD152 Rennes, as well as the home fleet of 34072 ‘257 Squadron’, 34070 ‘Manston’, 31806 and 563 as well as mainline resident, 34028 Eddystone.

“We are delighted to be hosting the first steam locomotive to be built to a Great Western Railway Company design since the early 1950s. Constructed between 1998 and 2024, No. 6880 ‘Betton Grange’ is a remarkable engineering achievement and a fine steam locomotive.

“Built in the early 1940s, the two wartime saddle tank Austerity steam locomotives also have a fascinating history and played an important part in hauling vital freight trains during the Second World War before going on to have busy railway careers with the coming of peace.

“We are delighted to be able to offer enthusiasts, and the public, such a wide variety of steam locomotives at work through the beautiful Isle of Purbeck countryside and past the dramatic ruins of Corfe Castle.

“I would like to thank all the dedicated volunteers who have worked so hard to plan and stage such a complicated event as our seven steam locomotive Spring Steam Gala which promises to be a wonderful and evocative taste of yesteryear,”

Spring Steam Gala organising committee chairman Alexander Atkins