Despite it being three months away, the Severn Valley Railway has announced the first guest locomotive for its Autumn Steam Gala in September.

The gala will take place from Thursday, 17th to Sunday, 20th September, and Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2 tank locomotive No 41313 will travel from the Isle of Wight Steam Railway for its appearance.

This will be both the first time that either 41313 or a locomotive from the Isle of Wight has appeared at the Severn Valley Railway, although 41313 has previously appeared at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

More visiting locomotives for the gala will be announced in the coming weeks, but Severn Valley locomotives scheduled to appear include GWR No 813 0-6-0 Saddle Tank, GWR No. 4930 Hagley Hall, GWR 0-6-2 tank No. 7714, LMS Stanier Class 6P/5F 2-6-0 No. 13268, and BR Standard Class 4 4-6-0 No. 75069

One locomotive expected to appear is the recently restored Great Western Railway (GWR) 2-6-2 Prairie Tank No 4150, provided it completes its final snagging work and testing.

This locomotive is expected to appear at a gala for the first time since preservation. Its return to operational condition is significant because it is the last locomotive in Severn Valley Railway’s fleet to have been rescued from Dai Woodham’s scrapyard at Barry in South Wales and restored.

Although the gala is not till September, later this month, the Severn Valley Railway is stepping back to the 1940s with two weekends of wartime nostalgia.

“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.”

Gus Dunster, Chief Executive Officer, Severn Valley Railway