THE Severn Valley Railway has confirmed that USATC No 2253 ‘Omaha’ and LMS No 41312 will join the line-up of guest and home locomotives at its forthcoming Autumn Steam Gala.

The event takes place between September 14 and 17 and will continue the SVR’s celebration of the 100th anniversary of the formation of the ‘Big Four’ railway companies.

The former United States Army Transport Corps S 160 locomotive No 2253 looks set to be a big crowd-puller at the four-day event.

It was built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in America in 1943 and was shipped to Britain as part of the US Army’s war effort. It worked on the LNER from its base at Neville Hill depot at Leeds.

By 1944, it had been shipped to France, to maintain supply lines and support the advancing Allied armies. After the Second World War, it was bought by the Polish State Railway, and worked continually until its withdrawal in 1980.

The fourth and final guest locomotive at the SVR’s Autumn Steam Gala, LMS No 41312, is an Ivatt design, introduced in 1946, and built in May 1952. It spent its entire main line working career on the Southern region.

Two guest locomotives have already been announced, Class B1 61306 ‘Mayflower’ and industrial locomotive No 401 ‘Vulcan’. The four guests join the SVR-based LMS No 43106 ‘The Flying Pig’ as it makes its last Gala appearance before going out of ticket, along with GWR 4930 ‘Hagley Hall’, GWR 7714, SR No 21C127 ‘Taw Valley’, BR No 75069 and other home fleet engines.

For more details and to book tickets please visit svr.co.uk.