A special newly-built locomotive will make its debut appearance at the Severn Valley Railway's Spring Steam Gala.

The 6880 ‘Betton Grange’ will appear at the event, held Thursday 18 to Sunday, April 21, for its first gala appearance after completing construction at the Tyseley Locomotive Works in Birmingham.

Betton Grange is the only representative of the Grange class, with all original 80 locomotives having been scrapped by British Rail by the end of 1965.

 

 

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Managing director of SVR, Jonathan ‘Gus’ Dunster, said: "We are extremely pleased to be hosting the Gala debut of such an important engine.

"It really is incredible to think that this will be the first time a Grange class will have been seen in service for 59 years, and we know it’s going to be a big draw.

"We’re very grateful to the 6880 Betton Grange Society for allowing the Severn Valley Railway to host their loco’s first Gala appearance.”

Other locomotives joining the line-up include Terrier No 72 ‘Fenchurch’ and Lambton Tank No 29.

Mr Dunster also teased the sight of a Grange on a Great Western Railway line, which would be the first since the mid-1960s.

Mr Dunster concluded: "It looks like, once again, we’ve got a cracker of a Gala to deliver, and we’re very much hoping to build on the success we had last year."