fbpx
The Official Tourism Website for Shropshire

The Severn Valley Railway has announced that the first guest locomotive for its Autumn Steam Gala will be LMS Stanier Class 5, No. 45231 ‘Sherwood Forester’, as it opened advanced ticket sales for the event.

The ‘Black Five’ will be making its debut at the SVR courtesy of Locomotive Services Group at the Gala which runs 15th – 18th September. It has never hauled passenger services on the railway before, although it has visited hauling a chartered service.

Alongside ‘Sherwood Forester’, the SVR’s flagship locomotive, No. 4930 ‘Hagley Hall’ will make a triumphant return to the loco roster, as it re-enters traffic for the first time in 36 years following a £1.3million overhaul.

Other home fleet locos will include GWR No. 7714, LMS No. 43106 ‘The Flying Pig’ and BR Riddles No. 75069. Two SVR-based locos will be making their final Gala appearances before their boiler tickets expire – GWR No. 2857 and BR(W) No. 1501 – and the SVR’s now-famous purple locomotive SR No. 70 ‘Elizabeth II’ will also join the line-up.

The SVR will announce two further guest locomotives as soon as these are confirmed.

Michael Dunn, head of commercial and visitor experience, said: “Following a bumper Spring Steam Gala with more than 5,000 visitors, we wanted to ensure our Autumn event will be just as popular with enthusiasts.

“This first guest is a statement of intent from our team that SVR Galas really are unmissable! And, we’ve got a few more surprises up our sleeve, which we’ll reveal as soon as we can!”

The leading heritage railway says that it will not operate overnight running for this event as a coal-saving measure. “This is a critical time for the railway,” said Helen Smith, managing director. “Operating costs across all areas of the business are rising sharply. By ‘resting’ overnight running for this year’s Autumn Steam Gala, we’ll be able to conserve our limited coal stocks, in order to ensure we can run our extremely popular steam-hauled Christmas events. These are a crucial part of generating much-needed revenue as we continue to fight back after the impact of the pandemic.

“We’ll have an ambitious timetable for the Gala starting at 8am and running well into the evening on the Friday and Saturday. We’re bringing back the extremely popular breakfast trains and other informal on-train dining options, plus we’ll have goods trains and a narrow gauge railway at The Engine House, Highley. We’re very much looking forward to what we think will be the UK’s leading steam gala!”

Tickets for the SVR’s Autumn Steam Gala are on sale now, with multi-day tickets offering significant savings. There’s more information at svr.co.uk.

Winter sunrise from the Wrekin ❤️ 

Brilliant 🎥 IG / @wander.where.aby.went
Embark on a journey through Ludlow's enchanting streets on a sunny Saturday market day! 🌞✨ 

Witness the lively atmosphere as local traders bring colors and flavors to the scene. Explore quaint independent shops, bask in the aromatic charm of cafes, and savor culinary delights at local restaurants. 

Ludlow's picturesque streets are a canvas of culture waiting to be explored! 🛍️🍽️ 

Brilliant 🎥 IG @letsgoludlow
"🏰✨ Dive into the heart of Shrewsbury's Castle Quarter – the epicenter of history and grandeur! 🏰 Home to four of the town's largest historic treasures – Shrewsbury Castle, Library, Prison, and Train Station. 

Did you know Shrewsbury Castle's foundations were laid in 1083 by the 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, Roger de Montgomery? 
Montgomery, a cousin of William the Conqueror, earned this castle and more as a thank-you for his aid during the Norman conquest.

From royal stronghold to a 16th-century transformation, Shrewsbury Castle has quite the story. Now, it stands majestically, housing the Shropshire Regimental Museum. 👑🏰 Ready to step into the pages of history?

#visitshropshire #shrewsburycastle #historic #shrewsbury #thingstodo #shropshire
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins
There has been a problem with your Instagram Feed.

Supported by

Newsletter sign up

Stay up to date with special offers, news and events by signing up to our monthly newsletter.

By submitting this form you agree to be contacted by Visit Shropshire