Severn Valley Railway "Spring Steam Gala" | 19th-20th of April 2024.

Best viewed in 1080p HD
The 18th-21st of April saw the Severn Valley Railway host their annual "Spring Steam Gala", with a spectacular line-up of visiting locomotives starring alongside the SVR's resident fleet.
72 'Fenchurch' would serve as the star of the show, working local services between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade. The engine was built in 1872 as one of the original batch of the LBSCR's A1 'Terrier' design, thus being one of the oldest operational locos in Britain. Also visiting for the gala was LH&JC No. 29, an industrial 0-6-2T built in 1904 for Lambton Collieries in Philadelphia, County Durham - it worked here until 1969 when it was withdrawn and subsequently preserved.
A last-minute addition to the guest line-up was GWR 1366 0-6-0PT No. 1369, hired in from the South Devon Railway. This was primarily to cover for the SVR's Port Talbot 0-6-0ST No. 813, which was sadly deemed unfit to work due to a leaking tank.
The gala would've originally marked the first public steamings of 6880 'Betton Grange', a new-build example of the GWR 'Grange' 4-6-0, of which no originals have been preserved. Sadly but somewhat predictably, 6880 was withdrawn from the line-up having yet to perform test runs, these now being planned on SVR metals during May.
Replacing the 'Grange' was 34027 'Taw Valley', which had originally been withdrawn for an intermediate overhaul following the SVR's Winter Gala back in January. However, as the boiler ticket runs into May, the SR 'West Country' had been brought back into traffic to act as a 'spare' loco, and thus was drafted into the gala line-up - marking the loco's final outings in Bulleid 'Wartime Black' livery complete with its original SR number, 21C127.
The event also marked the official launch of LMS Stanier 5MT Mogul No. 13268 following its 10-year overhaul; the loco has been restored to original as-built condition, freshly outshopped in its LMS Lined Black livery. 'Western Region' representation came in the form of 7812 'Erlestoke Manor', making one of its final SVR outings before embarking on hire to other lines during the summer season.
This video showcases footage taken during the Friday and Saturday of the event, with a decent variety of locos and stock on show throughout. The personal highlight was undoubtedly seeing 72 'Fenchurch' climbing past Hay Bridge with a pair of GWR Toplights - the LBSCR Terriers are one of my favourite designs, so I was pleased to have finally copped one on film!
Locomotives seen in order of appearance;
LMS Stanier 5MT Mogul No. 13268
GWR 'Manor' 4-6-0 No. 7812 'Erlestoke Manor'
GWR 1366 0-6-0PT No. 1369 (Visiting from the South Devon Railway)
LBSCR A1 'Terrier' 0-6-0T No. 72 'Fenchurch' (Visiting from the Bluebell Railway)
LH&JC Collieries 0-6-2T No. 29 (Visiting from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway)
SR Rebuilt 'West Country' Pacific No. 21C127 'Taw Valley'

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

6:49 surely that must be it for taw valley now because we thought it had its last run during the winter gala

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

I came here on the Saturday and I’ve got the locos I wanted to see Adam check it out