WSR SSG 2024 May 3rd to 6th

We are delighted to announce the fourth visiting locomotive that will be present at the Spring Steam Spectacular 2024 as GWR 28XX Class 2-8-0 no.2807. The loco will arrive in March and work regular service trains prior to the Gala. Appearing courtesy of Cotswold Steam Preservation Ltd and the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway, no.2807 will be in action on all four days of the Spring Steam Spectacular between Friday 3rd May and Monday 6th May.

This visit will be the first for the loco since returning to traffic late last year, and we are grateful to the CSPL for loaning us the locomotive so early in its boiler ticket. No.2807 last visited the WSR in Spring 2011, therefore another visit is well overdue!

We still have one further star visiting locomotive announcement to make, but the lineup currently stands at:

- GWR 28XX 2-8-0 no.2807
- GWR 66XX 0-6-2 no.6695
- LNER B1 4-6-0 no.61306 'Mayflower'
- LNWR 'Coal Tank' 0-6-2 no.1054
- BR(W) Manor 4-6-0 no.7828 'Odney Manor'
- BR(W) 94XX Pannier Tank no.9466
- WSR Mogul 2-6-0 no.9351

Tickets are available to pre-book on our website, these are available at a discount in advance. We are also offering our 'Kids for a Quid' deal, where a child can travel for only £1 when travelling with a full paying adult. This bargain deal is only available when pre-booked in advance.

https://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/events/view/spring-steam-spectacular

Image with thanks to Don Bishop

 

5199 is not our next announcement

 

And reported in last month's Trackside.

 

So SebWelsh, when is 6880 going to be posted on the official website?
Not too long now.

 

Perhaps when it’s actually moved to save a later u turn announcement?

 

I’d be hanging fire on announcing that one, has it even had a run up and down the demo line at Tyseley yet?

 

I hope it is 813

 

Me too!!....

 

Well it's supposed to be at the SVR 2 weeks beforehand..

 

It was supposed to be at Battlefield in February and at ESR last weekend ….
I’m sure when it does steam it’ll have no teething troubles and be fine on 16 mile plus runs on day one ….

 

Gala announcement very soon. Clue - the loco number is 6??0

 

6880 and galas have been talked about a lot recently, but 6990 has been out on her travels this year as my uninformed stab in the dark!

 

That’s a pity - I’ve already had WITHERSLACK HALL at the GCR and KWVR this year.

6430 would be OK though.

 

Unfortunately, despite the owning group's best efforts, GWR 28XX no.2807 is no longer available to attend the event, due to some work necessary on the locomotive. We thank the Cotswold Steam Preservation Ltd for the planned visit and we hope that this can be rearranged for the future.

This is not the only update today however. Following numerous enquiries to our friends at other railways, thankfully the Great Central Railway has come to our aid. No.6990 'Witherslack Hall' will be visiting the Spring Steam Spectacular between Friday 3rd May and Monday 6th May appearing courtesy of the David Clarke Railway Trust and Great Central Railway. We are extremely grateful to both organisations for assisting us with the locomotive at short notice, and we hope you all agree this engine is an excellent addition to the line-up.

No.6990 'Witherslack Hall' entered service in 1948 and soon gained notoriety amongst its classmates when it became one of the 'Modified Halls' used in the BR Locomotive Exchange Trials. Following this, the engine was primarily based at Old Oak Common shed in London, working a variety of duties, which would have undoubtedly seen the loco work through Taunton. 'Witherslack' clung on in service until the very last month of Western Region steam in December 1965. Fortunately, the engine found her way to the now infamous Barry Scrapyard, from where she was purchased for preservation in 1975. Following restoration at the Great Central, the engine returned to traffic in 1986. We have been lucky enough to have hosted no.6990 twice before, in 1998 and more recently in 2018. We are looking forward to a third visit of this popular loco and we are extremely grateful to the GCR for the hire. As you can see from the images, no.6990 is already on her way to us!

We are still hopeful that an additional visiting locomotive will be available for the event. This is subject to confirmation and to avoid any potential disappointment, will be announced closer to the event if the engine is available for traffic in time.

The line-up currently stands at the 7 locomotives below -
- BR(W) 6959 no.6990 'Witherslack Hall'
- LNER B1 no.61306 'Mayflower'
- LNWR Coal Tank no.1054
- GWR 66XX no.6695
- BR(W) 94XX no.9466
- BR(W) 78XX no.7828 Odney Manor
- WSR Mogul no.9351

All locomotives and attractions appear subject to availability and may be withdrawn from the event at short notice.

Tickets are available to pre-book at a discounted rate at our website - https://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/events/view/spring-steam-spectacular

Images with thanks to Richard Jones

 

And I thought they were going to blow the dust off 6000 King George V

 

Rubbing shouders with it's former shed-mate (6)1306..... Although I'm not sure they operated at the same time on the GCR when Mayflower was resident.

Chris

 

Goods brake van rides are back for 2024 and this time you can purchase tickets in advance, online!

Further details here: https://www.west-somerset-railway.c...XfCklWxobvSsns2s4pVH4DoPPA3RRrYWrobCTM-A3By5w

 

Sounds like they were still trying to get Betton Grange onto the lineup, but given today's confirmation that it will not be going to the Severn Valley Gala but will be going there for running in during May, I guess it's safe to assume it will not be going to the West Somerset.

So, are the WSR still looking for another visitor or is the lineup now complete?

 

If 6880 runs on the SVR this weekend, it will be a bit of a kick in the teeth for the WSR who seem to have done the honourable thing and not announced it until they were sure it was ready.