Dean Forest Railway - 'Royal Forest of Steam' - Sat 1 & Sun 2 Nov 2025

The first guest has been announced today - Standard 2 number 78019, details from the railway's facebook post below -

"The Dean Forest Railway are pleased to announce the visit of BR Standard 2 No. 78019 for the 2025 Royal Forest of Steam Gala, courtesy of the Great Central Railway, Loughborough Standard Locomotives Group and the Charles Newton Trust.
A small number of BR Standard 2s were based at Gloucester’s Horton Road shed, and at least one of the class visited the Forest’s lines in the latter days of steam.
This marks the first visit of a BR Standard locomotive to the Dean Forest Railway, and we’re looking forward to seeing the loco perfectly matched with our BR maroon stock as well as goods stock.
The gala weekend of 1st & 2nd November is shaping up to be a great event, and we hope you’ll join us!"

Anticipated home fleet:
Pannier 9681
Hunslet Austerity WD 152 ‘Rennes’
Peckett No 2147 Uskmouth 1

https://deanforestrailway.co.uk/steam-gala/

 

A very nice loco - it will suit the railway. <BJ>

 

Second visiting loco announcement tomorrow morning according to the DFR Facebook page

Sent from my SM-A166B using Tapatalk

 

Newstead announced as the second visitor. She's been in high demand despite only being in service since July.

 

Timetable now available on the webpage, as well as a larger copy on facebook, seems that Uskmouth I will be giving brake van rides at Norchard Low Level until the 1455 departure.

78019 has been in service this weekend and is also out with the DMU on Wednesday.

 

Some snaps from a lovely sunny day in the Forest of Dean.

 

my video from the Sunday, 78019 looked at home!

 

Did Newstead only work goods trains, with no passengers, apart fom the double headed run?