‘Schools’ for Severn Valley Autumn Gala

Maunsell ‘Schools’ class 4-4-0 No. 926 Repton has been announced as the first visiting locomotive for the Severn Valley Railway’s ‘Autumn Steam Gala’ on September 21-24.


‘Schools’ No. 30926 Repton will be making a welcome return visit to the Severn Valley Railway at the line’s ‘Autumn Steam Gala’ on September 21-21. It is pictured here steaming into Levisham at its North Yorkshire Moors Railway home. PHILIP BENHAM

The locomotive is one of up to four visiting locomotives planned for the SVR’s three-day event, although the identity of further visitors has not been revealed.

Repton will be making its second visit to the 16-mile railway, albeit the first in the new Southern Railway olive green livery being applied to the 4-4-0, which is currently approaching the end of its ten-year overhaul at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. The first time No. 926 visited the SVR was for the line’s 2004 Autumn Steam Gala.

All-night running will make a welcome return to the three-day event. The popular feature was dropped from last year’s gala, as the traditional September slot had been taken by the line’s ‘Pacific Power’ event, which saw the first meeting of ‘A3’ No. 60103 Flying Scotsman and ‘A1’ No. 60163 Tornado in preservation.

The ‘Autumn Steam Gala’ was replaced in 2016 by the ‘End of Season Finale’ event which took place in November.

GWR ‘Manor’ No. 7812 Erlestoke Manor will be making its last gala appearance at this year’s event, as the Collett 4-6-0 is due to be withdrawn for its ten-year overhaul. The locomotive’s boiler ‘ticket’ expires on December 31 this year (see SR467 Roster).

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