5619 arrives early

Great Western 0-6-2T no. 5619 has arrived early on the GWR and it is expected to enter service on Saturday 21st March. Following some minor maintenance work. The engine was delivered following some exciting action at the West Somerset Railway's gala.  Apart from some short visits to other railways - including the Telford Steam Railway, its owner - the locomotive will remain a resident at Toddington at least until the end of 2009. This then provides the GWR with a core 'resident' fleet of locomotives that includes 3440 City of Truro, 2-6-2T no. 5542, 7903 Foremarke Hall and 92203 Black Prince.

Unfortunately, City of Truro is likely to be out of service following a problem with its valve gear while 9F no. 92203 will re-enter service on Easter Sunday, having passed its annual boiler examination. Finishing touches are being carried out to the locomotive before it starts earning its keep following extensive servicing over the winter.  This leaves just one serviceable steam locomotive for Saturday: 7903 Foremarke Hall which means that a green timetable will operate this Saturday (alternating steam and diesel).  The diesel will be class 47 no. 47105, an unexpected Easter treat for diesel fans!

Following is the 'low-down' on visiting locomotives this year. The GWR will host an interesting range of locomotives this year. Apart from our 'residents' which are:

• GWR City class 4-4-0 no. 3440 City of Truro (owned by the National Railway Museum)
• GWR 45xx class 2-6-2T no. 5542 (owned 5542 Ltd - arrives in April)
• BR (W) Modified Hall class 4-6-0 no. 7903 Foremarke Hall (owned by the Foremarke Hall Group)
• BR 9F class 2-10-0 no. 92203 Black Prince (Owned by David Shepherd)

There will be some exciting additions to the fleet at various times during 2008, and beyond. These include:

• SR Lord Nelson class 4-6-0 no. 850 Lord Nelson (owned by National Railway Museum, overhauled by Eastleigh Railway Preservation Society)
• GWR 56xx class 0-6-2 no. 5619 (owned by Telford Steam Railway and overhauled by the Bill Parker's Flour Mill workshops)
• SR West Country class 4-6-2 no. 34007 Wadebridge (owned by Wadebridge 34007 Ltd)

Just after Easter there will be a welcome return to Toddington for unrebuilt SR West Country class 4-6-2 no. 34007 Wadebridge. This engine, with its distinctive 'air-smoothed' design, briefly visited the railway for last year's Cotswold Festival of Steam. This time it will remain on our line until June, enabling it to take part in this year's Festival.

Lord Nelson to visit GWR

In fact, there will be a distinct Southern flavour on our former Great Western line during the Spring and early summer. The National Railway Museum has confirmed that Southern Railway Lord Nelson class 4-6-0 no. 850 - Lord Nelson itself - will visit the GWR for running in following repairs at York (provided steam tests due over the coming days are successful). The locomotive, which was overhauled over several years at Eastleigh by the Eastleigh Railway Preservation Society, put in some impressive performances on the main line until boiler problems manifested themselves last year and the engine was returned to the National Railway Museum for examination and repair.

0-6-2T no 5619 to become a GWR resident

The GWR is also delighted to confirm that agreement has been reached with the Telford Steam Railway and Bill Parker of the Flour Mill workshops in the Forest of Dean (who overhauled Black Prince and the boiler of 3440 City of Truro) for 56xx class 0-6-2 no. 5619 to become a resident at Toddington. The locomotive is owned by Telford Steam Railway although it is being managed by The Flour Mill who have overhauled it. 5619 will arrive in May, in time for the Cotswold Festival of Steam, and remain for the foreseeable future.

For more information about no. 5619 see our feature by clicking here.