An upcoming railway festival will see the headline appearance of a very special locomotive.

GB Railfreight's Class 69 locomotive is set to feature at Severn Valley Railway’s (SVR) upcoming Spring Diesel Festival between Thursday 16 and Sunday, May 19.

This follows SVR's diesel-themed events in 2023, which received record-breaking visitor numbers.

 

 

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Converted from Class 56 diesels, Class 69 freight locomotives are something of a rarity, with just 11 currently in operation.

SVR has previously featured two other Class 69s: 69001 for testing in early 2021, and 69005 at last year's festival.

SVR’s managing director, Jonathan ‘Gus’ Dunster, said: "This particular guest is going to take things up another notch at our Spring event.

"The chance to see 69009, and travel behind it on a heritage line, is going to prove very popular with supporters.

“If all goes well, it will be 69009 visiting us, and this locomotive will be a splendid sight, painted in a retro Western Region maroon livery.

"It’s named ‘Western Consort’ in commemoration of the Class 52 Westerns, two of which are of course currently in regular service on the SVR.”

The Class 69 is the fifth guest locomotive confirmed by SVR for the event.

The festival roster also includes Class 59, Class 70, 37409 ‘Loch Awe’, plus 37263, Class 46 D182, and members of the home fleet.

Attendees can access information and bookings at svr.co.uk.