A LEADING railway festival has announced its final visitor.

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR) has revealed the West Somerset Railway’s 2-6-0 tender locomotive no. 9351 as the latest addition to its Cotswold Festival of Steam roster, marking a first at the Cotswold main line.

The festival, scheduled for Saturday, May 25 to Monday, May 27, will now host three newly-built steam locomotives, contributing to the theme of the event; 'Western Workhorses'.

The railway, stretching between Cheltenham Racecourse and Broadway, is shaping up to be its largest event yet in terms of attendance.

According to Tom Willson, chairman of the event organising team, no. 9351’s inclusion makes it an event not to be missed.

He said: "This is shaping up to be one of the most spectacular and ambitious Cotswold Festival of Steam events to date: not only the first event to have three new-build Great Western designed locomotives at the same time."

The festival will also showcase the first assembly of all existing GWR two-cylinder 4-6-0 types.

Richard Hiscox, deputy head of mechanical engineering at the West Somerset Railway, said: “Our ‘Mogul’ no 9351 was converted from a tank locomotive in order to provide greater water and coal capacity on our long and steeply-graded railway and it has been very successful.

"It fills a gap in Great Western Railway history."

He added: "I’m excited to see our engine visit the Cotswolds – that it is joining two other newly-built locomotives makes the occasion even more special."

Apart from no. 9351, attendees can also look forward to experiencing different versions of steam power which once dominated the railway landscape.

Mr Willson said: "It’s a unique opportunity to enjoy such a variety of motive power that recall the locomotives that once could be seen day in, day out on the railway we now call the GWSR."

Further, the Toddington-based Southern Railway’s Merchant Navy class pacific no. 35006 Peninsular & Oriental SN Co will also appear.

Early Bird tickets for the festival are available until Monday, April 22nd on the GWSR's website (https://gwsr.vticket.co.uk/section.php/173/1/).