Three newly-built steam locomotives are set to appear at the 40th anniversary of Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR).

This year marks the milestone of GWSR's first train in preservation, which left Toddington Station for the first time on April 22, 1984.

Currently, the railway extends over 14 miles between Broadway and Cheltenham.

 

 

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Many preserved steam and diesel locomotives have graced its rails during these past four decades.

The three new visitors will attend the award-winning Cotswold Festival of Steam, which is set for Saturday 25 until Sunday, May 27.

Unique this time is the fact that the three locomotives are recently constructed steam engines, representing an archetype of Great Western Railway that long faded away.

The three locomotives include No. 6880 Betton Grange, No. 2999 Lady of Legend, and the 9351, a locomotive without a name but bearing a unique design based on a 1910 prototype.

Speaking on the occasion, Tom Willson, chairman of the festival organising committee, said: "Who would have thought at the end of steam in the 1960s, that preservationists would start building new locomotives?

"Yet there are a few that are either now operational, under construction, or planned, most replacing classes that disappeared a long time ago.

"Everyone on the GWSR is absolutely thrilled that we have not one, not two, but three newly-built locomotives visiting our railway this year, all perfectly fitting our theme 'Western Workhorses'.

"This is shaping up to be one of the best-ever Cotswold Festival of Steam events and not to be missed."

He added: "This is also the first time that three new-build locomotives have been seen together in preservation.

"You wait 40 years for a new steam locomotive to turn up, then three come at once."

Early bird discount tickets are available on the GWSR's website.