THE WORLD famous ‘Flying Scotsman’ will haul the first passenger train along the length of the 16-mile Severn Valley Railway when it fully reopens.
The locomotive 60103 will undertake the journey when the northernmost section is reunited with the rest of the line on July 25.
The serious embankment collapse at the end of January saw the isolation of the SVR’s northern terminus at Bridgnorth.
The ‘Flying Scotsman’ will head up the first service of the day from Kidderminster, crossing the repaired section of the embankment at Mor Brook bridge and arriving to a triumphant and long-awaited welcome at Bridgnorth station.
The historic and much-loved locomotive will haul three return trips a day on the Friday (July 25) and again on the Saturday and Sunday July 26 and 27, as part of the SVR’s Swingin’ Sixties event which celebrates the 60th anniversary of the line in preservation.
‘Real coup’
Jonathan ‘Gus’ Dunster, the SVR’s managing director, said: “What a coup this is.
“Opportunities to travel behind this iconic loco on a heritage line are rare.
“It is incredibly exciting to have the best-known locomotive in the world at the head of our first full-line service this season.”
He thanked the National Railway Museum for agreeing to the visit and and Northern Steam Operations Limited and DB Cargo for their assistance.
“We’ll be pairing ‘Flying Scotsman with the SVR’s set of Gresley teak carriages to make sure we celebrate both the SVR’s 60th anniversary and the reuniting of our full line in the most stunning way possible.”
Craig Bentley, National Railway Museum director, said: “We are delighted to be able to make this visit from the world’s most famous steam locomotive possible and to help Severn Valley Railway mark an important moment in its recovery.
“The National Railway Museum is keen to support heritage railways like the SVR in this, the 200th anniversary of the railways, and their determination to reach this milestone is truly inspiring.”
Tickets for a return trip behind 60103 ‘Flying Scotsman’ are £45 and must be pre-booked.
Tickets booked for the Saturday and Sunday also allow unlimited travel on all other Swingin’ Sixties services for the rest of the day.
Tickets to attend the Swingin’ Sixties event without travel behind ‘Flying Scotsman’ are bookable now, and all passengers will get plenty of opportunity to see the iconic visitor in action throughout the day.
Last visit
When the 60103 locomotive last visited the SVR in 2016, during its first year back in service after restoration, it was a sell-out success and bosses are expecting a similar high demand for tickets.
The Swinging Sixties event will also feature three other steam-hauled trains, including one double-header, a heritage diesel-hauled service, live music at Kidderminster and Highley and displays of classic vehicles at Kidderminster, Highley and Bridgnorth.
And there will be a Ferris wheel at The Engine House Visitor Centre, Highley.
Visit: svr.co.uk for more on the Flying Scotsman’ and general admission to the Swingin’ Sixties event and to book tickets.
