SEVERN Valley Railway has confirmed a second visiting locomotive for its inaugural Summer Gala.
Joining the line-up on Saturday and Sunday, July 18 and 19, is Neilson & Co No 2937, a fascinating industrial steam locomotive with a rich heritage stretching back to the Victorian era.
Built in 1882 by Neilson & Co, the locomotive was delivered new to William Baird & Co at Bedlay Colliery near Glenboig, where it carried the number 11.
The locomotive later became part of the complex industrial changes that reshaped Scotland’s heavy industries during the 20th century.
Following the reorganisation and voluntary liquidation of William Baird & Co in 1938, the company’s Lanarkshire interests merged with Scottish Iron & Steel Co Ltd to form Bairds and Scottish Steel Ltd.
With the nationalisation of the coal industry in January 1947, the locomotive passed into the ownership of the National Coal Board before returning to Bairds & Scottish Steel Ltd at Gartsherrie Ironworks, Coatbridge, around 1950.
After withdrawal from industrial service, the loco was acquired in June 1968 by the Railway Preservation Society at Hednesford, Staffordshire, before later moving to the Chasewater Light Railway.
Following a period in storage and an extensive restoration at the Chasewater Railway, the locomotive returned to traffic there in August 2025.
The Summer Gala is a brand-new addition to the SVR’s events calendar and will celebrate both the railway’s home fleet and a selection of visiting locomotives, including several rarely seen examples.
Gus Dunster, managing director of the Severn Valley Railway, said: “As a completely brand-new event for the Severn Valley Railway, the Summer Gala is all about offering visitors something a little different and showcasing unusual and characterful locomotives alongside our home fleet.
“Neilson & Co No 2937 is a wonderful addition to the line-up, bringing with it an incredible industrial heritage story and a type of locomotive that many of our visitors may never have seen in action before.
“We’re grateful to the Chasewater Railway and delighted to be welcoming it to the SVR for what promises to be a fascinating and varied weekend.”
