The Second Gala Visitor

As you may remember, we have already announced our first gala visitor for the Cotswold Festival of Steam Gala "Give My Regards to Broadway" on May 26th - 28th in the form of 6023, King Edward II.

We are now in a position to announce the second visitor for our gala is USATC S160, 5197, which comes to us courtesy of its owners, Batt Holden LTD and the Churnet Valley Railway.

5197 on the West Somerset Railway

The United States Army Transportation Corp's S160 is an American design of 2-8-0, built primarily for hauling heavy freight trains on the railways of Europe at the close of WWII. Some 2,120 were built by a variety of manufacturers and many were shipped to Europe. 

5197(l) and sister loco 6046 at the Churnet Valley Railway

Manufacture commenced in 1942 and continued through to 1945. Around 400 S160's found their way to the United Kingdom during WWII, before being shipped on to mainland Europe after D-Day. Prior to the D-Day landings, they frequently worked along our line.

5197 on a demonstartion freight train on the West Somerset Railway

5197 was one of a batch of 45 S160 locomotives, built by Lima Locomotive Works in 1945 and exported to China in 1946 spending the majority of her life working on coal trains in the Fushun area until withdrawal in 1990.

5197 leads sister S160, 6046 up to Ipstones on the Churnet Valley Railway

Expect more announcements soon on the other visiting locos for the gala.

Advance tickets for the gala are already available online and can be ordered by following this link.