We are very excited to announce that our visiting steam locomotive for the Branchline Gala on April 11-13th 2025 is 6880 Betton Grange. Steaming for the first time in 2024, the frames of this new-build locomotive were laid down at Llangollen in 1998. Leaving us in 2018 for completion at Tyseley Locomotive Works, many of our visitors and volunteers were long-term supporters of the project and have very much wanted to see 6880 return to Llangollen to haul trains. The wait is over!
We are very grateful to the Betton Grange Society for making their loco available to us. Recognising 6880 is in great demand from gala organisers all over the country, she can’t be with us for long. Anyone wishing to ride behind the 81st Grange for the first time in Wales is therefore encouraged to visit our website and book advance tickets for our Gala.
Appearing alongside 6880 will be all of our resident steam fleet. This includes Heavy Freight 2-8-0 No 3802 and Pannier Tank No 7754, making for quite a Western line up. Ex-Austin Motor Company Kitson 0-6-0ST “Austin 1” will also star in the event. As the first steam locomotive to haul a public passenger train on the railway in preservation, Austin 1 will be the icing on the cake at this fantastic event, that will kick off our 50th anniversary year in style. A visiting diesel locomotive will also be announced in the next couple of weeks – watch this space!
