The Severn Valley Railway (SVR) has announced that Deltic D9009 Alycidon will be a third guest locomotive for its Spring Diesel Festival in May.

Alycidon will visit for the event from 19th to 22nd May courtesy of the Deltic Preservation Society and will join up with Class 44 D4 Great Gable and Class 46 D182 (46045).

Currently running in BR Blue livery and carrying the name Alycidon, the Class 55 locomotive is one of six Deltics in preservation.

Alongside the Deltic and Peaks, the SVR will be operating its fleet of Class 50s, Class 52s Western Champion and Western Courier, Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9551, and Clayton Class 17 D8568. Also appearing will be Class 31 31466, which visited during the Autumn Diesel Gala in 2021 and has since remained at the SVR. The railway hopes to announce a further guest in the coming weeks, to complete the line-up for its first diesel event of the year.

Gus Dunster, chairman of the Severn Valley Railway Diesels Committee, said: “The event is shaping up to a fantastic four days with a variety of traction types to suit all diesel fans.

“It’s been exciting to plan our first post-pandemic diesel event and we’re very much looking forward to welcoming visitors back to the SVR in May, to travel freely behind their favourite traction.”

Alongside being the SVR’s first diesel event of 2022, multi-day rovers will be available for the first time since 2019. These allow customers to book more than a single day in advance and save money against individual ticket prices. Tickets are available online now at svr.co.uk. Passengers who pre-book can make a significant saving against on-the-day prices at booking offices.

As usual, the event will run in its traditional format, which allows passengers to hop on and off at their leisure, switching between trains to ensure they clock up mileage. The SVR’s catering outlets, pubs, and The Engine House will all be open throughout the event.