The West Somerset Railway has announced that Caledonian Railway Class 439 No. 419 is to visit them for their upcoming Spring Steam Gala.

This is the first visiting locomotive announced for the gala, which is set to take place between the 5th and 8th May 2022.

419 will join multiple home fleet locomotives at the gala to operate an intensive timetable.

The timetable should see local trains, express trains and good trains all operating. Double headed and banking trains should feature also.

Minehead‘s turntable and the triangle at Norton Fitzwarren are expected to be both in use as well as the return to Minehead.

Whats more, the West Somerset Railway are running a Child for £1 special offer which is valid on the Sunday of the gala when an adult ticket is also bought.

No. 419 returned to steam in October 2018 and is based at the Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway in Scotland.

419 was built in 1907 and operated in service for more than 50 years before being saved by the SRPS and has recently undergone work to allow it to haul trains throughout the next few years.