The Severn Valley Railway has announced that Class 58 No. 58023 will be making its first ever appearance in preservation at the Spring Diesel Festival in May 2023.

No Class 58 has been seen in operation in the UK since the class was withdrawn from service in 2002, but 58023 will cause a stir when it hauls trains at the gala, held between the 18th and 21st May 2023.

58023 is the first of a host of special guests attending the gala, which the SVR says will be on a scale that’s ‘never been seen before’ – with up to 13 classes of locomotives hauling trains at the railway to celebrate 50 years of diesels in preservation.

A total of 50 Class 58s were built for use on power station coal traffic, but were all withdrawn by 2002 – though some found new working lives in Europe.

“We’re pulling out all the stops for this event,” said Jonathan ‘Gus’ Dunster, the SVR’s interim managing director. “It’s hard to believe, but the heritage sector has now achieved 50 years of diesels in preservation, and we think that’s something to celebrate. Securing 58023 is a real coup – this loco is going to be an absolute cracker at our event and we’re extremely grateful to its owner Ed Stevenson for agreeing to its first appearance in preservation for the SVR’s special celebrations.”

“It’s fitting that the loco that started it all is going to be at this special event,” said Gus. “And, we’ll also be showcasing the SVR-based newly overhauled and repainted Class 33 No 33108. Altogether we’re aiming to have 13 different types of heritage diesel locomotives operating. Then, thanks to the amazing support of a host of main line operators, including Colas, GBRailfreight and Locomotive Services Group, we’ll also be assembling an enviable collection of modern diesel traction.

“The SVR’s Spring Diesel Festival will bring together the widest range of operational diesel locomotives ever assembled on a heritage railway. It’s going to be on a scale that’s never been seen before. We can’t think of a better way to celebrate 50 years of diesels in preservation!”

Tickets for the four-day, intensively-timetabled Spring Diesel Festival are available now at svr.co.uk