The Severn Valley Railway has announced that GWR Small Prairie No. 4555 will be joining them for April’s Spring Steam Gala.

4555 is the sole surviving member of the original 4500 class and will be a popular loco at the Gala, which is to take place between the 14th and 16th April.

The three day gala has a heavy GWR-theme, with 4555 joining visitor 4079 Pendennis Castle alongside the home fleet of 4930 Hagley Hall, 7812 Erlestoke Manor and GWR Pannier 7714.

4555 visits the Severn Valley Railway thanks to its owners, the Dartmouth Steam & River Boat Company.

Duncan Ballard, head of steam loco engineering at the SVR, said “We’re delighted that 4555’s owners, the Dartmouth Steam & River Boat Company, have agreed to it coming to our Gala. It’s been on hire at the East Somerset Railway for the past three years, and now that their Large Prairie 4110 looks set to return to service, the Small Prairie can come to us.

“I think it’s going to be popular with our footplate crews, because of course, the SVR is already home to another of the class, 4566. This particular loco was withdrawn from service in 2017, but it’s worth spending some time viewing it at The Engine House, Highley where it’s now on static display, pending overhaul.”

Tickets, including money-saving multi-day rovers, for the SVR’s Spring Steam Gala are available at svr.co.uk .