A Direct Rail Services Class 57/3, aka Thunderbird, will be visiting the Severn Valley Railway for their Spring Diesel Festival.

The locomotive will visit the gala on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st May and will appear thanks to Avanti West Coast and Direct Rail Services.

The Thunderbird joins 47712, 58023, a Colas Class 56 and a DB Cargo Class 60 at the gala.

Home fleet locomotives will make-up a the list of locos, including Class 14, 17, 20, 31, 33, 40, 42, 50s and Class 52s set to work across all four days

Jonathan ‘Gus’ Dunster, Managing Director at the Severn Valley Railway said: “This is a truly momentous occasion that we think deserved a locomotive line-up on a scale that has never been seen before on a heritage railway.

“We’ve announced five fantastic guests so far, and we’ve got even more up our sleeve once arrangements have been finalised. Whatever your preference of locomotive traction, there’s definitely going to be something to interest you during four days of intensively timetabled celebrations.

“I’d like to thank all our partners, including Avanti West Coast and Direct Rail Services in this case, for supporting our event.”

Find out more about the Spring Diesel Festival and purchase tickets at svr.co.uk.