The Dean Forest Railway, in Lydney, Gloucestershire, has announced that GWR Pannier locomotive 1369 will be visiting from the South Devon Railway for its Spring Gala: Panniers and Prairies on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 May, joining its resident Pannier 9681 and Prairie 5541.

The Railway is now in its sixth decade preserving heritage railway in the Forest of Dean and runs along part of the old Severn and Wye Railway lines, which were first built as a tramroad over two centuries years ago.

It calls itself ‘The Friendly Forest Line’, and its four-and-a-half-mile line runs through beautiful woodland and countryside, with five stations along the way.

At the south end is Lydney Junction station (close to the mainline railway station and a short walk from the harbour) and at the north end Parkend (a small forest village).

The main station is located at Norchard, on Forest Road, in the middle of the line, where visitors will find a large, free car park and a shop, museum and café.

The Railway, which was a finalist in this year’s Coiley Award for Steam Locomotive Engineering, has made tickets available now for purchase on its website now.