The East Somerset Railway has received the unfortunate news that Great Western Railway Grange Class replica No. 6880 Betton Grange will not be appearing at its 50th Anniversary Steam Gala next month.

The 6880 Betton Grange Society advised the East Somerset Railway that contractors who have been working on Betton Grange will not be able to complete the work in time for the Gala on Saturday, 16 and Sunday, 17 March.

Fortunately, the Didcot Railway Centre has come to the rescue by allowing the new-build Great Western Railway Saint Class No. 2999 Lady of Legend to stand in as a more than capable replacement for Betton Grange to appear at the Steam Gala.

No. 2999 Lady of Legend was completed in 2019 and is a faithful recreation of the class that was introduced by the Great Western Railway in 1902.

Until the 1950s, Saints could commonly be seen on GWR express services, with the last member of the class, No. 2920 Saint David, being withdrawn in 1953.

Lady of Legend will be the first Saint Class locomotive to ever run on the East Somerset Railway, and will appear alongside home-fleet locomotives GWR Large Prairie No. 4110, LMS Ivatt 2MT No. 46447, and Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST No. 1719 Lady Nan. All locomotives will appear subject to them being available.

On both days of the Gala, trains will depart at 10.30, 11.25, 12.20, 13.15, 14.10, 15.05, and 16.00.

Adult tickets cost £20, with a reduction to £16 for over-60s and £12 for children aged 3-17. Children under 3 go free.