The Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway have announced that they have acquired steam locomotive No.3061 Empress.

Empress has already arrived at the railway, with a view of it running at the upcoming steam gala.

3061 Empress now becomes one of the resident fleets at Blaenavon and will be able to haul passengers in the summer months.

The Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway are hoping to have 3061 Empress ready for the gala this weekend. Empress will replace locomotive 71515, which has unfortunately failed.

A brief history of 3061 Empress

3061 Empress was built by W G Bagnall in 1954. The National Coal Board (NCB) acquired her for use at the Measham Colliery, after use here, the locomotive was transferred to Cadly Hill.

3061 was purchased in 1987 from the Cadly Hill Colliery, the Central Electricity Generating Board (C.E.G.B) offered the use of the old locomotive shed at Rye House Power Station in Hertfordshire. Here, restoration work on 3061 Empress was completed in 1989. After the work was completed, the locomotive was moved to the Mangapps Farm Railway Museum in Essex where she was regularly steamed.

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