The Swindon and Cricklade Railway will be celebrating the start of its 2023 operating season on Saturday, 18th March with the official launch of the return to service of ex-GWR 0-6-2 tank engine No. 6695 in its new  livery.

6695 was designed by C.B.Collett, the Great Western Railway’s Chief Mechanical Engineer and built in 1928 by Armstrong Whitworth of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. For the next ten years it was based in the West Midlands before being transferred to South Wales, initially at Landore in Swansea until 1961, then Neath until June 1961, before its final transfer to Radyr just outside Cardiff in October 1963, from where it was withdrawn from British Railways service in July 1964.

After withdrawal, like many other steam locomotives at the time it was bought by Woodham Brothers scrap merchant of Barry in South Wales, where it remained until it was purchased by the 56XX Tank Group in May 1978. That group was later renamed the 6695 Locomotive roup, which moved the locomotive to the Swanage Railway, where it was dismantled and restored to service in 2006.

In 2015, while being transported to the West Somerset Railway, 6695 was damaged and was moved to Williton for repairs. Four years later, in December 2019, 6695 was transported to the Swindon and Cricklade Railway’s headquarters at Blunsdon. The railway hopes that it will provide many years of service hauling passenger trains for the public.

On Mother’s Day, Sunday, 19th March, 6695 will be operating the railway’s services. Mothers can travel free when they are accompanied by their sons or daughters. Trains will depart from Blunsdon to Taw Valley Halt at 11.00, 12.12, 13.22, 14.32, with the last train departing at 15.42. In the oppposite direction, the first train from Blunsdon to Hayes Knoll departs at 11,45, then at 12.55, 14.05, with the last trai of the day at 15.15.

Fares are adult £10, senior £9, and children £8. Family tickets are also available that provide a £2 reduction for one or two adults or seniors and two children, while additional children’s tickets are £7.

Further information about the Swindon and Cricklade Railway can be found on its website at https://swindon-cricklade-railway.org/