The Epping Ongar Railway has announced that Great Western Railway (GWR) Saint class locomotive No. 2999 Lady of Legend, will be the star of its ‘Steam Gala’ next April, courtesy of the Great Western Society at Didcot.

As well as 2999 Lady of Legend, there will be other visiting locomotives as well as those from the railway’s home fleet, including:

• Great Western Railway Hall class 4-6-0; No. 4953 Pitchford Hall;
• Great Western Railway Prairie tank 2-6-2 locomotive No. L150 (5521) in London Transport maroon livery;
• Hawthorn Leslie 0-6-0 saddle tank, No. 3437 Isabel.

Lady of Legend was built using parts from a former Hall class locomotive, which themselves were a development of the Saint class, and entered service in 2019.

With the Epping Ongar Railway’s own Hall class locomotive, 4953 Pitchford Hall, in operation, it will be a good chance to examine the contrast between the two classes.

The name Lady of Legend was chosen as it perpetuates the Great Western Railway’s practice of naming early members of the class after mythological or historical ladies.

During the weekend, bars on the trains will be open serving a selection of draught beers, wines, lagers and soft drinks.

The LNER Cafe at North Weald and the Buffet Stop at Ongar will be open all day. The LNER Cafe will be serving hot snacks, and light refreshments, and hot and cold drinks as well as breakfast rolls until 11.30. The Buffet Stop at Ongar will be offering hot and cold drinks and other light refreshments.

At Ongar station the Penny Salon gallery will be staging photographic display with free admission by renowned railway photographers Geoff Silcock and Malcolm Batten.

The railway’s own fleet of vintage London buses will provide connections with Epping Underground and Shenfield National Rail stations.

George Saville, General Manager, said: “We are honoured to be hosting a visit of this important recreation of our railway history. We are looking forward to comparing Lady of Legend to our own Pitchford Hall”.