The Severn Valley Railway has announced that two of Michael Owen’s Class 20 locomotives are set to feature at next month’s Spring Diesel Festival.

Two of the ‘Chopper’ locomotives have featured before at the Severn Valley galas, and always prove popular.

The 20s will join the home fleet and the visiting fleet of 2x Rail Adventure Class 43 HST Powercars, GBRf Class 73 No. 73119 ‘Paul Taylor’, GBRf Class 69 No. 69009 ‘Western Consort’, Class 37 No. 37263, LSL Class 37 No. 37409 ‘Loch Awe’, Class 46 No. D182, Freightliner Class 70, Colas Class 70 and a Freightliner Class 59 at the gala.

Tickets are now available for the gala, which takes place from the 16th until the 19th May 2024, from the SVR website.

“This really is an impressive and substantial line-up. We’re very grateful to Michael Owen, the owner of the Class 20s, for his support for our event.

“The Class 20 is a popular locomotive, with plenty of followers, and has always been known for its versatility. First introduced in the late 50s as part of British Rail’s replacement of steam traction, they were used for ‘merry-go-round’ trains, transporting coal to power stations, and saw service on secondary passenger traffic routes.

“Working as a pair, they’ll be ideal to haul full passenger trains at the Spring Diesel Festival, and we look forward to hearing their distinctive helicopter-like sound across the Valley, reminding us why they are nicknamed ‘choppers’!”

Jonathan ‘Gus’ Dunster, the SVR’s managing director