A THIRD visiting locomotive has been announced for the West Somerset Railway’s (WSR) spring steam gala at the end of the month.

GWR Hall Class 4-6-0 no 4953 Pitchford Hall will make its third visit to the heritage railway, the last one happening in 2010.

The West Somerset event will be only the third gala Pitchford Hall has attended outside its home Epping Ongar Railway, in Essex, since completion of an overhaul in October, 2019.

Locomotives 7812 Erlestoke Manor and 2999 Lady of Legend have previously been announced as visitors for the steam gala, which runs from April 28 to May 1.

A WSR spokesman said: “We are particularly excited to pair Pitchford with Lady of Legend, with this event being the first place you will be able to see a Saint and a Collett Hall operating together since the last Saint’s withdrawal in the early 1950s.”

Erlestoke Manor, which is being loaned by the Severn Valley Railway, means the WSR will be offering a rare opportunity to see three ‘Manors’ operating on the same day with its own Foxcote and Odney.

Lady of Legend, from Didcot Railway Centre, will be appearing for the first time in West Somerset and will be the first GWR Saint Class engine to run on the line.

The WSR will also be offering two evening photographic shoots at Minehead Station on April 27 and 30, including a line-up of all three GW Manor Class locos in British Rail liveries.

Steam gala tickets are available to pre-book at a discounted rate via https://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/.../spring-steam.

The gala is going ahead after the 22-mile Bishops Lydeard to Minehead line was reopened in time for the start of the season last month following emergency works to repair damage caused by a landslip in Combe Florey shortly before Christmas.

The landslip caused the collapse of an embankment near Tribble Bridge and effectively cut the line in two, causing the cancellation of some Christmas trains, while others were re-routed to run to Norton Fitzwarren instead of Crowcombe Heathfield.

Although the line was reopened, more robust repairs have still to be completed at a ‘significant’ cost.

The work will include replacing rails and sleepers and removing and replacing contaminated ballast.

The West Somerset Railway Association (WSRA) has launched a £50,000 ‘landslip appeal’ to help with the costs and has pledged £25,000 of the charity’s own money to match donations.

It raised more than £5,000 in the first fortnight, with a further £800 coming from ‘gift aiding’ of donations.

WSRA general manager Jacquie Green said: “For the next stage to succeed more teamwork is needed and everyone can play a part.

“Funds are needed to support the work and purchase rails, sleepers, ballast, and everything else that the infrastructure team will need to re-build a sustainable railway track.”

WSR chairman Jonathan Jones-Pratt said: “We are very thankful to the WSRA for drafting in the support at this critical time on our railway.

“The fund-raising will allow us to invest to protect.

“We were very saddened by the land slip and it is great to see the railway family coming together to protect our railway for the future.”

West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust chairman Mike Thompson said: “Clearly, this is a vitally important fund-raising campaign for the whole railway family, and I encourage all of our supporters to help as much as they can.”

A £10 donation with ‘gift aid’ and WSRA match funding would buy a ton of ballast, £50 would buy a sleeper with fittings, and £500 would cover the cost of a rail.