Subject to final contractual arrangements, the 6880 Betton Grange Society are delighted to announce that they now have agreement for ex-Caledonian Railway McIntosh-designed 0-6-0 ‘express’ freight locomotive No. 828 to attend its Steel, Steam & Stars III mega-gala to be held at the Llangollen Rialway from 21^st to 29^th April 2012.

The 1899 veteran, normally to be found at the Strathspey Railway in Scotland, is wintering at the Severn valley Railway where some bottom end repair work is to be carried out, signalling the possibility of a number of gala appearances south of the border prior to returning home next spring for the main summer season.

Chairman Quentin McGuinness said that “this is really the icing on the cake, the sixth standard gauge guest locomotive in what really is a stellar line up. We had targeted 828 when we first started planning the gala, but the costs of bringing her down from Scotland were prohibitive. But with the engine staying in England following its appearance at the SVR’s Autumn gala, everything has changed and we are very grateful to the Strathspey people for making this all possible”.

No. 828 joins celebrity ‘Pacifics’ No. 70000 Britannia and No. 60163 Tornado, ‘Super D’ No. 49395, newly restored ‘Coal Tank’ No. 58926, ‘N2’ No. 1744 and Talyllyn Railway No. 2 Dolgoch as one of seven visiting locomotives, whilst ex-GWR large ‘Prairie’ No. 5199 will be appearing for the first time in BR black and sister engine No. 4141 could make its return following a full overhaul. ‘Black 5’ No. 44806 and fellow Llangollen residents Nos 6430, 7822 Foxcote Manor, 3802 and 80072 will also be putting in appearances over the nine day event.