Two powerful steam locomotives with strong West Country connections are set to star at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway later this month as the heritage line prepares for its much-anticipated annual Steam Gala.

Taking place from Thursday 19 to Sunday 22 March, the four day event will bring a rare chance to see former main line express locomotives in action as they return to the rails for a packed programme of steam services.

Heading the visiting line up are Great Western Castle Class No. 5029 Nunney Castle and Southern Railway Light Pacific No. 34096 Braunton, two impressive locomotives that once hauled some of Britain’s most prestigious railway trains.
Both locomotives are striking examples of post-war British engineering and share a remarkable backstory.

Each spent decades in a South Wales scrapyard before being rescued and painstakingly restored to working order, and both went on to enjoy second lives in steam.

Nunney Castle, built at the Great Western Railway’s Swindon Works in 1934, spent much of its working life based in west London, hauling express services out of Paddington before withdrawal in 1963.

After 12 years out of use, it returned to steam in 1990 and has since become a firm favourite with enthusiasts.

Braunton emerged from the Southern Railway’s Brighton Works in 1946 and worked express trains from London Waterloo before being withdrawn in 1965.

After 23 years in storage, it too was restored and returned to service, later earning the distinction of hauling the Royal Train, a role also performed by Nunney Castle during its career.

During the Steam Gala, the visiting engines will operate alongside the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway’s home fleet, with up to seven locomotives expected to be in traffic across the event.

Services will run along the railway’s five-mile line between Keighley and Oxenhope, passing through the Worth Valley and the village of Haworth, forever associated with the Brontë sisters.

Tom Marshall, Marketing Officer at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, said the gala had become one of the railway’s standout events.

“The Steam Gala is one of the highlights of our year. Welcoming engines like Nunney Castle and Braunton gives visitors the chance to see and hear powerful express locomotives doing what they were built to do,” he said.

“It’s a major draw for enthusiasts, but it’s also a spectacular and accessible day out for families,” he added.

A range of Rover tickets is available, from single-day passes to full four-day access.

Full details, including timetables and ticket options, can be found at www.kwvr.co.uk/events/thesteamgala