The Severn Valley Railway’s Spring Diesel Festival line-up is to include one of Freightliner’s Class 70s, the leading heritage railway has announced.

The event, which takes place on 16-19 May, will see one of the main line freight operator’s vehicles join the home fleet and other guests in an intensively timetabled four days of diesel traction.

“Securing one of Freightliner’s Class 70s is a real coup for us,” explained the SVR’s managing director Jonathan ‘Gus’ Dunster. “Very few have ever appeared at heritage railway galas, and our event offers the rare opportunity to travel behind one as a passenger. At an impressive 3690 horsepower, it’s quite a bit of kit, and we think it’s going to be a big draw.”

The SVR is gearing itself up for another bumper diesel event in May, and it’s got plenty to live up to. Volunteers and staff at the railway are still catching their breath after winning the top prize for Diesel and Electric Locomotion at last weekend’s 2024 Heritage Railway Association awards. This was given in recognition of the SVR’s excellence in putting on a series of events last year to showcase 50 years of diesel preservation.

“After our fantastic year in 2023, we know all eyes will be on us to deliver with our first diesel event of 2024,” added Gus. “We’re confident that we will once again excel, and now that we’ve got a Class 70 to join our already-announced guest 37409 in brand-new ScotRail livery, we’re building up to something very special.”