The guest list for the Severn Valley Railway’s Spring Diesel Festival just got even longer, with the addition of a pair of Class 43 high speed train power cars.

These are coming courtesy of Rail Adventure UK, and are expected to go down extremely well with visitors.

“We are delighted that Rail Adventure UK Ltd are able to supply two of their Class 43s again this year,” said Jonathan ‘Gus’ Dunster, the SVR’s managing director. “These proved to be very popular our last spring diesel event. Then, we were only able to have them in service for one of the days, but this time round, we’ll have them in operation on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the event.”

The Class 43 high speed train power cars were built between 1976 and 1982 and were arguably part of the most successful train ever built in the UK. They revolutionised train travel in the country, travelling at 125mph on many of the key intercity routes.

Although they are now being replaced, a few remain in use on passenger service in Scotland and Cornwall as well as on test trains and other specialist movements.

The pair of power cars joins Class 70s from both Colas and Freightliner, as well as a Class 73 and 69009 from GB Railfreight, a Class 59, 37409 ‘Loch Awe’, Class 46 D182 and members of the SVR’s home fleet.

For more information and booking, visit the Spring Diesel Festival page.