TICKETS have gone on sale for the West Somerset Railway’s (WSR) autumn steam gala which is being held for the first time in six years.

The event will run over the weekend of Friday to Sunday, October 17 to 19, and will be headlined by visiting locomotive London and South Western Railway T3 4-4-0 No.563 in its striking green livery.

No.563 is making its debut visit to the WSR line courtesy of the Swanage Railway Trust after returning to steam in 2023 for the first time since 1948 following overhaul.

The WSR last held an autumn gala in 2019 before Covid struck, and tried to put on another in 2022 but had to cancel for financial reasons with the effects of the pandemic still being felt.

This year’s gala follows a hugely successful spring steam festival in May which drew thousands of visitors to the district.

It will form part of the national Railway 200 celebrations marking the bicentenary of the birth of the modern railway.

The WSR will welcome a number of other visiting locomotives as well as No.563 from both heritage railways and mainline operators which are still to be announced.

A spokesperson said: “An intensive timetable will be operating on all three days allowing you to explore our historic stations, travel behind iconic locomotives, and enjoy the autumn colours on England’s longest heritage railway at its very best.

“From the Quantock Hills to the Somerset coast, we will be running from early morning into the evening, with express trains, local passenger trains, and our popular heritage goods train.

“Some trains will also continue past Bishops Lydeard and run to the very end of our line at Norton Fitzwarren, utilising a stretch of the line that is rarely used for passenger trains.”

Tickets for the WSR autumn gala can be booked online.