GWR No. 5199 is due to perform alongside Nos. 4144 and 6880 at the Battlefield Line’s February 3/4 Winter Warmer gala. On November 26, No. 5199 is seen prior to departure from Shenton with the first Santa train of the 2023 season. The wreath was in honour of the late Roy Etherington (See tribute and photograph on page 63). Roy was instrumental in laying most of the track around Shackerstone in the early years on the Battlefield Line.
ADRIAN LOCK/BL
NEW-BUILD GWR‘Grange’ No. 6880 Betton Grange is booked to work its inaugural public trains at the Battlefield Line’s February 3/4 gala.
The newly created 81st ‘Grange’is due to arrive at Shackerstone for running in trials following completion at Tyseley Locomotive Works.
The 4-6-0 is set to star in the gala alongside GWR Large Prairies Nos. 5199 and 4144. While No. 5199, which is owned by the 5199 Project has been at the Battlefield Line operating Christmas trains, No. 4144 is to visit courtesy of the Great Western Society at Didcot.
One part of No. 6880 will be no stranger to the Leicestershire heritage line –the tender from WR‘Manor’No. 7822 Foxcote Manor, which is under overhaul at Tyseley. No. 7822 has previously operated on the Battlefield Line. In December, the tender was being prepared for repainting and other maintenance was also being carried out.