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Added 2023 SSG visitor numbers
[[File:60019 20120325.jpg|thumb|300px|right|2012 Spring Steam Gala guest 60019 Bittern]]The '''Spring Steam Gala''' is the smaller of the two annual enthusiasts' galas with visiting locomotives and a more intensive timetable, but without the all night running of the [[Autumn Steam Gala]]. This event typically takes place in late March and in recent years was billed by the SVR as "opening the season", even though trains commenced for the February half-term week. The event normally incorporated three days of gala from Friday to Sunday. Other common features included demonstration freight trains and shorter local, part-line services.
From time to time visiting locomotives have been utilised for regular passenger services in the days after the gala. They were are again also often used for private photographic charters until , after a gap in the practice was ended in between 2021and 2023.
==History==
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| 2022 || ~7,500 || SVR's PR: "around 7,500 visitors" || Reverted to normal format, held over 4 days but without the usual full line demonstration goods trains to conserve coal stocks.
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| 2023 || 4,941 || || Paying passengers only, excluding shareholder vouchers and passes. Held over 3 days.
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