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add info on locomotives declined by the SVR
==The Steaming Granny==
Anthea Hanscomb was no stranger to the footplate, having driven Flying Scotsman at Tyseley Railway Museum when aged 72. On 30th June 2001 she attended an SVR “Steam Supreme” driving course as an 80th Birthday treat. Anthea duly completed the 64 mile driving course aboard 80079 with eight coaches in tow. One or two ‘slips’ on departure were considered acceptable, it being a wet day.
==Two that got away==
An article by David Williams in Steam Railway Magazine issue 437 listed a number of locomotives which might have joined the SVR fleet, but didn’t.
The first locomotive offered to the SVR was ‘Royal Scot’ 4-6-0 No 46115 Scots Guardsman, which had been bought by a Birmingham businessman shortly after being withdrawn by BR in December 1965. The SVR’s Operating Superintendent considered the locomotive too heavy, at 138 tons with a 20.5 ton axle loading, so the offer was declined. The Scot is now owned by West Coast Railways and can be seen working on the main line. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LMS_Royal_Scot_Class_6115_Scots_Guardsman 46115 on Wikipedia]
Another request for a home on the SVR was made by a group of Southern enthusiasts who were raising money to buy Maunsell U Class No 31618, which in January 1969 became the second locomotive to leave Barry scrapyard. This time the offer was refused as the locomotive was not considered appropriate for an ex-GWR heritage line. The ‘U-boat’ is now at a suitable southern home, the Bluebell Railway. [http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/loco_static.html#u 31618 on Bluebell web site]
Both these offers were made and declined before [[GWR 2251 Class 3205 | 3205]] became the first locomotive to find a home at the SVR.
==See also==
[[The Severn Valley Railway in preservation]]