SVR last army steam engine handover

10:49am Thursday 24th July 2008

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THE last steam locomotive still owned by the British Army will be formally handed over to the Severn Valley Railway during a special ceremony tomorrow.

More than 30 ex-Sappers from the Royal Engineers who worked with the locomotive throughout its 26-year army career will be at the SVR to witness the handover, and rekindle memories of the engine.

Named in honour of the Royal Engineers’ most famous general, Charles Gordon - Gordon of Khartoum - the locomotive worked the final train at the Longmoor Military Railway in Hampshire before its closure in 1969.

The engine arrived at the SVR in 1971 and while still officially in army ownership, it was put to work on passenger trains for the first time in 1972.

Since then Gordon has been one of the railway’s most reliable and popular engines, running more than 41,000 miles in passenger traffic.

It is also one of the “celebrity” locomotives exhibited at the railway’s new £5 million Engine House visitor centre at Highley, which opened at Easter.

The handover of two small tank engines to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway in May, left Gordon as the last steam locomotive in British military ownership.

The ceremony will take place at The Engine House, Highley, at 12.15am.