Caledonian 419 Class 0-4-4T no. 15189 in LMS Crimson Lake livery will visit the GWSR for the Cotswold Festival of Steam, 23-25 May 2026
LMS crimson-lake liveried Scottish locomotive for Cotswold Festival of Steam
The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway’s premier event, 23-25 May
12 March 2026: The latest locomotive to be confirmed for the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway’s ‘Cotswold Festival of Steam’, over the late May Bank Holiday, 23-25 May, will bring a real splash of colour.
It is an attractive tank locomotive coming all the way from the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway in Scotland. It is painted in the crimson-lake livery of the London, Midland & Scottish Railway with its number, 15189, picked out in gold leaf. Previously in British Railways black and, earlier, Caledonian Railway blue, it was transformed to its new vibrant colour scheme in September 2025.
Tom Willson, chairman of the event organising team, said: “This lovely engine is bound to turn an eye with its wonderful crimson-lake finish. We’re looking forward to its arrival for the second time on our railway – last time it was here was in 2019, when it was blue – it’s a very welcome return to the Cotswolds.
“We are deeply grateful to the Scottish Railway Preservation Society and the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway for allowing their lovely engine to visit us once again.”
No. 15198 is the sole survivor of 92 ‘439’class 0-4-4T tank locomotives designed by J F Mackintosh of the Caledonian Railway. It was built at Glasgow’s St. Rollox works in 1907 and given the number 419, becoming LMS no. 15189 when that railway absorbed the Caledonian Railway in 1923.
This was a very successful design and many survived well into British Railways’ days. As no. 55189, the number it received following nationalisation of the railways in 1948 The last to be withdrawn in 1962, it wasy bought by the Scottish Railway Preservation Society, for £750.
“The Cotswold Festival of Steam is an exciting showcase for the railway and we hope to operate up to eight locomotives,” added Tom Willson. “They will work to an intensive timetable with interesting variations, including a non-stop run each day, trains that are double-headed and a delightful goods train on which visitors can ride in the brake vans!*
The railway will also throw open its doors to the locomotive department at Toddington and the Carriage & Wagon Department at Winchcombe. There will be a range of other family attractions to make this an exciting day out. On the Bank Holiday Monday, 25 May, ‘kids go free’ aged up to 15**.
Tickets are now available to buy in advance on the GWSR’s website.
Locomotives confirmed so far for the event
– visiting:
· Southern Railway ‘Battle of Britain’ class Pacific no. 34070 Manston, by courtesy of the Swanage Railway and Southern Locomotives Limited
· Great Eastern Railway ‘209’ class 0-4-0ST no. 229, built in 1876, affectionately known as the ‘Coffee Pot’ and appearing by courtesy of Bill Parker of the Flour Mill Workshops in the Forest of Dean
· Ex-Caledonian Railway 439 class 0-4-4T appearing in LMS livery, as no. 15189, courtesy of the Scottish Railway Preservation Society
– resident:
· Great Western 2-8-0s nos. 2807 and 3850
· New-build Great Western Railway-designed ‘Grange’ class 4-6-0 no. 6880 ‘Betton Grange’
*Brake van rides are on a first-come, first-served basis for a small additional charge
**Bank Holiday Monday 25th May, up to three youngsters aged up to 15 can travel free with at least one adult.
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Media contact: Ian Crowder, 07775 566 555 or [email protected]
