The East Somerset Railway in Cranmore has welcomed a new addition to its fleet of locos with the arrival of GWR Small Prairie 5542 2-6-2T which was formerly based at the South Devon Railway and the Gloucester and Warwick Railway.

Built in 1928 and withdrawn from service with British Rail in December 1961, 5542 spent 14 years at a Barry Scrapyard before moving to the West Somerset Railway in 1976.

After restoration she began running at the WSR in the autumn of 2002. While at the WSR the loco was dubbed The Planet's Favourite Prairie by its many fans.

Previously she had been based at Gloucester, Bristol, Taunton and Newton Abbot. 5542 started service at the ESR last weekend and will be enjoying life in Somerset at the ESR until the end of October and then again during the 2021 season.

Tickets for train rides can be booked online for a specific date and time. The railway is open on Wednesdays and weekends until November 1 with trains running at 11am, 12.30pm, 2pm and 3.30pm. For more information call 01749 880417 or email [email protected].