A CHANNEL hopping locomotive which has been in Poland for two years is due to arrive back in the UK to help celebrate a special rail anniversary.
Bill Parker restored the Prairie Tank 5521 at his Flour Mills workshop and in 2007 it was shipped out to Poland.
It has been based at Wolsztyn where it has been working on the continental tracks at speeds of up to 60mph. A team of Forest people including Geoff and Dougie Phelps went out to help run the famous locomotive.
The train is coming back to the Forest rails for a celebration to mark 200 years since the Commoners Motion for a Bill allowing a railway in the Forest was signed.
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A Bill for Making and Maintaining a Railway from the River Wye at a place called Lidbrook in Ruardean in the county of Gloucestershire to or near to a place called the Lower Forge, laid the foundations for the Forest's railways.
Steam engines did not appear for some years after the Bill but the tramways started running in 1810.
The Dean Forest Railway is planning a season of celebration to mark the passing of the Bill.
Three special trains will be running on June 13 and 14 – the Prairie tank engine 5521 will be taking passengers, the Pannier tank 9681 will be taking passengers and freight as well as the ballast hopper 'Dogfish' wagons.
A diesel 9521 class 14 train will also be pulling freight. Several of these trains worked over the branch before the line shut.
All three trains will be taking the autocoach and 55 and 21 will be double-heading (both locomotives at the front of the train, each operated by its own crew).
Spokesman Terry Palin said: "This year is more of a taster, but next year we are planning a big, high profile event to mark 200 years of railways running in the Forest of Dean. It will be 200 years since the first 3ft 6 rails were put down.
"We hope to have up to six locomotives and to run services throughout the week."
Other plans for next year include model railway displays, history displays, celebrations for Dean Forest Railway members and shareholders and events for local dignitaries.