Churnet Valley Steam Gala - November 7/8

Any hints or clues as to a Feb Gala lineup/guest list yet?

 

The Churnet Valley Railway will be holding its annual Steam Gala with a new date, as the event is now moving to Saturday the 7th and Sunday the 8th of November 2015.

http://www.churnet-valley-railway.co.uk/event/494/steam-gala-saturday-7th-november

Watch The Gala LIVE
http://home.btconnect.com/cvrailway/webcams/webcams.htm

Locomotives
- Polish Ferrum 47 No. 2944 'Hotspur'
- United State of America Transportation Corps S160 No. 5197 / 6046
- Guests TBA

Gala Highlights
- Cauldon Lowe branch featuring gradients ranging from 1in40 to 1in59
- 3 Train Timetable
- All passenger trains running between Froghall and Ipstones calling at all intermediate stations
- 19 mile round trip through the stunning Staffordshire Moorlands countryside
- Tours of Loco Shed + C&W workshop, see latest restoration projects

Ticket Prices
- 1 Day Rover (Adult / Senior / Child / Family)
TBA
- 2 Day Rover (Adult / Senior / Child / Family)
TBA
- CVR Lineside Pass (1-Day / 2-Day)*
TBA

Timetable
- TBA

* Lineside Passes available from Cheddleton MPD Office each morning


2014 Event Highlights



**In addition to the Steam Gala, all locomotives will be available for Driver Experience Courses during November 2015 offering the unique opportunity to drive and fire over both the steeply graded Cauldon line and the scenic Churnet Valley line.
For further details and availability on driver experience courses please contact the Motive Power Department office on 01538 361298.

**All subject to availability

 

For what it's worth I'd love to have the Crab on the CVR and up to Cauldon, or how about 63395.

That said, the Old Man and I will be down even if it was "just" the TkH and a Diesel.

Any signs (yet) of how soon the "other" S160 will be back in steam?

 

If they could get 92212 on the way back from the ELR, would tempt me for a trip to the line!

 

There'll be no 92212 as Officially, 9Fs are banned from the Cauldon line.

This ban dates back from steam days, though we have struggled to find the exact reason for this. We presume it's due to the long wheelbase and tight curves not being compatible, but if anyone could ever provide proof of this we'd be more than happy to hear from you!

S160s -: 5197 overhaul continues whilst 6046 has also been stripped ready for boiler being lifted at some point. Not sure of exact plan, and in which order, but it is hoped to have them both out in 2015. Not been down CVR recently myself due to work / sickness / holidays!

 

As above. It's a ban from Steam Days and AFAIK they have never been gauged during preservation times. So until that happens there will be no 9Fs to Cauldon.

 

Were Bullied pacifics, 71000, USATC and PKP locomotives ever gauged for Cauldon Low, I'm assuming theirs no steam days ban on them ?

Would have thought lack of rails at Cauldon low would pose a larger problem than any policy would in the current circumstances ?, but that aside..

 

Black Fives and Black Eights were the common form of motive power at the end of steam, and the wheelbase of the locos listed are no bigger than these.

The Guests for 2010 gala were gauged beforehand, which is what resulted in the speed restriction being imposed at Winkhill.

RE: the 9Fs. As I say we know in BR Days they were banned from the line, and with there being no recent gauging profile done it is the consensus this ban remains in place. This may well change one-day, but as to when/if that happens we can only guess.

 

A 28/38XX on the hill could provide a decent soundtrack, 3850 ?, 2807 ?, 2857 ?.

 

I suspect it depends on what is fit to run and not needed at the home railway. The line up to Ipstones does not need a 7P what it wants is an engine with grunt. An 8F would be good.

 

WD?

 

If you have got one spare that would be ideal.

 

Well there's only one 2-8-0 and it's pretty busy at the KWVR. Not sure there are any 2-10-0's in traffic right now and I assume they'd be about as welcome as a 9F!

 

90733 and 63395 would go down a treat for me. KWVR will have 34092 and Big Jim available and possibly 45305. They don't need more than 2 engines. I had no idea 6046 had had its boiler stripped. It hasn't been going long. Could we see double-headed S160s for the first time in preservation in 2015? It would be nice to have an S160 gala at the end of the year with 6046 and 5197 working alongside Big Jim!

 

A Hall or Manor would get my vote, not a GW 2.8.0 though and definitely not a Bulleid again.

 

But not so busy as to prevent it attending the SVR gala a few weeks later!

 

6046 failed at Nene Valley in November with cylinder problems, and to repair it requires us to lift the boiler. Good news is Double-headed S160s is planned for 2015 at CVR, date TBA. Hopefully 6046 wont be out of action too long, and 5197 should be ready at some point this year. They were cracking on with the boiler yesterday when I had a look inside.

 

Definitely something I want to see up the bank, and I'm not alone. It will come true one day.

Sticking to personal thought, I'd like to see 73129 visit as we've never had a Standard 5 to CVR in preservation, and don't think they were that common to the valley in steam days.

 

I've been saying 73129 for some time. They'll have to put earplugs on all the seats in the front 2 coaches.