South Devon Rly Branch Line gala in Febrauary

I have no axe to grind, but this is a must for any GWR man, with an absolute feast of branch line formations. Full details on South Devon Rly website, with presumably the usual disclaimers, but I have yet to see the SDR fail to produce the goods!

Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 February - debut of 6412 ex works in BR green, along with visiting Prairie Tank No. 4566 from the Severn Valley Railway in BR black. Also resident GWR 0-6-0 3205 in BR lined green and diesel railcar W55000. Also demonstration goods trains.

Monday 16 to Thursday 19 February- auto train comprising No. 6412 with W225W and W228W; possibly also extra services with the diesel railcar.

Friday 20 to Sunday 22 February - Winter Ale Festival at Staverton plus;
Friday - GWR 0-6-0PT 1369, LT livery 0-6-0PT No. L.92 (GWR No. 5786) and 6412. All three locos are scheduled to appear on goods as well as passenger trains. Also an evening photo shoot planned at Buckfastleigh (mainly shed) featuring 6412, 4566 and 3205.
Saturday and Sunday should feature no fewer than five locos in steam: 1369, L92, 6412, 4566 and 3205, plus W55000, also D2246 as pilot at Staverton if required.

I shall not be a million miles away from Buckfastleigh in the February half term week!

John

 

has 1369 returned from her travels yet then or if not when she due home

 

Looks like a damn good event is in prospect.

 

That second weekend looks pretty special; I am definitely tempted with a trip down to Devon for that.

 

Just happen to be spending that weekend in Torquay, the wife will never believe it was unplanned....

 

1369 arrived back at Buckfastleigh earlier today and is facing smokebox towards Totnes - a change from the norm which is for it to face Ashburton, and thus the gala will be a rare chance to see it working this way round on the SDR, and it will lok very much at home during the second weekend when it will make several appearances on a two and three coach rake of GWR stock, some trips of which will also convey a GWR liveried fruit D van.

 

The passenger timetables have now been sent to the various websites and are already on display on the South Devon Railway Association site. The full working timetables, along with loco and stock allocations, should be available within the next seven days and will also be posted on the websites. The event is shaping up to be an excellent branch line themed week with plenty of activity and variety to enjoy.

 

Heads up to all those who enjoy railway photography.
As part of the SDR's February gala event we will be holding a photoshoot on Buckfastleigh shed from 18.00 until about 20.00 on Friday 20th Feb. Exact details of how to book and the charge (which should also include free travel on late afternoon and evening services) will be released sometime in the coming week.
With some help from friends from Timeline Events, the shed scenes will be illuminated and will feature 6412, 4566 ...and 3205 all of which will be facing Totnes and all in British Railways livery. 1420, 1369 and L92 will be in the background adding further to the atmosphere and we will also be shunting some of the coaching stock out of the shed to create an even more convincing steam are shed scene.
This is the first time we have attempted a photo shoot such as this at any of events, an if it proves popular, may be repeated from time to time at other events in the future.
More details as soon as I have them.

 

The full working timetables complete with loco and stock allocations has now been posted on both SDR and SDRA websites. Everything is on course to make this a great opening event for the SDR's 2015 season: 6412 is due to be shunted out of the main works tomorrow and was today having some final touches added to the lined green livery. Auto trailer W225 is nearly complete in maroon which will allow a two car maroon auto to operate. We will be running lots of short formation trains including some with either a Fruit D, Box Van or Milk tank added into the consist. There will be a BR era goods. Railcar W55000 is going to be kept busy and will also operate with tail traffic. The event is also unusual in that 4 of the 5 steam loco's are facing smokebox towards Totnes. On the second weekend there will be a mini ale festival at Staverton where a selection of West Country ales and Cider will be on offer. There will also be both earlybird and late trains on selected days allowing even more value for money for those who buy a rover ticket. Details of the photo shoot on Friday 20th are just being finalised and should be available early next week. The lineside will also look at its very best as the rail mounted flails are due to visit next week.

 

Thanks for the update; looks like an excellent event in prospect. Looks like we're having a bit of a Swanage/6695 Loco Group outing to the SDR on the second Sunday, so all of this advance information is most welcome.

 

Am treating the wife to an additional night in Devon at the Dartbridge Inn at Buckfastleigh Sunday evening.

Now how do I break the beer/cider/steam festival to her.......

 

6412 now safely out of the workshops and stabled in the running shed ex works in British Railways lined green, the first time it has carried this variation since entering preservation in the mid 60's. A few odd and ends to tidy up and steam test, but looking good for the gala.

 

There has been talk that Auto Coach W233 might be running for the first time as well. Might know more tomorrow as I will be helping to paint the coach roof.

 

W233 is not diagrammed for use over this event.

6412 will operate with W225 and W228, both of which will be in lined maroon livery by the start of the event and will thus present a very accurate 1960's image with the lined green on 6412.

 

This looks fantastic, and I'd be there every day if my wife would let me, but not too hard on the wildlife with the flails please!

John

 

Anyone know if 1369 is then staying back with you or coming back on loan to Chinnor? Just I've seen nothing about what we've got this year, although a steam timetable has been published so presumably something....!

 

Which way is 6412 meant to be facing? The timetable says Totnes, but from the photos I've seen she's facing Buckfastleigh. I would assume the latter going by the lack of anything to turn her with except a spin on a lowloader.

 

1369 is I believe heading back to Chinnor shortly after the event.

6412 will be turned on the lorry that delivers 4566.

Hope the above helps.

Cheers

 

Latest news as we head towards the opening day of the gala. To help celebrate 2015 being the 50th year since the first preserved era stock movements took place along the line, which saw small prairie tank 4555 haul two maroon autos along the branch from Totnes, thanks to the support and blessing of both the loco owning group and our friends at the Dartmouth Steam Railway, on Saturday 14th 4566 will run numbered as 4555. This will be for one day only. The only visual difference to that first train will of course be that 4566 is wearing British Railways black and not Great Western green as 4555 did all those years ago. The first passenger service from Totnes on Saturday 14th will be formed of auto trailers W225 & W228, both of which now carry lined maroon livery following the repainting of W225. 4566 will resume running with its own identity of Sunday 15th.

 

Gala update: Everything nearly ready to go for the opening day tomorrow. 6412 has had a test run this afternoon, however there are a few last minute jobs outstanding so 1369 will be steamed in the morning and will cover for 6412 in the event that is not quite ready to make its debut. 4566 is on shed and warming through and has been renumbered ready to appear as 4555 for tomorrow only.