Dean Forest Railway Flour Mill 20th Anniversary Gala - 1-3/8-10 July 2016

LATEST NEWS (14th MAY 2016) - Guests T9 30120, Beattie Well Tank 30587 & Met 1 with resident GWR Small Prairie 5541 in action.



As reported in the latest edition of Steam Railway, LWSR pair Beattie Well tank no 30587 and T9 no 30120 are to appear at the DFR in July to mark the 20th anniversary of Bill Parker's Flour Mill workshop opening for business, both locos were restored there. There will be a vintage bus from Parkend to the site in Bream where visitors can take in the workshop along with the resident steam shunter 'Willy the Well Tank'. The event could be the first steaming of GER 'Coffee Pot' 0-4-0ST no 229 if restored in time but it is not clear where the engine will be.

More guest engines are to due to appear, although Met 1 and 5521/L150 might be needed in London as there are plans for Steam on the Met trains in July. It is not mentioned whether or not DFR residents 'Wilbert' and 5541 will be taking part in the event or not.

This should be a good event and one not to miss with rare access to the Flour Mill itself.

What other engines have been overhauled at the Flour Mill? I can only think of 30585, 4247, 4612 & 5619 off the top of my head. I think 1450 may have been too?

 

I **think** 1450 has, so far, been done at Crewe - apart from its first time where it was overhauled at Plasser's in West Drayton.

6960 was largely done at the Flour Mill. Certainly the wheels were turned there – so I'd assume that the boxes & hornguides were done at the same time – and the boiler & smokebox saddle were repaired/scrapped & rebuilt (the boiler had a lot of plate renewal & the saddle had had it), and the tender was overhauled too.

Ongoing is the 'last turkey in the shop' in the shape of 5538 - the one that had the plywood boiler. Original boiler re-acquired but the frames are 'rather tired' & the block is beyond it too.

Nice set-up & a friendly bunch too.

Pete S.

 

Looks like a good event, will bear it in mind.

 

Frames are very tired. The GW group at Llan originally had it, and wisely did a swap for the ever so slightly better 5532.

 

A number of Austerities have been through the Flour Mill, plus Rocket, Iron Duke and Chevallier

 

Locos that have been through the flour mill http://www.theflourmill.com/projects.html

 

Not on the list but have been -

Olwen (0-4-0ST RSH) from Gwili - 2001
Welsh Guardsman (Austerity- boiler only) Gwili 2001

I think TVR28 was also there for a while (or at least the frames I think)

Regards

Matt

 

In the first article that was published it said that 30585 the other beattie well tank the sister one from buckinghamshire railway centre had been invited

 

Any news on other locos attending?

 

What's is the latest with this event

 

With the met coaches out of use this year could it be more likely Met 1 Will turn up?

 

http://deanforestrailway.co.uk/events/detail/steam-gala - event page on the DFR website

https://www.facebook.com/events/1743304682620480/ - facebook event

"Our local steam restorers, the Flour Mill, are celebrating 20 years in business by helping us deliver an epic two weekend gala.
We can already confirm that we will be visited by LSWR 4-4-0 T9 Class No. 120 and LSWR 2-4-0T No. 298 (30587) (Beattie Well Tank). Both will be brought from their home in Bodmin to be here for the event."

I assume resident small prairie 5541 will be in action, who knows if anything else is coming. I believe currently there are issues with austerity tank 'Wilbert'. 30587 visited for around 2-3 weeks in June 2009, but this will be the first visit of 30120 to the DFR. The T9 will become only the fifth tender locomotive to work on DFR metals in preservation after 3440/3717, 3205 & 7802 plus 45407 who visited Lydney Jcn only on an incoming railtour in April 2007.

Tickets are available to buy now online in various combinations. A one day adult rover in advance is £18 or £19 on the day, I believe ticket sales close the night before each day.

 

I'd love to see Met 1 visit the DFR just for something totally different, a nice shade of red(/maroon?) going through the forest is appealing!

 

Sounds good to me, never been to dfr gives me a reason to attend.

 

Met 1 is the third visitor. Info from the Dean Forest Railway's Facebook Event Page.

 

Fantastic news, very chuffed! Is the other Beattie well tank definitely not coming then?

 

I don't think it ever seriously was. Tbh with what the DFR have rolling stock wise it is probably wise having only one small locomotive. Looks to be a fab gala!

 

Is there any news on the possibility of GER 'Coffee Pot' 0-4-0ST no 229 being at the gala?

 

I think it will be at the Flour Mill. I haven't seen anything official about the site being open so who knows if that is still going ahead.

 

The advert in the latest Railway Magazine states that the Flour Mill workshop is open the first weekend only.