[Feb 27, 2016] Churnet Valley Winter Steam Gala (Churnet Valley Railway)

Join us for the return of our traditional Winter Steam Gala on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th February 2016, seeing a selection of locomotives operate a variety of services along both the Churnet Valley and Cauldon Lowe lines.

https://www.churnet-valley-railway.co.uk/event/644/winter-steam-gala

LOCOS

• United States of America Transportation Corps S160 no. 6046 (making her first appearance following recent repairs)
• Polish TKh no. 2944 "Hotspur" (making her first steam gala appearance)
• Great Western 56XX no. 5619 (making her final public appearances on the CVR), running as 6643

EVENT ATTRACTIONS

• Re-creation "Station Pilot" Duties
• Re-creation of Swansea Railway Circle "Rambling 56" Railtour run in 1965
• Selection of trains along steeply graded Cauldon branch
• Frequent service along the Churnet Valley
• All Day Real Ale Bar
• Engine Shed and Carriage & Wagon open to visitors

WATCH THE GALA LIVE
http://home.btconnect.com/cvrailway/webcams/webcams.htm

Highlights from last Winter Steam Gala


Post-event Driver Experience Courses also available, click >here< for details

 

Hoping to have further announcements next week, with tickets going on sale soon as too.

 

https://www.churnet-valley-railway.co.uk/news/wsg16

Timetables now online, and online tickets available for purchase.
https://www.churnet-valley-railway.co.uk/event/644/winter-steam-gala-27th-february

 

Not long to go until the event now, 6046's running in is going well with minor issues being addressed.

A highlight for the event will be 5619 (as 6643) running solo up the bank to Ipstones!

 

Who's looking to join us for this forthcoming weekend?

 

Warming fires are lit, shunting complete and timetables all printed ready.

Now for the guard to blow the first whistle, and we'll be off (once the prep crews have signed on at 0530!).

Look forward to saying hi to anyone making a visit, I'm in charge around Chedd Saturday / firing 5619 Sunday so feel free to let yourself be known

 

Just got back from the CVR with the Old Man and I wanted to say how well today went. 6046 looks splendid, the extended Tea Rooms at Froghall were a nice surprise and I finally got to ride behind 5619. A special word on the timekeeping too, almost perfect. Well done.

I think I saw you JonJon on the platform at Chedd, don't think you recognised me without my HiVis gear. Did I see NeilL filming up around Bridge 5?

 

A bit above Bridge 6 in fact (more or less on top of bridge 7 but you would not know it), There are too many threads about the CVR gala - posted my clips in https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/churnet-valley-in-2016.620543/

 

I thought it was you! The Old Man and I were in the last coach (going uphill, first coming down) and we were both struck by how crisp and rhythmical the beat was from 6046, some nice work has been done there.

I was also struck by the amount of lineside clearance work that has been done, down in the Valley and up on the climb to Ipstones. I know I was involved in some of it but there's clearly been a lot more and it makes quite a difference.

 

A good show put on by the CVR. 5619 looked & sounded superb up the bank to Ipstones. Hope you enjoy.

 

Yeah, we loved our first visit at the CVR, here's my video of the day:

 

Afternoon,

Full set from the gala: https://www.flickr.com/photos/frank47524/albums/72157665066353182

 

First visit to a CVR gala since the Cauldon ones in 2010. Had a great day yesterday,thanks to all involved.

I've put a shot of 6046 climbing to Ipstones on flickr:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mark-walker/25325225756/in/photostream/

 

Saturday really was almost perfect, until the ground frame at Leekbrook played up on the penultimate train. I'd managed to keep the delays to 5-mins until then, but last train ended up 35-mins late. Didn't spot you Simon, was bit busy with RO'ing lol. 6046 performed almost faultlessly, just a blown vac bag Saturday afternoon that required a new clip being installed. Other than that no further issues, though a few things to fettle ready for this weekend such as leaking steam pipe on one of the injectors.

Lineside looking good, but still lots more to do!

 

Awesome video, glad you had a good day!