Foxfield Summer Steam Gala 2018 'The Last Waltz'

The Annual Foxfield Summer Steam Gala will be help over the 21st and 22nd of July 2018, featuring the regular selection of passenger and coal trains.

The provisional line up of confirmed locomotives for this is Hunslet Austerities 'Wimblebury' and 'Whiston', Beyer Peacock '1827', Haydock Foundry 'Bellerophon' and Dubs Crane Tank 4101.

Provisional guest engine is Hunslet 0-6-0ST 'Brookes No.1' from the Middleton Railway.

The gala will also see the final day in service of Bellerophon prior to her withdrawal for overhaul.

 

*checks dates in diary*

Looking forward to this ...

 

Was the extra day (Friday) not a success last year or is it just too much for the number of volunteers available?

 

I did enjoy last years gala but there were a couple of niggling things which did taint it slightly.

There didn't seem many goods runs up the bank compared to when I've visited in the past, as this is the selling point of the railway I felt this was a big shame.
For people wanting to use the bus laid on the timetable for it only appeared to be on the bus itself, I couldn't find one anywhere at Caverswall Road.
Last year and during my visit in 2009 buying tickets was painfully slow, only the one person selling tickets to quite a lengthy queue.
The timetable did get delayed which is understandable at times but for people wanting to see the final run up the bank it was unclear as to whether the last passenger service would wait or not. I didn't chance it and walked back to the station and missed seeing the final goods climbing the bank, as it turns out the passenger service did wait.

 

Im hoping to visit the gala and it will be my first ever visit to Foxfield and it falls on my birthday on the Sunday of the gala. Looking forward to film Bellerophon on foxfield bank.

 

Always in the running for event of the year in my book. Hope you enjoy it.

 

This will be Bellerophon's last weekend in traffic before withdrawl at the end of her boiler ticket. I'm sure she will go out in fine style.

 

We will try and incorprate the bus timetable in to the guide this year, as regards runs up the bank, if you visited on the Sunday we had to run a reduced timetable due to the failure of Wimblebury on the Sunday morning, otherwise you would have seen more action on the bank as the Saturday when we had all the locos out.

 

It certainly taxed our volunteers last year and we wouldn't want to push people too hard, it's a long enough weekend as it is. Also it was mainly done as a special one off for the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Society.

 

Any thoughts on how long the overhaul will take ? I am assuming the VCT will not want a prolonged period out of service.
Especially as their other loco "Sir Berkeley" has just begun preliminary work on an overhaul at Moor Road. (Info gleaned from March 2018 issue of "The Old Run")

 

We are in discussions with the VCT over the timescale, but it will be dependent on funds available and other commitments. Whilst we don't anticipate a hugely prolonged gap there will be a period with her on display prior to the start of the next overhaul.

 

I s there likely to be a visitor for this or is it just resident locos?
Need to decide if to book a hotel or make do with the Autumn Gala for my annual Foxfield fix.

 

Yes visiting loco is confirmed as Brookes No1 from the Middleton Railway.

This will be alongside resident locos:
Wimblebury - currently having a full repaint retaining the livery first seen at last year's gala but with hand lettering instead of vinyls.
Whiston
Dubs crane tank
Beyer Peacock - (subject to tank and motion repairs being completed
Bellerophon - her Last Waltz prior to withdrawal at the end of her boiler ticket.

 

I look forward to this, will be my first foxfield event, as long as this heatwave doesn't ruin things.

 

according to facebook the foxfield are using diesels so unless the long range forecast changes this event may well be cancelled

 

Same for me as well.

 

Don't panic just yet gentlemen!

As I understand things, there is a plan in place from this weekend to allow the resumption of steam services (essentially a diesel hauled train with a water bowser and fire crew which will follow the steam hauled trains through each section to monitor for (and if necessary extinguish) any fires. I think train loadings may also be decreased to try and not work the engines as hard (it's not such an issue with the Austerities, but some of the smaller engines have to work quite hard coming up over the bank by Cresswell Ford crossing).

Obviously gala will be more complicated to cover for, but I think a similar bowser train arrangement is likely to be in use (assuming the weather hasn't broken - we are still several weeks off!).

 

Update on the gala in just over a weeks time. Unfortunately the Beyer Peacock will not be participating due to ongoing work on motion and repairs to the tank which have taken longer than anticipated. At present we are still planning the normal gala timetable, however there will be a water bowser train stationed at Dilhorne Park as a contingency for fire fighting should the weather not have broken properly before the end of next week. Brookes is due to arrive next week and all other locos are available as anticipated.

 

It says on the website that the railway opens early so visitors can see the engines steam up, what time does it open please?

 

Gates are open from 6.30am, however the booking office staff don't turn up that early so you will have to obtain your day pass after they arrive around 8am.