Baie de la Somme 2021 Gala

They appear to be going ahead with their 2021 Gala on 3rd/4th July.....

https://www.chemindefer-baiedesomme.fr/fr/fete-de-la-vapeur-2021-50-ans-du-cfbs

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Tempting. The festivals are always worth a visit.

 

Been to most since they started in the 1990s.I booked refundable accomadation months ago.Realy it up to the French goverment who they let into the country.Only E U citezens at the moment ,and thats with restrictions .The page on their site has been the same since before Christmas.Anyhow fingers double crossed,exelent event.I'll be very disapointed if I can't go.Normaly takes place every 3 years ,but this time its been a gap of 5 years due to track realaying.

 

https://www.chemindefer-baiedesomme...u-cfbs/les-associations-ferroviaires-invitees

Some of the visiting locos appear to have been quietly announced.

No. 11, an 0-4-4-0T Mallet from Vulkan Express in Germany.

VFV no. 22, an 0-8-0T from the Velay line.

HL303, an 0-6-0T tram loco from the Lobbes-Thuin tramway in Belgium.

Standard gauge Bagnall 2064/1917 from Transvap.

Deaucaville 1652, an 0-6-0T from the Haute Somme line. I assume that it'll be running down the street at Cayeux again.

La Traction in Switzerland are mentioned as well, so that should probably be one of their big Portuguese Mallets.

 

Not surprised about the Belgian tram loco coming back. Videos suggest she is a fine performer.

 

Well spotted ,its in the French only section. Good selection coming ,two loco's I've never seen before .According to my reconing there is only one standard gauge loco/train(or what ever ) coming,there's usualy several..Iwondering if the standard gauge from Noyells to St Vallery was'nt replaced in the recent relaying.

 

I went there on Saturday - my first visit to the railway. The 0-4-4-0 Mallet was quite an impressive piece of kit. As far as I could tell from the diagrams, they were one steam loco short as the home fleet diesel, BB 60002, was out.
The weather was extremely variable with a lot more (sometimes heavy) showers than bright spots.
Lots of lineside photographers everywhere, some with ladders as you sometimes see in mainland Europe.
The standard gauge was in use with a Bagnall saddle tank on end of the "Le Train des Mouettes" and I didn't recognise what was on the other end.
There was a special from Sotteville & Rouen operated by the Pacific Vapeur Club with 68081 and 72084. 72084 failed on arrival at Noyelles and was left there with the special returning with 68081 solo. It's reported on the SNCF rail gen forum that 72084 was taken off to St. Valery by a steam loco.

 

Schneider and Cie-Creusot no. 2503/1891 "Progres", from Le Train des Mouettes, Saujon.

Progres and Cockerill no. 503 from AMTF in Luxembourg took 72084 to St Valery Canal.

 

Were you there ?After booking a hotel last November I had to cancle due to covid resrticitions a week before the event.No charge tho 'but still very dispointing ,I think I had only mised one since they started about 1998.