Keighley & Worth Valley Railway Steam Gala - 9-12 March

The forecast is a grim for all four days. Hopefully nothing too bad, as I'll be using the train to get from York.
Despite spending 4 years in Yorkshire for undergrad, I would be my first visit to the KWVR.

 

Weather permitting hoping to be first time gala visitor this weekend. Do trains get rammed on gala days like they do on the SVR? I'll buy a ticket whether I ride or view but my wife will need a seat so just planning ahead - if its busy we'll make for more station stops (she loved Levisham for the NYMR gala so thinking Oakworth and Oxenhope might be suitable venues).

 

Still time for a lot to change in the forecast by the weekend, great deal of uncertainty beyond Wednesday / Thursday. Hopefully not a wash out, but looking forward to it.

 

From my experience not rammed, but certainly well loaded.
All the stations are worth having a break at in my view.
Hope you have a great weekend.

 

Thanks - it’s a cracking line up and I’m much looking forward to it.

 

Don't forget Ingrow with two museums free to visit with a rover ticket.

 

Bahamas Loco Society's 50 ton steam crane will be active at Ingrow during the gala too, all welcome at their Engine Shed museum and souvenir shop, not forgetting the 'learning coach' at the platform.

 

Does anyone know the state of the roads around the top end of the line? I'm making the journey from North Wales early tomorrow morning. I was planning to phot 45690 on the freight at Oakworth before driving to Oxenhope and catching the first train. Will this be possible?

 

No snow to be seen on the webcams either end of the line, but no idea on the roads of course.

 

The main roads from Keighley to Oakworth or Haworth and Oxenhope are good A or B roads. Anything "cross country" between those points is a narrow country road. Every road in that area, main or country involves a steep hill up or down, or both! Extreme care is required on the country roads in icy/snowy weather as forecast. The main roads are usually gritted in advance and ploughed if necessary, the country roads not guaranteed to be so. If untreated or not ploughed even a 4x4 would struggle on some of the country roads. I live four miles away and it has started to snow now, albeit light at the moment. This afternoon will be spent getting out my warmest clothing, thermals included, for my (weather permitting) pre-booked four day attendance!

 

deleted

 

I would advise extreme caution, heavy snow is forecast tonight and tomorrow that will affect both North Wales and the Pennines. There is a yellow weather warning in force until Friday morning.
Check Met Office and Traffic websites before you go anywhere. Thankfully the weekend is looking more benign!

 

Deleted, duplicate post

 

The webcams show it snowing but not sticking at the moment.

 

Totally agree. The other point of course is that the carefully computed gala timetable may well "slip" a bit/a lot on Thursday and/or Friday. Not unheard of at the K&WVR even in good weather! Normally it all adds to the fun but if the weather does turn out as forecast it could be a logistical nightmare for passengers and staff/volunteers.

 

I went over to Haworth today, the day before the gala, as there is heavy snow forcast for tomorrow, and maybe be train cancellations due to it
I have a 4 day rover so may have to miss next 2 days, due to snow

Anyway quite a lot of activity on Haworth shed especially with the driving wheels of 45407 The Lancashire Fusilier, which was being jacked up at the front while I was there, anyone know if there is a problem with 45407?
Quite a few locos visible, 45596 Bahamas, 45690 Leander, Taff Vale No.85, 45407 The Lancashire Fusilier, with 52044 & 78022 being shunted around the yard, also 37075 was stuck dead centre of the shed yard
https://tinyurl.com/mt9nbdwn

Neil

 

Amber warning now issued for snow covering Keighley. Has snowed all day here in Mid-Wales, with more on the way. Take care everyone!

 

So gutting. I love snow and it's hardly snowed here in North Wales all season. I couldn't have known so I booked rovers for tomorrow and Saturday. I'm definitely going to attempt it, at least.

 

West Yorkshire has seen no snow at all this season. But at Haworth (250m above sea level), 20cm is probably a best estimate prediction for tomorrow. So unlucky for all concerned.

 

Yes, quite a lot of the roads are sloping to get to the KWVR (Oxenhope and Haworth in particular) however its possible to drive into Keighley on main roads which are largely kept clear- and are not steep.

I used to regularly drive from Sheffield-Skipton in all weather and never had an issue getting as far as Keighley.

I'm working up in North Yorkshire on Friday- and will be taking one of our 4wd vehicles, however I expect this will likely only be necessary for the final few miles off the main roads.

Whether the weather is as bad as suggested remains to be seen, fingers crossed its less severe.

Chris