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Watercress Line Spring Steam Gala: 29th April-1st May 2023.

Discussion in 'Galas and Events' started by green five, Feb 2, 2023.

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  1. MattA

    MattA Member

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    That's welcome news, though I wonder if this means relegating one of the resident fleet to reserve duties or if there's going to be a fairly substantial rejig of the timetable.
     
    MattA, Apr 21, 2023
    #61
  2. TheModster

    TheModster Member

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    Wouldn't be surprised if its covering the 7F given what's been discussed.
     
    TheModster, Apr 21, 2023
    #62
  3. green five

    green five Resident of Nat Pres

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    Excellent news and a big thank you to the P&DSR for helping out the Watercress Line.
    A recent update on the website would suggest that a new timetable with later trains is on the way as the event times now say "9am to 6pm".
    It will be good to see and hear a 52xx over the Alps again after 5224 was based at Ropley for a while.

    Sent from my XQ-BT52 using Tapatalk
     
    green five, Apr 21, 2023
    #63
  4. Ben Jenden

    Ben Jenden Well-Known Member

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    Been told its actually going to run
     
    Ben Jenden, Apr 21, 2023
    #64
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  5. Nick C

    Nick C Well-Known Member

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    Latest I've seen is that 5239 will be as well as 53808, not replacing her. I believe a new timetable will be published soon.
     
    Nick C, Apr 21, 2023
    #65
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  6. Hampshire Unit

    Hampshire Unit Well-Known Member Friend

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    I've seen the new WTT and both 5239 and 53808 are scheduled to run, with extra trains added cf the version 1 gala wtt
     
    Hampshire Unit, Apr 21, 2023
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  7. Dan Hill

    Dan Hill Part of the furniture

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    Was already planning on attending for Pendennis Castle, but 5239 is a nice bonus I only found about when I went to book my ticket on the website. I just missed out on 5224 when it was based on the MHR, as it had not long been withdrawn and not had the chance to ride behind 5239 thus far.
     
    Last edited: Apr 22, 2023
    Dan Hill, Apr 22, 2023
    #67
  8. WesternRegionHampshireman

    WesternRegionHampshireman Well-Known Member

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    Now THIS is a gala!
    I cannot wait!!
     
    WesternRegionHampshireman, Apr 22, 2023
    #68
  9. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

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    Good to see if the railway has taken on the criticism, the first effort was pretty poor for a timetable and didn't justify the cost
     
    A1X, Apr 22, 2023
    #69
  10. green five

    green five Resident of Nat Pres

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    Booked my ticket for the 29th this afternoon as there was a bit of a surge in bookings for the first day of the Gala after 5239 was announced. Sunday looks like being the quietest day at the moment going by ticket sales. I will probably also attend on the final day of the event on Monday depending on the weather. Let's hope it is not the usual Bank holiday weather.

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    green five, Apr 22, 2023
    #70
  11. 73129

    73129 Part of the furniture

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    Only seems like yesterday when 5224 was storming up Medstead bank but alas it was way back in 2010. It will be great to see 5239 at the gala. Here’s a photo of 5224 on the Saturday evening Belle (May 2010).
    DSC_0178.jpeg
     
    73129, Apr 23, 2023
    #71
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  12. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Is this 5239’s first visit to another line?
    Also is it a contender for its first time on the back of a low loader? :)
     
    Matt37401, Apr 23, 2023
    #72
  13. green five

    green five Resident of Nat Pres

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    It operated briefly at the East Somerset Railway in 2019 where its last overhaul was undertaken.
    So it is only its second visit to another line.

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    Last edited: Apr 23, 2023
    green five, Apr 23, 2023
    #73
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  14. Hampshire Unit

    Hampshire Unit Well-Known Member Friend

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    Speaking to the MHR Ops manager yesterday, he reckons this is the furthest east 5239 has ever been......
     
    Hampshire Unit, Apr 23, 2023
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  15. Ganger

    Ganger Member

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    Quite correct when it comes to operating 5239 has only ever run on the Paignton to Kingswear line and the East Somerset Railway, however it has in the past made two visits to what is now the South Devon Railway when it visited Buckfastleigh works for attention over the winter of 1984/85 and again after its boiler certificate expired and it moved to Buckfastleigh for overhaul, this being completed at Churston after the Buckfastleigh line was sold off by the DVR. In addition to the above I do recall seeing a photo of 5239 hauling a stock transfer from Paignton to Totnes, I think it was with 7827 and 4588 in tow so this would put it around 1978 when the Manor was withdrawn from service for its first 10 yearly. At the time several stock moves between the two lines were hauled by DVR loco's under their own power.
     
    Ganger, Apr 23, 2023
    #75
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  16. 6026 King John

    6026 King John Well-Known Member

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    Strange to think that a 52xx would cause much excitement but this really is an interesting development. I wasn't going to this gala but now I'm going to have to find a way to get to it as well as the West Somerset. As a child we used to holiday at Kingswear in the 1970s but it was before 5239 arrived. I have only been back twice in recent times and on neither occasion was it running.

    Interesting how the Paignton & Dartmouth seem more ready to lend their engines out these days - 75014 is on the GWSR at the moment.
     
    6026 King John, Apr 23, 2023
    #76
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  17. gricerdon

    gricerdon Well-Known Member

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    Any sign of the revised timetable? We have tickets but it would be nice to plan the day in advance and to see what will fit with the KA running day on Monday
     
    gricerdon, Apr 24, 2023
    #77
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  18. Hampshire Unit

    Hampshire Unit Well-Known Member Friend

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    I think I was cooking on that!
     
    Hampshire Unit, Apr 24, 2023
    #78
  19. Romsey

    Romsey Part of the furniture

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    Romsey, Apr 24, 2023
    #79
  20. green five

    green five Resident of Nat Pres

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    green five, Apr 24, 2023
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