Battlefield line

No railway is without faults, whilst a further site tidy up wouldn't go amiss a number of things are in hand as stated a few posts ago.

The mention was made up thread regarding saying can't blame Covid. I don't believe anyone has for a start but also worth pointing out that the railway received extremely little financial help during that time. What is required just as much as finances is hands on deck. I do a little at Shackerstone after visiting there with one of our engines a number of years ago, plus it being local to me. Sadly I don't have the time to commit more as too heavily involved elsewhere. However it is a friendly little railway with a hugely dedicated small core of volunteers who's commitment and input is to be frank quite unbelievable.

Their Real Ale Weekend is one of the best around and their Santa experiences put many of the bigger outfits to shame, backed up by excellent reviews. The tea room at Shackerstone is also delightful and popular. Quite how they achieve what they do with the few they have is astonishing.

Something that will largely be unnoticed due its location is the recent install and investment in a reverse osmosis water treatment plant and associated water storage tanks, this will be of great benefit and interest visiting locomotives.

The hire of 419 for the summer was a scoop for the railway; our friends at Bo'ness I understand have been very happy with the attentiveness and care shown to their fine locomotive throughout the period of hire and in particular her condition upon her recent return home.

It would be great to see more people volunteering to make a difference and helping out with some of the items understandingly the subject of criticism.

https://www.battlefieldline.co.uk/contact

 

Indeed, I'm pretty clued up in terms of the costings and engineering requirements of steam power, it was more a reflection that the line once had a host of engines, including ones they owned, yet somehow ended up with one engine that they don't really like. It's a great railway, which can be seen by things like Gerald Boden seeing out his days with Mayflower on the line because he was a fan of the place. If I won the lottery it would be high on my list of folk to give cash to.

 

Meteor was certainly at the South Devon for a while as a non-runner. Not sure it was a Thomas but it was painted blue when it was operational, although more akin to GER blue than Thomas blue.

 

An infinitely preferable hue, IMHO!

 

There is a photo in an old Moors Line (Nymr mag) showing Meteor as a static Thomas. The photo is black and white so I can't comment on how realistic a shade it was.

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If anybody is planning on visiting the line to see Foxcote Manor this weekend - you might be a bit surprised by what is on the front of the train! Foxcote Manor had a problem during a steam test following repairs this week, so her arrival has been a little delayed. Massive thanks to the South Devon Railway for allowing L92 to arrive at such short notice for one weekend (all being well with 7822!). So, if you weren't planning on popping by the railway this weekend, you might want to rethink as you've only got a couple of days to see an LT Pannier on the railway! (Services are of course Santas and they are all fully booked, so you won't be able to have a ride, but you may well be able to find somewhere lineside to get a snap!)

 

The Battlefield Line has secured GWR Large Prairie 5199 for the upcoming Santa Special Season and Post Christmas running (https://www.facebook.com/shackerstoneshentonmarketbosworth/posts/625336559763121).

After a difficult year where the management have repeatedly hit dead end after dead end in trying to secure a steam loco, this a very welcome piece of news, and massive thanks must go to 5199's owners and the West Somerset Railway for making the locomotive available.

 

The Battlefield Line has announced they will be running a Winter Warmer Steam Gala after a few years' break over February 3-4 2024. First confirmed attendee is GWR Large Prairie 5199, appearing thanks to the 5199 project

 

Second guest confirmed for the Winter Warm Up is Large Prairie 4144 courtesy of the Great Western Society (https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=663783052585138&id=100068603472469). I have been told this will be the first time in preservation that two GWR Large Prairies will be operating together - not sure whether anybody can confirm this either way?

 

i remember seeing 4160 and 5199 double heading at Steam Steel and Stars (Llangollen) a good number of years ago.

 

Good to know, thanks for the info! So this will be more like the first time in a while then!!

 

I haven't been to the Battlefield Line before but this gala is already tempting. Can anyone tell me the best way to come from London please? I have looked on the website but doesn't say the closest mainline station?. Thanks in advance.

 

So there is a bus link from Atherstone station to Shackerstone (a 23 minute journey) or from Leicester city centre to Market Bosworth (a 50 minute bus journey and 10 minute walk). Not 100% sure or the frequency or timings though.
At events in the summer at Market Bosworth (Rail Ale and Model Railway weekend) they have also put on a vintage bus link between Hinckley or Nuneaton which may be used again here, but don't take my word for it until the railway confirms if it's happening

 

IIRC it's 6 buses a day from Atherstone and hourly from Leicester. Neither run on Sundays.

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6880 Betton Grange will be undergoing running in trials at the Battlefield Line in January 2024
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=737061661788191&id=100064530916985

 

Shortly followed by confirmation from the Battlefield Line that, subject to successful completion of its running in programme, 6880 will be appearing and hauling trains as the 3rd attendee of the Winter Warmer Gala from 3-4 February
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=666737955622981&id=100068603472469

 

Does anyone know if the Grange is hauling trains on any other dates apart from the gala? Unfortunately I can’t make that weekend but would love to see it.

 

If there are any arrangements for it to haul other services outside of the gala, I don't think they have been made public. I would be surprised if arrangements for a photo charter aren't made but I don't think there is anything that is publicly concrete

 

Will the Grange be ready for the Gala the two praries are due back at Didcot for a timeline events charter the next weekend so not much scope to run after the gala at Battlefield

 

You'd have to ask the 6880 group on the current timeline for getting it ready to run. I would be surprised if the loco was agreed to appear at the gala if the group didn't think it would be ready for then.

Also in theory the grange can still run at the railway after the gala if the prairies aren't there. That just wouldn't be the gala and at present the only public running days at the Battlefield Line that 6880 has been confirmed for are the gala days (subject to successful completion and running in)