Foxfield Summer Steam Gala 16 & 17 July 2011

Hi all,
Seeing as no one else has started a thread on this here we go...

The Foxfield Railway, Blythe Bridge, Staffordshire, is holding its annual Summer Steam Gala on the 16th and 17th July 2011. It will take a similar format to previous years with demonstration coal trains on Foxfield Bank, an intensive passenger service between Caverswall Road and Dilhorne Park, and a demonstration goods train around Caverswall Road Station. There will also be a Real Ale Festival in the station bar over the weekend.

Anticipated locos from the home fleet are: Bellerophon, Wimblebury, Whiston, Kent Electric No.2, Florence No.2 and Dubs Crane Tank.

Visiting loco(s) are under negotiation and will be announced shortly... watch this space for news of these and other features or visit the website http://www.foxfieldrailway.co.uk/

 

Any chance of the Dubs doing some form of passenger work, be it, pilotting a train, brake van rides or footplate rides? And, before anybody mentions lack of vacuum brakes, the ELR operated Simplex 9009 at their Small Engines Gala a month or so back by simply piloting a vacuum braked loco - so it can be done.

 

The GCR did something simular at their diesel gala with the 08. It was piloted by one of the 37's as the 08 had no vacuum break. Although the 08 must have been though piped.

 

The gala planning team are working on a few final tweaks before announcing the visitor (s) for this years summer gala.

I can confirm that Dubs will NOT be piloting passenger trains nor will it be operating brake van rides during the event.

Richard

 

I haven't been to Foxfield before and I'm hoping to come to this event. Keep us posted!

 

That, alas, is the difference. Being through piped, the brakes on the 08 were controlled by the driver of the 37. Without through piping, Duebs's steam brake could not be controlled independently from another loco, nor could it apply a brake to any other vehicles in the rake.

 

Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends, Ladies and Gentlemen the Foxfield Summer Gala.

Plans are now formulated and visiting loco's being considered - as ever splendid and special.

Around the railway engines are waking from winter slumbers, Dubs passed its annual steam test on 20th May, Whiston & 2842 passing cold visual - both to be steamed on 6th June. Dubs looks a treat in her final varnished top coat. Will post a photo if I can remember how to do it !.

I still have one or two slots for stall holders.

 

Hi
Never been to the Foxfield before so I am a bit naive as to what happens there at a steam gala, it seems to be a industrial based railway and most of the photos show smaller steam engines storming the bank on `freights`. My question is regarding the passenger service. You state an intensive service, does this mean lots of swapping of locos on the passenger circuit? Approx how many locos will be hauling the passenger trains on for example the sunday? I am visiting from Denmark and plan to cover Peak rail on the saturday and then maybe the Foxfield on the sunday on my way to Liverpool.
Thanks for any help you can give Tony

 

Yes it is an industrial railway which uses industrial tanks exclusively. From my experience, the passenger service runs from Caverswall Road to Dilhorne Park, with engines swapping after every single journey (I think), which means all locos except the Crane Tank will work a passenger service. At Dilhorne Park, the passenger loco will uncouple from the coaches and run to the colliery with a freight set, whilst the loco which has just come up the bank will head the passenger service back to Caverswall Road...I think i'm right?

I hope that helps,
Lewis

 

Unless there's a dramatic change to the format then you are indeed correct Lewis, passenger trains depart approximately every 45 minutes and plenty of things to look at whilst waiting. Passenger trains will run from 10am to 5pm or there abouts and first freight train will be away from Caverswall Road around 9am. Plenty of activity before and after with locos being prepped and serviced throughout the day.

 

Yes - but we wont make the mistake of publishing on the net in advance !.

Be good to see you - perhaps Mr B will make it ?.

More to follow - We have the first of perhaps two visiting loco's, should know this week. As ever we will allow speculation as to what it is / they are....

 

Wissington.....1501 in red.....Peckett 2000.....Castle Donnington No.1 or No.2 (or both!)....Backworth No.49....Backworth No.47 (I still need to see it in the sun!).....Twizell...Jubilee....Wirksworth Ferrybridge PS Barclay....any Sentinel...Henbury....really don't mind as long as the sun shines, the guest looks good, Wimblebury and Whiston are out and the bar has plenty of mild and porters!

 

Blythe bridge seems to be a tough place to get to on the sunday, even just from Derby. Are you allowed to travel from Stoke to Blythe bridge on the Alton towers buses?
Tony

 

Has Glenalmond managed to post a photo of the Dubs outside yet?

 

Yes, I used an Alton Towers service to get there last year. Bit of an odd service - it was advertised from Stoke railway station, but I had to change buses at Hanley bus station. I was the only passenger on this second bus when we left, but we picked up a couple of Alton Towers staff on the way.

 

Visiting engines will be announced later this week so keep your eyes peeled...

Also Wimblebury had to be withdrawn from service on Sunday for work to take place on the bottom end and will not be featuring in this years gala.
At the moment the line up is as follows: Florence No.2, Whiston, Bagnall 2842, Bellerophon, Dubs and visitor (s).

Richard

 

Any chance of Charwelton?

Chris

 

Hopefully this will include doing work on its valve settings?

 

A decision is yet to be taken about the work required on Wimblebury pending a full assessment, but it may be extensive enough to warrant a full bottom end overhaul before the loco can return to traffic.