Gala of the year 2010

Before the line reopened to Cauldon Lowe I had never heard of it. Why all the froth over something which had barely reached the consciousness of the preservation movement?

 

Because this is a first, a private company and a preserved railway working together to reopen a line. In just over 6 months it has gone from an overgrown partly flooded mothballed line to a working railway. I gather that you do not read the railway press as it has constantly in there about what was happening for several years.

 

Many Churnet Valley volunteers had dreamt for years that one day they would be lucky enough to access the line. It may not have been a front-page line but the CVR never has been (until this November).

Why all the froth? Well when was the last time an 8 mile "extension" with a 3 mile 1-in-45 was re-opened?

 

Well there's 1 reason there. It's put the CVR on the map! Not a big player so far, but all of a sudden three big visiting engines. Then there is the extension, as Chris says not everyday a line re-opens over 8miles of track in one swoop. Especially when work only started less than a year before the gala.

The question was which gala did people enjoy the most in 2010. Obviously the Staffordshire Moorlands provided a lot of enjoyment for a number of people in November.

 

Over the last couple of years. WHR.

 

Looking at who has voted for what, it appears that a few votes were rather predictable!

 

Guilty as charged! SVR a close 2nd if I had the option, but I voted for the one from the list which I enjoyed the most .

 

Out of curiosity what was good about the gala you voted for?

 

You can see who voted for what, by clicking on the numbers to the right hand side of the poll.

 

The question was what was good about the gala and why did you vote for whatever particular gala......................

 

Shame the NYMR Autumn Gala wasn't on the shortlist. I couldn't go but by all accounts it was considered pretty fantastic.

 

Well, I'm gonna throw a spanner in the works and say the Llangollen April Steam Gala. The 4MT and Stannier Mogul were being driven like I've never seen before on the Friday. Every run behind either of them must have been full throttle. If anyone has seen the "Steam Railway Review of 2010" DVD they will see what I mean on the double-header of those two just after he says, "next time you see us, we should be doing some speed", and that was after the Mogul had shut off!!

 

Does this thread need to be a "sticky" now?

 

Thx - it's been "unstuck".

Richard