2020 Events

Looking forward to this.

Cab rides ... are they steam or diesel? Not that I mind. How are they booked?

 

Bookings via the website link. Suggest either email or call for clarification on the cab rides. I suspect that they are on the Diesels as the steam locos would require more preparation regarding clothing requirements.

Will

 

Battlefield Line 2020 events https://www.battlefieldline.co.uk/events.html

 

With railways starting to reopen next month, what events are confirmed as cancelled or postponed?

 

Majority of events are cancelled.

 

Given the adaption costs, the extra staff? needed to supervise passengers and the lower passenger numbers I am not surprised.

 

from the GCR website:-
Autumn Steam Gala – Thurs 1st to Sun 4th October 2020
Our Autumn Steam Gala takes place from 1st to 4th October 2020, with a busy passenger service on Thursday, stepping up a gear on Friday with the addition of freight trains, and on Saturday and Sunday a very intensive timetable indeed, including a very frequent passenger service with goods trains and Travelling Post Office demonstrations. An event not to missed!

Up to 9 locomotives in steam!

Further details will be published here closer to the event.

 

I'm suprised that the GCR is going ahead with the gala, unlike some lines like the moors have cancelled their galas?

 

I've gone through the steam event list Black5 posted on page 1 and went to the relevant railway websites to see what is and isn't cancelled for September to November.

• Red not listed on website or is listed as cancelled
• Orange postponed or changed
• Green able to purchase tickets
• Black listed on website

4th to 6th September 2020 - Chinnor & Princess Risborough Railway - Steam Gala
4th to 6th September 2020 - North Norfolk Railway - Autumn Steam Gala
5th to 6th September 2020 - Mid Suffolk Light Railway - Country Railway Gala
11th to 13th September 2020 - Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway - WHR Super-Power (Info from the F&WHR facebook)
12th to 13th September 2020 - Bluebell Railway - See Behind the Steam
12th September 2020 - Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway - Snowdonian Limited New Date: 7th November
12th to 13th September 2020 - Nene Valley Railway - Autumn Steam Gala
17th to 20th September 2020 - Severn Valley Railway - Autumn Steam Gala
25th to 27th September 2020 - Bluebell Railway - Giants of Steam
25th to 27th September 2020 - North Yorkshire Moors Railway - Annual Steam Gala
26th to 27th September 2020 - East Lancashire Railway - Flying Scotsman
26th to 27th September 2020 - Ribble Steam Railway - Autumn Steam Gala
1st to 4th October 2020 - Great Central Railway - Autumn Steam Gala
1st to 4th October 2020 - West Somerset Railway - Autumn Steam Gala
3rd to 4th October 2020 - North Norfolk Railway - Home Fleet Weekend Now: 3rd October - Member & Shareholders Day
9th to 11th October 2020 - East Lancashire Railway - Autumn Steam Gala
9th to 11th October 2020 - Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway - Victorian Vintage Weekend
9th to 11th October 2020 - Swanage Railway - Autumn Steam Gala
10th to 11th October 2020 - Chasewater Railway - Autumn Gala
16th to 18th October 2020 - Dean Forest Railway - Royal Forest of Steam Gala
16th to 18th October 2020 - Llangollen Railway - Autumn Steam Gala
16th to 18th October 2020 - Watercress Line - Autumn Steam Gala
17th to 18th October 2020 - Bodmin & Wenford Railway - China Clay Weekend
18th October 2020 - Amberley Museum - Autumn Industrial Trains & Stationary Engines
30th Oct to 1st Nov 2020 - Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway - Steam Gala
21st to 22nd November 2020 - Great Central Railway - The Last Hurrah

Anything to add or change?

On a personal note, I would like each railway issue a clear statement that events X, Y and Z have been cancelled, rather than quietly deleting them on the events page/social media. Also share that statement rather than hoping that people stumble upon it.

 

I'm pretty certain the two Bluebell events in September have been cancelled - I'm sure there was an announcement to the effect that all events up to the end of September were off and others were under review.

However, from the Chairman's piece in the latest issue of The Bluebell Times:

"We’re also planning a transport-themed special event at the end of October to celebrate our unique locomotives, rolling stock and line."​

I don't know any details but that sounds like it might be similar to last year's "Road meets Rail" event, which was very well received.

Tom

 

Updated list
All info is from the respective railways website. Please post anything that I have missed or has changed.

2020 enthusiast events from 24th October (updated 7/12)

Events with tickets for sale:
28th-31st December & 1st-3rd January 2021 Spa Valley Christmas and New Year's Sir Keith Park Hauled Mince Pie Specials
1st-2nd January 2021 Epping Ongar New Year Steam Days

 

Spa Valley Railway have added the Sir Keith Park Launch Weekend on 12th & 13th September. Tickets are on sale.

Epping Ongar Railway's Diesel Gala that was supposed to be the same weekend has been deleted from the EOR website.

 

Swanage Autumn Gala cancelled. https://swanagerailway.co.uk/events/detail/autumn-steam-gala-2020

 

Changes to event list:

• Cancelled: 3rd October North Norfolk members & shareholders day
• New event: 3rd October Epping Ongar class 37 running day
• Event changed: 27th & 28th December Spa Valley Winter Warm Up has become part of the Mince Pie Specials

 

Tickets now on sale: Mid Hants gala
Canelled: Great Central gala

 

Class 66 running day at Nene Valley on 27th September added. More info https://nvr.org.uk/product.php/183/class-66-running-day/

 

Changes to the list:

• Tickets are on sale for Epping Ongar's Class 37 & Class 47 running days
• Ffestiniog's Victorian Weekend is now a Bygones Weekend. Further info https://www.festrail.co.uk/news_and_events_item/bygones-weekend/

 

Spa Valley's 'Not Quite A Beer Festival' has been cancelled and replaced with a 'Sir Keith Park Running Weekend' - with the Bulleid hauling in both directions. A range of dining services are also on offer.
https://www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk/product.php/251/sir-keith-park-steam-weekend

 

Changes to the list:

• East Lancs steam gala cancelled. http://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/plan-your-day-out/important-notice-.aspx
• Nene Valley Class 66 running day now has tickets on sale.

I'll add the Bluebell's Off The Rails event (24th, 25th & 31st October and 1st November, info from Bluebell's Facebook) and Great Central's 'First Hurrah' (7th & 8th November, info from the GCR Rail Mail e-newsletter) to the list, when event details are on the respective websites. Any other enthusiast events I've missed?

 

Middleton Gala cancelled.
Ffestiniog Railway Bygones Weekend tickets go on sale tomorrow 9am.