Ideal Steam Gala

Having posted on similar thread on Diesels & Electrics just a thought on what folks would say consitutes a great steam gala. Happy to start with 14xx & auto train. (always a winner in my book) ,N2 1744 (nice chunky beast) then maybe add somthing like a nice 0-6-0 (take your pick, anything you like from C1 to Caley 828 via 3205 and 69023) then add say a Hall or Black 5 and top it of with a Pacific (take your pick) and we'll go from there just wondered what other people would think? Oh and a real ale bar on train and either end wouldnt go amiss either!

 

Cambrian.
9017 / 2x Manors / 3205 / 5322 / Couple of Small Prairies and a 75xxx just to provide that early 60s feel to it.

 

"William Francis" on Foxfield Bank would do it for me. Or the Q7 and a 28XX reenacting the Glenfarg trials on Goathland Bank.

 

For me it would be sitting at Swithland Sidings in a deck chair, ideally with a beer tent not to far away, watching the world go by; expresses bustling through whilst freights are looped on one side, whilst a small tank engine potters about shunting wagons on the other. Throw in some good company, and rinse and repeat with slight variations every half hour!

A 'star' loco isn't overly important for me, but I do like galas with a theme as I feel it gives the whole event a bit more of a feel to it.

 

A good Gala tends to entail more watching than travelling so things for watchers to do/ consume/ spend on should be considered ( a mobile bar / viewing gallery that shunts between stations and a siding with a good aspect ?) as for rolling stock im a big fan of the themed train, though this would involve borrowing Coaches as well as engines for most railways - big four or pre grouping trains, or an all pullman through train ( cant bring myself to call anything at 25mph an express) the Standard of goods trains that galas produce is very high, the idea that ' we will have whatever the guest loco is pulling it ' doesnt always sit right...

 

It would be good to get a close look at stock being overhauled or in store. At MHR they open up the loco shed which is great but there are some wonderful things hidden in headshunts such as the steam cranes and Fred Pile. I realise there isn't enough room to display everything but maybe some could be released on rotation.