Llangollen Railway: Autumn Steam Gala, 13th to 15th October

The Llangollen Railway hosts it's annual Autumn Steam Gala over 3 days in October. The theme for this Gala has been entitled 'Along South Western Lines'.

With 2017 marking the 50th anniversary since the end of Steam on the Southern Region, this year’s event includes historic steam locomotives from the old Southern Railway as well as the Great Western Railway.

Guest Engine's announced are:
Ex-SR Battle of Britain Class, No 34053 'Sir Keith Park' - with thanks to Southern Locomotive Ltd and the Severn Valley Railway.

Ex-GWR Heavy Freight Class, No 2807 - with thanks to the Cotswold Steam Preservation Ltd.

The guest engines will run alongside the railway's home fleet.

Attractions:

The main highlights of the gala are due to include:

Intensive timetable over all three days.
Autotrains with GWR Pannier No.6430
Demonstration parcel loading at Berwyn.

 

The home fleet must be a bit thin on the ground at the moment with 1501 having been hired in for the summer. Which locos will be available for the weekend? Is 1501 still around? What has happened to 45337 over the summer? And how far off is 3802?

 

1501 has gone back to the SVR.
45337 is currently out of action.
Not sure on the overhaul of 3802.

 

There is no mention above or on the website, but will the shed be open ?

 

Not on the Friday due to engineering staff working in there, but you should be able to have look on Saturday or Sunday.

Bob.

 

Timetable is now up on the website.

http://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/1-TIMETABLE-OCT-17-A4.pdf

 

Only 1.5 round trips for 2807, seems a shame that members of the home fleet are on more trains than 2807, is it working light engine to Carrog/Corwen or will it be on the back of another train? It would appear to be the a slightly different event to normal, all trains going through Carrog to Corwen, no doubleheading and no freight. I'm sure that despite all this it will be a good event as usual!

 

First chimney first train 1315 for 2807? That's a shame, seems homefleet getting more turns...

 

At least it's a bit better than last year when 52322 only did one return trip on passenger and that started at the far end of the line.

 

Had a great day at the gala yesterday where the weather gods smiled. The first train from Llangollen, pulled by Sir Keith Park, departed 20 minutes late as it struggled initially to even move due to lack of grip, something that it has apparently done both days. It eventually crept away and climbed the bank at walking pace with lots os slippage. A few wags suggesting that it needed to be banked out of Llangollen. After that things slowly started to catch up and all went well. Disappointed that I missed the announcement of the shed tour as that was one of my main reasons for going with four new builds to see.

 

I agree, a terrific variety of locos with good weather and autumn colours.

I don't quite know what was going on with SKPs first Llangollen departure. It sat for 5 minutes blowing lots of steam out of its drain cocks but not moving (or slipping). It only had 5 mark 1s on and an empty van so suggestions of using an 08 to push assist it seemed rather unnecessary. Using the back sanders as it backed into platform 2 might have been a good idea. The crew also had a long wait to departure time so some hand sanding would have been a good idea as I have seen others do in the past. Putting SKP on the first departure of the day on platform 2 instead of 5199 or 2807 seems an odd decision.

As has been asked in #8 why was 2807 used so little when the other locos had three round trips?

 

Llangollen station is on a grade of 1 in 100, on a curve. Platform 2 is notoriously difficult no matter what the loco is. The light pacifics we've had in the past have done a lot better than this example. Possibly an issue with valve events. I had a go on it light engine on Thursday, and it didn't seem to want to move too easily then!

As for 2807, it's mainly how the timetable worked out to keep relevant locos with relevant stock (when heading West). The Bulleid on the southern rake, tank engines on the Suburban set. Another factor is the Railways next gala event where the 28 will be star of the show.

 

Is 2807 staying for the winter then?

 

Yes.

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

 

A great loco for shunting. Don't have to take a single handbrake off!