[Feb 23, 2019] CVR Winter Steam Gala 2019 ft CALEY 419 (Churnet Valley Railway)

Join us for the Churnet Valley Railway's annual season opening event - The Winter Steam Gala. Being held over the weekend of 23/24 February 2019 a selection of locomotives will operate a varied level of services along both the Churnet Valley and Cauldon Lowe lines.

> https://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk/events/feb-winter-steam-gala-2019.html <

LOCOS

• Caledonian Railway "439 Class" no. 419 (Courtesy of Scottish Railway Preservation Society)
• Austerity no. 3694 "Whiston" (Courtesy of Foxfield Railway)
• United States of America Transportation Corps S160 no. 5197 or 6046
• Polish TKh no. 2944 "Hotspur"

We are sorry to announce that previously advertised 7827 Lydham Manor has been made unavailable for this event by the locomotives' owners. Both groups hope to entertain a visit in the future however.

EVENT ATTRACTIONS

• 419 first visit to England since 1982!
• Selection of trains along steeply graded Cauldon branch
• Double-headed Tanks to Ipstones
• Frequent service along CVR
• Cheddleton Engine Shed open to visitors - View overhaul of LMS 8F no. 48173
• Dave Gibson Photography Display at Consall Station

CATERING

• The Tearooms at Froghall will be serving freshly prepared food and drink all weekend. Arrive early and enjoy an Engineman’ breakfast to start of your day!
• Consall station will be offering light refreshments from their restored tea trolley on the platform throughout the weekend.
• The Goods Shed Tearooms at Cheddleton will be serving hot & cold snacks to eat in or takeaway. This will be supplemented by our Breakfast BBQ on the station platform.

ON THE DAY FARES

• Adult: £TBA
• Senior (60+): £TBA
• Child (4-14): £TBA
• Under 4's: FREE
• Family (2A+2C): £TBA

WATCH THE GALA LIVE
http://home.btconnect.com/cvrailway/webcams/webcams.htm

PAST EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

* CVR25 DVD still available from our Froghall shop

Post-event Driver Experience Courses also available, click >here< for details

 

https://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk/news/whiston-upon-a-star

Guest no2 announced..!

 

Hotel booked. Now to hope the weather holds!

 

The website has now been updated with the public timetable for the weekend along with the ticket pricing. There is a discount available for booking online.

https://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk/events/feb-winter-steam-gala-2019.html

A couple of highlights for the weekend are 7827 Lydham Manor working unassisted on the 4 miles of 1 in 45 to Ipstones along with the second train to Ipstones each day featuring 3964 Whiston and 2944 Hotspur working double headed.

The gala weekend will be the last chance to ride behind 7827 and Whiston before they return to their home railways.

 

Is Lydham Manor likely to be working trains either before or after the gala?

 

The gala weekend is 7827’s only passenger services.

It has another 6 days booked on photo charters and footplate experiences.

 

Thanks for the info'!

 

I see the CVR have announced that 7827 is no longer able to participate in the gala, but they have been able to secure the SRPS's Caledonian Tank 419 for the event instead. The last time 419 operated south of the border was 1982!

 

That is disappointing, and may mean that I don't come up. I was at Bo'ness in November for the reunion, so I've seen 419 rather recently!

 

Correct, DSR have had to withdraw 7827 as whilst the loco herself is operational, repairs are needed to their remaining fleet which could jeopardise their own services. However they are still wanting to see 7827 visit the CVR, so hopefully we can re-organise something in the future.

Meanwhile we look forward to seeing 419 operate in England for the first time since her 1982 visit to Bluebell. The only chance you'll get to ride behind 419 will be on this single weekend, so make the most of it! Now to rewrite the WTT...

 

Really? 419 working in England is rare, two entire generations have passed by that will never have seen such! I too visited Bo'ness in November, and yet during that event she never operated solo. CVR you will get that chance as she'll be hauling the shuttle set along the CVR.

 

Only operated a photo charter solo at Bo'ness since she returned to steam; bit light footed and underpowered for our gradients on any more than 3 or 4 coaches and we have been running 5 or 6 recently! CVR will be her first solo passenger train since overhaul.

 

Personally I'd say 419 is better than the manor, definitely going to see this :O

 

https://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk/news/winter-steam-gala-timetable-updated

Diagrams updated to account for 419 visit. The shuttle set takes roughly 27-mins to get from Consall to Cheddleton via LBJ.
Spare Fireman at Chedd Sat / S160 Fireman Sun. Anyone around feel free to let yourself be known.

 

Help required. Coming for the gala and considering where to park. Used Cheddleton before and its been very busy and difficult. Froghall any better on a gala day? Thanks

 

The answer is to get there early, preferably at least an hour before the first train.

 

Froghall has the bigger car park and would be recommended, however if you plan on visiting early Cheddleton is good to see the locos being prepared for service.

 

Hopefully going to make Sunday- will have a 3 week old baby at that point so I guess it could be described as 'child permitting'.

Never seen 419 in steam so really hope I can get down.

Chris

 

Sadly I won't be up, but I wish you every success with it, and I hope to get to a future gala instead.

 

She's arrived, and now on shed at Cheddleton. Keep an eye on the webcams, mutterings she will be going for a gauging run later this afternoon.