Watercress Line Spring Steam Gala: 29th April-1st May 2023.

That's welcome news, though I wonder if this means relegating one of the resident fleet to reserve duties or if there's going to be a fairly substantial rejig of the timetable.

 

Wouldn't be surprised if its covering the 7F given what's been discussed.

 

Excellent news and a big thank you to the P&DSR for helping out the Watercress Line.
A recent update on the website would suggest that a new timetable with later trains is on the way as the event times now say "9am to 6pm".
It will be good to see and hear a 52xx over the Alps again after 5224 was based at Ropley for a while.

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Been told its actually going to run

 

Latest I've seen is that 5239 will be as well as 53808, not replacing her. I believe a new timetable will be published soon.

 

I've seen the new WTT and both 5239 and 53808 are scheduled to run, with extra trains added cf the version 1 gala wtt

 

Was already planning on attending for Pendennis Castle, but 5239 is a nice bonus I only found about when I went to book my ticket on the website. I just missed out on 5224 when it was based on the MHR, as it had not long been withdrawn and not had the chance to ride behind 5239 thus far.

 

Now THIS is a gala!
I cannot wait!!

 

Good to see if the railway has taken on the criticism, the first effort was pretty poor for a timetable and didn't justify the cost

 

Booked my ticket for the 29th this afternoon as there was a bit of a surge in bookings for the first day of the Gala after 5239 was announced. Sunday looks like being the quietest day at the moment going by ticket sales. I will probably also attend on the final day of the event on Monday depending on the weather. Let's hope it is not the usual Bank holiday weather.

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Only seems like yesterday when 5224 was storming up Medstead bank but alas it was way back in 2010. It will be great to see 5239 at the gala. Here’s a photo of 5224 on the Saturday evening Belle (May 2010).

 

Is this 5239’s first visit to another line?
Also is it a contender for its first time on the back of a low loader?

 

It operated briefly at the East Somerset Railway in 2019 where its last overhaul was undertaken.
So it is only its second visit to another line.

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Speaking to the MHR Ops manager yesterday, he reckons this is the furthest east 5239 has ever been......

 

Quite correct when it comes to operating 5239 has only ever run on the Paignton to Kingswear line and the East Somerset Railway, however it has in the past made two visits to what is now the South Devon Railway when it visited Buckfastleigh works for attention over the winter of 1984/85 and again after its boiler certificate expired and it moved to Buckfastleigh for overhaul, this being completed at Churston after the Buckfastleigh line was sold off by the DVR. In addition to the above I do recall seeing a photo of 5239 hauling a stock transfer from Paignton to Totnes, I think it was with 7827 and 4588 in tow so this would put it around 1978 when the Manor was withdrawn from service for its first 10 yearly. At the time several stock moves between the two lines were hauled by DVR loco's under their own power.

 

Strange to think that a 52xx would cause much excitement but this really is an interesting development. I wasn't going to this gala but now I'm going to have to find a way to get to it as well as the West Somerset. As a child we used to holiday at Kingswear in the 1970s but it was before 5239 arrived. I have only been back twice in recent times and on neither occasion was it running.

Interesting how the Paignton & Dartmouth seem more ready to lend their engines out these days - 75014 is on the GWSR at the moment.

 

Any sign of the revised timetable? We have tickets but it would be nice to plan the day in advance and to see what will fit with the KA running day on Monday

 

I think I was cooking on that!

 

V2 of the timetable.
https://watercressline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Spring-Gala-2023-Public-Timetable-V2.pdf

I understand that the beer sales will be on the RAT set and the "Beer Junction" hut at Ropley will not be open.

Cheers, Neil

 

Still getting the same timetable as before on that link (it does not feature 5239).

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