2024 Galas

As with previous years, this thread is for dates for galas and other enthusiast events.

March
2-3 Didcot Pendennis Castle's 100th Birthday Party https://didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/product.php/161/pendennis-castles-100th-birthday-party
2-3 Nene Valley The Weekend Commute https://nvr.org.uk/product.php/508/the-weekend-commute/611d3bcf9f119d94de08acf77da3ec71

15-17 East Lancashire Legends of Steam https://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/events-activities/legends-of-steam/
16-17 East Somerset Steam Gala https://eastsomersetrailway.com/events/view/steam-gala-2023
16-17 Great Central & Great Central (N) GCR 125 Anniversary Open Weekend https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/whatson2024/
16-17 Statfold Barn Spectacle of Steam https://www.statfold.com/spectacleofsteam

21-24 Keighley & Worth Valley Steam Gala https://kwvr.co.uk/events/the-steam-gala/
22-24 Swanage Victorian Weekend https://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/events/view/victoria-weekend
23-24 Ribble Steam Railway Spring Steam Gala https://ribblesteam.org.uk/event/spring-steam-gala-2024/

31 Mid Suffolk Easter Steam Up https://www.mslr.org.uk/easter-steam-up/

April
1 Mid Suffolk Easter Steam Up https://www.mslr.org.uk/easter-steam-up/

4-7 Avon Valley 50th Anniversary Weekend https://www.avonvalleyrailway.org/events/50th-anniversary-weekend/

11-13 Ecclesbourne Valley & Peak Rail Twin Peaks Diesel Gala https://www.e-v-r.com/events/ https://www.peakrail.co.uk/twin-peaks-gala/
12-14 Llangollen Branch Line Gala https://llangollen-railway.co.uk/events/
13 Talyllyn Diesel Day
13-14 East Lancashire Western Region Weekend https://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/events-activities/western-region-weekend/
13-14 Kent & Easy Sussex Diesel Weekend https://kesr.org.uk/diesel-weekend/
14 Amberley Spring Industrial Trains https://www.amberleymuseum.co.uk/whats-on/

18-21 Severn Valley Spring Steam Gala https://svr.co.uk/event/spring-steam-gala-2/
20-21 Welshpool & Llanfair Vintage Weekend https://wllr.org.uk/upcoming-events

26-28 Great Central Spring Diesel Gala https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/whatson2024/
26-28 Watercress Spring Steam Gala https://watercressline.co.uk/special-days/spring-steam-gala/
27-28 Epping Ongar Festival of Steam: Saint & Hall Weekend Gala https://www.eorailway.co.uk/events/festival-of-steam---saint-and-hall-weekend/

May
3-6 West Somerset Spring Steam Spectacular https://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/events/view/spring-steam-spectacular
4-5 Ffestiniog Friends of the Ffestiniog (Info from Social Media)
4-5 Welsh Highland Heritage 60 Years of Preservation (Info from Social Media)
4-6 Bressingham Heritage Steam Gala https://bressingham.co.uk/events/2024/heritage-steam-gala-2024
4-6 Churnet Valley Steam Gala https://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk/events/steam-gala.html
4-6 Epping Ongar Festival of Steam: Gala https://www.eorailway.co.uk/events/festival-of-steam-gala-event/
4-6 Midland Railway Butterley Victorian Train Weekend https://www.midlandrailway-butterley.co.uk/whats-on/victorian-train-weekend-2/
4-6 Ruislip Lido Gala https://www.ruisliplidorailway.org/events

10-12 Bluebell Branchline Weekend https://www.bluebell-railway.com/branch-line-gala-weekend-2024/
10-12 Didcot 55 Years at Didcot Railway Centre & the return of 1466 https://didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/...-didcot-railway-centre-and-the-return-of-1466
10-12 Swanage Diesel Gala https://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/events/view/diesel-gala
11-12 Epping Ongar Festival of Steam: Leander's Farewell https://www.eorailway.co.uk/events/festival-of-steam---leanders-farewell/
11-12 Great Central The Great Central Open Extravaganza https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/whatson2024/
11-12 Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Steam & Diesel Gala (Info from Social Media)

16-19 Severn Valley Spring Diesel Festival https://svr.co.uk/event/spring-diesel-festival/
18-19 Apedale Listerfest https://avlr.org.uk/event/listerfest-18-and-19-may-2024
18-19 Great Central Heritage Bus Rally and Railcar Weekend https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/whatson2024/

24-26 Bo'ness & Kinneil Diesel Gala https://www.bkrailway.co.uk/events
25-26 Bodmin Spring Steam Gala https://bodminrailway.co.uk/things-to-do/2023-galas/
25-26 Dean Forest Spring Steam Gala (Info from DFR ticket site)
25-27 Fairbourne Railway Count Louis 100th Birthday Gala http://www.fairbournerailway.com/
25-27 Gloucestershire Warwickshire Cotswold Festival of Steam https://www.gwsr.com/events/cotswold-festival-of-steam-2024
25-27 Mid Norfolk Spring Diesel Gala https://www.midnorfolkrailway.co.uk/dieselgala
26-27 Blaenavon Coal Train Weekend https://www.bhrailway.co.uk/coal-train-weekend
27 Leighton Buzzard Diesel Gala https://www.buzzrail.uk/special-events/
29-31 Great Central Steam to Mountsorrel https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/whatson2024/

June
1-2 Great Central Steam to Mountsorrel & Railways at Night https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/whatson2024/
1-2 Kent & East Sussex 50th Anniversary Gala https://kesr.org.uk/50th-anniversary-gala/
1-2 Llangollen Diesel/Industrial Heritage Gala https://llangollen-railway.co.uk/events/

6-8 West Somerset Diesel Festival https://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/calendar
7-9 Swanage Strictly Bullied 2 https://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/events
8-9 Statfold Barn Summer Spectacle of Steam https://www.statfold.com/events

14-16 North Yorkshire Moors Diesel Gala https://www.nymr.co.uk/Event/diesel-gala
15-16 Amerton Steam Gala https://amertonrailway.co.uk/events/
15-16 Hampton & Kempton Gala Weekend https://hamptonkemptonrailway.org.uk/whats-on/special-events-2024/

20-23 Keighley & Worth Valley Diesel Gala https://kwvr.co.uk/events/diesel-gala-2/
21-23 Tanfield Legends of Industry Gala https://tanfield.vticket.co.uk/product.php/47/legendsofindustrygala2024

27-29 East Lancashire Summer Diesel Gala https://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/events-activities/summer-diesel-gala/
28-30 Mid Norfolk Summer Steam Event https://www.midnorfolkrailway.co.uk/steamgala

July
6-7 Talyllyn Anything Goes Gala https://www.talyllyn.co.uk/events/anything-goes-gala/

12-14 Gloucestershire Warwickshire Diesel Gala https://www.gwsr.com/events/diesel-gala-2
12-14 Spa Valley Summer Steam Gala https://www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk/product.php?xProd=274
12-14 Watercress Diesel Gala https://watercressline.co.uk/special-days/diesel-gala/
13-14 Welshpool & Llanfair Vintage Weekend https://wllr.org.uk/upcoming-events

20-21 Amberley Rail Gala https://www.amberleymuseum.co.uk/whats-on/
20-21 Hollycombe Railway Weekend https://www.hollycombe.co.uk/events/railway-weekend20jul

25-28 Ecclesbourne Valley 14s at 60 https://www.e-v-r.com/14s-at-60/

August
2-4 Spa Valley Summer Diesel Gala https://www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk/product.php/6508/summer-diesel-gala
3-4 West Lancs Summer Gala https://www.westlancsrailway.org/special-events

10-11 Great Central Railways at Work https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/whatson2024/
10-11 Peak Rail Steam Gala https://www.peakrail.co.uk/mixed-traffic-gala-2/

24-26 Bala Lake August Steam Gala https://bala-lake-railway.co.uk/events/august-gala/
24-26 Midland Railway Butterley Victorian Trains to the Seaside https://www.midlandrailway-butterley.co.uk/whats-on/victorian-trains-to-the-seaside-2/
24-26 Vale of Rheidol Rheidol Steam Festival https://www.rheidolrailway.co.uk/events/steam-festival-weekend/

30 Welshpool & Llanfair Steam Gala https://wllr.org.uk/upcoming-events

September
1 Welshpool & Llanfair Steam Gala https://wllr.org.uk/upcoming-events

6-8 Great Central Autumn Diesel Gala https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/whatson2024/
7-8 Bodmin China Clay Gala https://bodminrailway.co.uk/things-to-do/2023-galas/

13-14 East Lancashire Autumn Diesel Gala https://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/events-activities/autumn-diesel-gala/
13-15 Blaenavon Annual Steam Gala https://www.bhrailway.co.uk/annual-steam-gala
14-15 Amerton Anything Goes Gala https://amertonrailway.co.uk/events/
14-15 Dean Forest Diesel Gala (Info from DFR ticket site)
14-15 Welsh Highland Superpower Weekend (Info from Social Media)
14-15 Welsh Highland Heritage 60 Years of Volunteering (Info from Social Media)

19-22 Severn Valley Autumn Steam Gala https://svr.co.uk/event/autumn-steam-gala-2023-4/
20-22 Epping Ongar Diesel Gala https://www.eorailway.co.uk/events/autumn-diesel-gala/
21-22 Midland Railway Gala DMU Gala https://www.midlandrailway-butterley.co.uk/whats-on/dmu-gala-2/
22 West Lancs Working Engines Gala https://www.westlancsrailway.org/special-events

26-29 North Yorkshire Moors Annual Steam Gala https://www.nymr.co.uk/Listing/Category/whats-on
28-29 Didcot All in a Day's Work Steam Gala https://didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/calendar.php
28-29 Leighton Buzzard Gala Weekend https://www.buzzrail.uk/special-events/
28-29 Peak Rail Anything Goes Gala https://www.peakrail.co.uk/anything-goes-gala/
28-29 Sittingbourne & Kemsley End of Season Gala https://www.sklr.net/timetable-fares/special-events/gala/
28-29 Talyllyn Heritage Weekend https://www.talyllyn.co.uk/events/heritage-weekend-2/
29 Telford Anything Goes Diesel Gala https://www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/events.html

October
3-6 Great Central Autumn Steam Gala https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/whatson2024/
3-6 Severn Valley Autumn Diesel Bash https://svr.co.uk/event/autumn-diesel-bash/
4-6 Ffestiniog Bygones Weekend (Info from Social Media)
4-6 Watercress Autumn Steam Gala https://watercressline.co.uk/autumn-steam-gala/
5-6 Llangollen Heritage Railcar Weekend https://llangollen-railway.co.uk/events/
5-6 Middleton Autumn Gala https://www.middletonrailway.org.uk/special-events/

11-13 Bluebell Giants of Steam https://www.bluebell-railway.com/special-events/
11-13 Bo'ness & Kinneil Steam Gala https://www.bkrailway.co.uk/fares
11-13 East Lancashire Autumn Steam Gala https://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/events-activities/autumn-steam-gala/

19-20 Tanfield Run It Gala https://tanfield.vticket.co.uk/product.php/49/runitgalaweekend2024
20 Amberley Industrial Trains https://www.amberleymuseum.co.uk/whats-on/

26-27 Gloucestershire Warwickshire Autumn Showcase https://www.gwsr.com/events/autumn-showcase-2024
26-27 Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Autumn Gala https://www.rhdr.org.uk/special-events/

November
2-3 Dean Forest Royal Forest of Steam Gala (Info from DFR ticket site)

9-10 East Lancashire DMU Gala https://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/events-activities/dmu-gala/

16-17 Great Central Last Hurrah Steam Gala https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/whatson2024/

December
27-30 Great Central Twixmas Steam Gala https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/whatson2024/

 

KESR 50th Anniversary Gala on 1st and 2nd June.

 

Talyllyn Railway:
July 5-7 - Beer Festival
July 6/7 - Anything Goes and Garden Railway Galas
July 20/21 - Awdry Extravaganza 4
September 28/29 - Heritage Weekend (provisional date, TBC)

 

Our Gala Dates at the West Somerset in 2024 are as follows -

Spring Steam Spectacular
Friday 3rd May to Bank Holiday Monday 6th May

Summer Diesel Festival
Thursday 6th June to Saturday 8th June

 

Gala dates for Spa Valley [so far].

Winter Steam Up!
10th - 11th February.
https://www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk/product.php/6507/winter-steam-up

Summer Diesel Gala.
2nd - 4th August.
https://www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk/product.php/6508/summer-diesel-gala

 

I've updated the first post with GCR and F&WHR events

 

Epping Ongar Railway:
Steam Gala 26 to 28 April
Diesel Gala 20 to 22 September

Expect first guest announcement for steam gala shortly.

 

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway -
25th-27th May: Cotswold Festival of Steam
12th-14th July: Diesel Gala
26th-27th October: Autumn Showcase

 

Dean Forest Railway -
Spring Steam Gala - May 25th - 26th
Diesel Gala - September 14th - 15th
Royal Forest of Steam Gala - November 2nd - 3rd

 

Added date:
Spa Valley Summer Steam Gala.
12th - 14th July.
https://www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk/...r-steam-gala/af9c0164fd586b0a2270625de53b96df

 

April 13/14 - Branch Line/Steam Gala weekend at the Llangollen, combined with official launch of 7754.

 

Watercress Line events now up on the website:
Spring Steam Gala: 26th-28th April
Engineering Open Weekend: 14th-15th September
Autumn Steam Gala: 4th-6th October

Sent from my XQ-BT52 using Tapatalk

 

Bluebell is also running a gala / steam up on New Year's Day, with goods trains and what is planned to be the first public running (other than Santas) of Sir Archibald Sinclair.

See https://www.bluebell-railway.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Bluebell-Railway-New-Years-Steam-TT-.png

Tom

 

Looks interesting, might make an appearance.
Pending whether it is a Steam gala or a Mixed Traction gala.
Honestly, a visitor would secure it.
[Not "Robert" before anyone gets clever.]

 

Shouldn't it be 26th - 27th?

 

Saturday is the 25th, some railways just run a normal day on the bank holiday, Bodmin are doing the 25-26th only too.

 

Yes, my bad, was just a bit tired when I wrote that.
Glad to see they are holding something again.

2024 certainly looks to be a great one for enthusiast [and non-enthusiast] events.

 

They getting a guest for that or is it just home fleet?
Not like it wouldn't be a good event with no guest.

 

Battlefield Line have confirmed a Winter Warmer steam Gala on 3-4 February. First confirmed attendee is GWR Large Prairie 5199, who is currently operating the railway's festive services, and will be appearing right towards the end of her current boiler ticket. Info on social media, not yet on the website

 

Do the Battlefield Line still have their own locomotive?