8F Steam Gala - Peak Rail - 23rd to 25th May 2009

Peak Rail have included details of the first public outing of 48624 on their website. The link to their website gives a brief overview as well the timings of passenger and freight services over the weekend

http://www.peakrail.co.uk/stmgala.htm

 

what a great shame it clashes with the ELR 40s weekend ](*,) , but wishing Peakrail every success, I`m sure it will be a success =D>

 

Someone please tell them that loco they've been using non stop for the past few years is NOT a J94! ](*,) Might pay a visit on the Saturday though

 

After a succesful loaded test run last thursday,everything is looking good for next weekend,fingers crossed!
Here's a quick phot of the loco looking very smart on the maroon stock. http://christopher8062.fotopic.net/p58224428.html
I'm rostered on wd150 for saturday and monday,so hopefully will see some of you about during the weekend.
Certainly one to look forward to anyway,first time the railway have had two operational steam locos on site since Scotsmans visit in 2000,if I recall correctly.

 

I was really wanting to attend this weekend, but i can't now due transport issues, does anyone know of any future use of the engine? I'm not looking for exact dates as i'm sure there not available yet but what kind of steaming agreement is set up between the engine and Peak Rail, a regular steamer or once a month?

 

As far as I'm aware,a running agreement is still in negotiations.
Hopefully something is sorted,so as to give our austerity a well earned rest!

 

This will be the first time I have visited Peak Rail as a customer. I used to work in Darley Dale, so have walked along side the line many times, watching the trains pass by and I have watched the 8F slowly coming together whilst it was in the yard there.

As I only live in Alfreton it's right on my door step. I have not been that bothered about coming to peak rail before, but the steaming of the 8F certainly has attracted me.

Needless to say there will be others coming along this weekend for the first time, due to the running of this engine! The 8F is just what they need down there. I hope the steaming agreement is setup soon and that all goes well for 8624.

Personally, not sure about the Top & Tail and Double Heading they have proposed for the weekend, I personally think this a bizzare idea, but it's their call. I'd have prefered to see one or the other handling a train, or (carriage stock and loop availability permitting) two trains running, passing at D/D.

 

Looks like the trip this weekend is now back on I'll be down on the Monday, really looking forward to it now, should be great to explore somewhere i've never really filmed before, although it's being quite a few years ago now since i was last at the railway and even then never took up the opportunity of filming due to being on the trains all day, therefore does anyone know of any decent spots of which we could get to in order to film?

 

Excellent.
Regarding locations,there is a footpath the lengh of the line,with a few locations in adjacent films etc which can be good with a little bit of imagination.
Bridge 38 at Darley dale is usually good,but may be difficult with the 8f facing Rowsley.

 

Perhaps we ough to have a local Natpres meeting on Saturday- in the bar at noon!

Tim

 

Ok thanks Chris, i'll be taken a further look at Multimap tomorrow.
Also what kind of gradients are available at Peak Rail? As in when does the engine normally work or at least work to produce some smoke?

Also are lineside passes available?

Look forward to seeing you all on Monday.

Si

 

From rowsley,the line descends steadily to Darley dale,where after the station there is a small climb upto bridge 38,before dropping down towards matlock again.
On the return from matlock,the austerity is worked up-grade to Darley Dale,before levelling out,and then another climb to Rowsley from Church Lane crossing...
There is nothing 'severe' though,and it I doubt that the 'eight' will have too much difficulty.

 

Are the two engines now top & tailing all day Saturday/Sunday/Monday?

 

The bar it is then - bar coach or bar pub?

 

Bar Coach. Rumour is that Cap'n Pete, 9F Phil and a lot of old friends will be around during the day. Get your ticket early, half the valley will be turning up for this.

Tim

 

Dispensation has been granted for boys jolly day out

 

Despite a rather worrying moment this morning when the loco was taken off the train for attention, after running slightly warm, the volunteers from the 48624 Society had the loco back in fine form this afternoon and it went back into service. Good attendance, but hopefully better weather will bring plenty of people to Derbyshire over the next couple of days. Well done to all who had any involvement in the resurrection of this fine loco - a true credit and a much needed motive power shot in the arm for Peak Rail.

Many congratulations and here's to the next ten years.

Regards

 

As Andy said we had a VERY worrying moment, after the Directors/shareholders special had run non stop from Matlock to Rowsley we had the essential check round and found the firemans side big end to be running hot. The decision was made to shed 8624 and do our best to rectify the problem as fast as possible. When we got the Con rod down we found the felt pad was glazed over with white metal for 2/3rds of its length thus blocking oil flow, so one new pad and some scraping + a lot of adrenaline we managed to get 24 back out, Less than 3hrs to strip and rebuild a con rod and back in traffic ! is this a record ?
PS anyone else had problems with pad glazing over like this ?

Simon Hunter.

 

Slightly off-topic, but do Peak Rail have any plans to do work on the river bridge immediately North of Matlock Riverside station?

46118