Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway Steam Gala September 13th to 15th 2024

Guests
- Ex GWR Small Prairie 5552
- Ex LMs Ivatt 2 41241

Home fleet
- Hunslet 1873 'Jessie'
- Hudswell Clarke 1857
- Andrew Barclay 1219

https://www.bhrailway.co.uk/annual-steam-gala

 

Based on the clues on the P&BR Facebook page, I guessing the second visitor is 41241 from Keighley & Worth Valley.

 

Can't give you the answer to that quite yet

 

The timetables are now up.on our website https://www.bhrailway.co.uk/annual-steam-gala

 

What a superb event and brilliant railway. My third visit but the first time I'd had a few hours to really explore and enjoy it properly rather than passing through very quickly on the way to somewhere else or before hurrying back for the school pick-up.

The timetable slipped immediately and given how intense the service was and how much was going on at Furnace Sidings basically all the time I wasn't optimistic for their chances of getting any time back - but by the time I left early this afternoon things were nearly back on time, which was massively impressive.

Lovely atmosphere, great selection of locos, stock in great condition, so much going on all the time, brilliant scenery, fantastic gradients, and all run by a team who seemed to be absolutely loving their job/hobby - which is always infectious at events like this. Having popped in for the Friday of the 2023 gala and thoroughly enjoyed the short time I was there, I also wanted to say thanks for adding the freight to the Friday timetable this year as that added a welcome extra dimension.

As an example of how much was going on, there was a point where I was stood on the bank overlooking the yard on the way down from Furnace Sidings, photographing 5552 hammering up the bank from Blaenavon High Level on the freight, while simultaneously watching the 41241 and Jessie charging out of Furnace Sidings towards Whistle Inn, while 1219 and the auto coach waited in the other platform at Furnace Sidings about to break up its Big Pit shuttles with one of its runs up to Whistle Inn as soon as the 'main line' set returned.

I'll definitely be back for an even longer trip when it's gala time next year, and I'm keen to pay a visit for one of the diesel running days too as that 31 must sound fantastic up those hills.

If you're within a few hours of Blaenavon and have no plans this weekend - go!

 

Views at Whistle and Big Pit Stations.

 

I'll echo the comments above, barely had time to scratch my backside !

 

A very enthusiastically run event. Well done to all.

 

My footage of the two Prairies in action on Saturday. Always great fun at a P&BR gala. I hope you enjoy the video