Watercress Line Autumn Steam Gala, 4th to 6th October 2024.

Looks like it was a good Gala once again.
I bought an advance ticket for Friday and was all set to attend until a very serious electrical issue in the house occurred on Thursday evening. I spent Friday trying to book a call out from an engineer (who is coming on Sunday).
Are the Western engines straight off after the Gala or will there be additional days of use on the Watercress Line?

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Nice photos. The Motocross event caused small delays for us going home at about 1700. Beware of the Lane separation approaching the exit and follow the signing on the yellow signs

 

There was a track problem at Alton which delayed the 1540

 

The driver of 4144 yesterday said that it should be out next weekend too - they’ll run a 2 train service instead of 1 plus shuttle

 

There was a points failure at Alton which meant that the 1540 departure from Alton was around 20 late. This had a knock-on effect. I caught the 1625 from Alton which had to wait quite a while at Medstead and arrived at Ropley about 15 late. I left at that point. Sounds like things got a bit worse later - maybe a recurrence of the Alton problem?

 

Thank you for the info.

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Some photos from the superb gala weekend now up at https://railwaygalleries.smugmug.com/MidHants/Autumn-Steam-Gala-October-2024 with a selection below

 

Excellent event all round.
Here's to next years spring gala!

 

Does anyone know if either of the visitors are out this Saturday?

Can anyone confirm if 4144 is running this Saturday?

 

It is, the Watercress Line posted about it on Facebook.

 

My video of the pair of Western interlopers romping up and over 'The Alps' on the Friday and Saturday. I hope you enjoy it

 

Really enjoyed this event, my day on Sunday got better and better as it went on.

Having not made it on any of the steam-hauled shuttle days this year, I was keen for the novelty of 'Dave' haulage and glad it had a passenger outing at the gala before going onto driver experience duties but did find it a bit muted - before realising that most of my Austerity memories (probably involving that engine in fact, as is that the Thomas that was formerly Linda?) are from Tenterden bank with quite a few Mk1s behind them, so 1 coach, a milk tank and a brake van from Alresford to Ropley wasn't going to live up to that.

6695 was the absolute star for me, with a brilliant run out of Alton. That must've been superb on the longer rake on Saturday. Didn't realise what a bargain price riding in the brake van on the freight would be too, thoroughly enjoyed that with 6695 and the morning run with 41312 looked like it might've been even better as it absolutely roared through Ropley non-stop.

The behind the scenes tour was a real highlight. It ran on a bit longer than expected and I must admit I started to get distracted replanning my moves in my head once I realised I wasn't going to make it onto my next planned train, but it was well worth it because I spent so much of the rest of the day remembering different things I'd learned from the superb gentleman leading the tour. It's always a privilege to get insight from the people with the skills to restore, maintain and get the best out of heritage traction (and stock), and this tour was particularly engaging, accessible and informative. I booked on it mainly just for the chance to get a bit of a snoop in the workshop from some angles you don't get from the viewing gallery, but got so much more out of the experience than that. Great timing to be there a few days after CanPac really started to take shape again too.

34072 looked like the main draw for a lot of people as its trains seemed particularly full in the middle of the day. I had a lovely late run with it up to Medstead, really atmospheric as the weather got worse and worse but I didn't see any hint of the stereotypical Bulleid wheelslip.

Great food from the buffet at Alresford, great cider recommendation from the bar on the long set, just a really enjoyable day on and off the trains and very good value at £35 advance given I was there for the early moves from the yard just after 8am and didn't leave till the final train of the day 10 hours later.

Just to help complete my notes from the day, am I right in thinking that the steam engines tucked up at the end of the Ropley headshunt now are 34105, 73096 and 828? And that 08032 is the black 08 in the 'diesel depot' section of those sidings? And would anyone be able to tell me what the boilers on the wagon in the siding near Alton are from? Thanks in advance for any help there.

 

You're definitely right about 34105 and 73096 and the man on the Eastleigh Loco Society stall told me that 828 was up there too. Can't answer your other queries though.

 

34105, 73096, 828 and 08032 are indeed in Ropley top yard. I believe the boilers in the Meon siding are from a West Country and an S15 (possibly a spare as I think 828's boiler is at Ropley), but I'm not certain.

 

Some pics from the Saturday.......

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54046935790/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54046492066/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54045625407/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54045626767/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54046820959/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54046937630/in/dateposted-public/