Didcot Railway Centre | Autumn Steam Gala | 5th-7th September 2025

1450 and O1 No. 65 announced as guests

running alongside 1466
Autumn Steam Gala 2025 - featuring 1466, 1450 and SECR 01 Class No 65 | Didcot Railway Centre

 

65, 1450 & 1466 will also be in use over the August Bank Holiday weekend https://didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/product.php/1315/launch-of-pioneering-locomotive-1466

 

Additional running dates for 65 & 1450 according to the loco roster:
20 August 65 & 1450
27 August 65 and Trojan
30 August Pendennis Castle and 1450

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Today started with 1466 & autocoach 231 on the main demo line and 1450 & autocoach 92 on the branch demo line.

65 & autocoach 190 have just swapped with 1450 & 92 on the branch.

EDIT 1330: The Autotanks and their autocoaches swapped on the main demo line.

EDIT 1430: 65 & 190 off branch, 1466 & 231 on.

EDIT 1500: 1450 & 92 off main, 65 & 190 on.

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Any advice about trying to visit STEAM at Swindon and Didcot in one day? Thinking of doing STEAM in the morning and Didcot in the Afternoon.

As well as seeing the 2 14XX's (1466 for the first time), hoping that 4079 in its current condition before it regains it's usual tender and on display outside for the event.

 

Currently planning a visit on Friday with the intention of riding behind 65 and 1466 during the day. A FB message from Didcot suggests 1466 is static only on Friday. Can anyone confirm this please?

 

To answer my own question, Didcot have confirmed in an email this morning that a decision will be taken and announcement made tomorrow (Thursday) as to whether 1466 will work on Friday or not. Presumably early ticket snagging issues.

 

Announcement - 1466

Since the launch back into traffic of 1466, some technical issues have come to light between our insurance company and the contractors employed in the overhaul of the engine’s boiler. Whilst these matters are being resolved, unfortunately this means we have been asked not to steam the engine.

As you can imagine, this is quite a blow to the Great Western Society and the team managing the restoration of the engine. After several lengthy delays in the engine’s overhaul, we were confident we had her back in service for the years to come.

Despite this, we have decided to press on with the proposed gala and there will still be an opportunity to see both 1466 and 1450 together at the front of the engine shed posing for photographs. Other highlights over the course of the weekend will include 1450 running an ‘Autocoach sandwich’ on our branch line. Our other visiting engine, SECR 01 No65 will run both a freight train and passenger rides with two of our Victorian bogie coaches.

In addition, our very own Pendennis Castle and Trojan will also both be in steam. This will be your last chance to travel behind Pendennis with the 3,500 gallon tender. Again the Castle will be operating with the two Victorian coaches, 1340 Trojan will also be in steam providing rides and shunting round the site.

We are really sorry that we have had to make this decision, which hasn't been taken lightly. We know that you were all looking forward to seeing it this weekend and sincerely apologise that we aren't able to deliver on this occasion.

We are confident however, that with two visiting engines and Pendennis and Trojan providing extra steam power that it will still be a great weekend regardless.

 

Hello. Just checking the opening times for the gala tomorrow?

 

Visiting tomorrow, but decided to save visiting STEAM for another day, due to costs and awkwardness of travel trying to do both.

A shame about 1466 not being in action and must be a gut punch so soon after it's return, but hopefully the situation can resolved very soon and looking forward to still seeing it on display with 1450.

But on the plus side it'll be great seeing 4079 and Trojan in action along with the O1 and 1450.

 

We are visiting tomorrow and looking forward to it. A real shame about 1466. I hope that the situation can be resolved quickly. Replacing 1466 with 4079 and Trojan is a nice bonus.
Will the sales coach/wagons be open as we didn't get to visit them a couple of weeks ago at the 1466 launch event?

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The antiquary and the heavy freight loco sales shops were both open today.

 

Stopped by this afternoon for a few hours, sadly missed the goods train operation in the morning having popped in for a couple of days the previous fortnight to do a bit of signwriting on a Mica and Mogo to help a fellow wagon group out.

 

Really enjoyed my trip to the gala today. We got there about 10:30 and left about 16:30, as things were being wound down.

It's disappointing about 1466, but actually, having 4 locos in steam definitely gave it more of a gala feel, with something going on all the time.
Did confuse me a bit about lunchtime when I heard the sound of a steam loco coming from a completely unexpected direction... and then realised it was Bahamas and Clun Castle passing by on the main line (sadly out of view round the west curve, pity they couldn't have popped into the adjacent sidings for a bit to say 'hi'!)

The new step-free access to the site is fantastic, so much better than the steep staircase that was there before. It was greatly appreciated by the mobility scooter user in our party, as well as muggins 'ere (who previously had the job of carrying it up the stairs for them!).

My late grandfather used to volunteer at Didcot and took me regularly from a young age, so it's a place very close to my heart, and it's great to see continued progress on the site, given they've had a few rough patches in recent years.

 

Thank you

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Had a nice day at Didcot yesterday, managed to get rides behind all but the 01, but I have plenty of experience with that all ready and as much as I love it, it wasn't my main reason for visiting. Also travelled in all the carriages, usually swapping carriages at each end.

On arrival, not only were the two 14xx's displayed together in the yard, along with 6023, so were the two Castles around the corner from the shed by the museum, while Trojan and the 01 were running on the 2 running lines.

Here's a few pictures and might post some more soon.

 

We had an enjoyable day at the gala yesterday. We had a great lunch to start the visit off and followed this up with a browse in the gift shop where snapped up 3 of the excellent new 1466 t-shirts.
After this we explored the Centre and had a few rides on the Branch Line and main demo line trains. It was good to have four locos in steam as there was always something going on around the site.
1450 looked good in the auto train "sandwich". It was an unusual experience to hear the loco working from the centre of the formation.



No.65 was matched well with the beautifully presented stock on the main demonstration line.



It was good to see Trojan involved in the action as the loco performed various shunting moves around the site. It provided a spectacular show on the steep incline to the coal stage as it struggled to get a grip on the rails. I captured the loco having a well earned rest at the end of the day with No.65.


Didcot's preservation pioneer 1466 took a prominent position in front of the shed.
She was wearing a wreath on her smokebox door as a mark of respect for Jon Barlow who had sadly passed away recently at the age of 80. Jon was one of the original four 16 year old schoolboys who were the founders of what would become the Great Western Society and Didcot Railway Centre.


R.I.P. Jon


4079 finished the day by taking over duties on the main demo line.


6023 was enjoying the sunshine after being shut in the works at Derby.


It was good to see some investigative work being undertaken on the broad gauge loco Fire Fly. An information notice was on display stating that it is hoped to return the loco to steam depending on what work is required. The broad gauge line is also going to receive some attention to enable broad gauge operations to start again.

Thanks to everyone involved with the gala. We look forward to the next one.

 

Looking at some of those photos out paths may have crossed a couple of times.

I left around 5, just after 4079 came off the demo line and started shunting the carriages away and also took pictures of Trojan, 65 and 1450 on the ash pit road. Also got some pictures myself of 4079 prior to its afternoon turns like you posted.

 

Some footage from this weekend's gala event at Didcot, featuring guest locos SECR O1 No.65 and GWR 1400 Autotank 1450.