K&WVR Steam Gala 19-22 March 2026

I must admit I have been looking forward to this gala but Thameslink have had other ideas today and by the time their services to Peterborough start this morning, by the time I get there I'll need to turn round and come back. I've had a good run of late with trains and connections working out but so far this year, I'm starting to wonder why I bother! :-(

 

Just for confirmation: 45407 arrived tender first at Haworth last night.

 

Looks like 78022 instead of 1054 on the 0925 ex Keighley with 52044.

 

Timetables was updated last week to show 78022 was running today and other changes to other days

 

Worth mentioning the timetables was updated under the Steam Gala page last week rather than the main timetable info

 

Nunney Castle put in a great Show today. I hope to see more over the next days.

 

Myself and a friend will be up tomorrow, looking forward to having a run with 5029- 4079 was spectacular when she visited and we had a couple of brilliant runs up the line.

 

Thanks for the flag, all timetables are now updated. FYI, 78022 replaces 41241 tomorrow (Friday 20th March)

 

Following this on Railcam as though I was very, very keen to make my first visit to the KWVR for this event, in the end I can't really fit two days out into this week and the Bluebell's won the battle by only being four hours' drive each way for me not six - but just wanted to say 1) that Castle sounds incredible even through laptop speakers and 2) Ann + Dora is a really fun sideshow.

Hoping to at least do a KWVR running day sometime this summer so I can fully suss the area out as part of a northern road trip then definitely want to be at this gala's 2027 or '28 equivalent as this line really looks (and sounds!) fantastic.

 

Good day at the KWVR today despite some late running.

Much busier than I had expected, was a struggle to find seats on the Nunney Castle/Braunton double header.

Best run of the day was our final run with 45407 and 78022, some lively acceleration. Second best run was Dora/Sentinel with 45407 on the tail end, think the crews on the industrials were slightly deafened!

Was great to see 5029, however it's performance wasn't a patch on 4079s a couple of years back which was one of the best preserved line runs I have ever had!

Chris

 

It wouldn't be a KWVR gala without a bit of late running! We avoided the Nunney/Braunton double header but based on my view of it as we slid past at Damems it looked to be the most heavily loaded train of the day by a comfortable margin. We found seats at the noisy end of every train we wanted to travel on despite there being a very healthy number of people around.

Highlights were the 1054/52044 and 78022/45407 double headers. The 2MT was creating its own firework display on the last run up the hill. Volcanic stuff! Thanks to all who have played a part in planning, organising or operating another great gala.

 

Two excellent days at KWVR .
Thursday the timetable unexpectedly held together ,today 34046 was about 25 late at the end .
5029 I’ve never rated in previous ownerships .Much better than previously post LSL overhaul .

 

'Timetables updated 20/03/2026
Saturday 21st March loco roster update – 41241 replaces 78022'

 

Last two runs yesterday with 34046 were very enjoyable. Decent noise and surefooted on the gradients.

 

Sunshine (mostly) and a Castle...a perfect weekend of sight and sound.

 

Very enjoyable day yesterday, but very busy and not easy to photograph as I spent the day travelling, but these two may be of interest

Visiting Nunney Castle at Oxenhope yesterday and on it's last visit for the spring gala in 1994

Peter

 

Here is a picture of two of the gala stars that could have been taken today, but instead of being dated 22nd March 2026 the date is in fact the spring gala on 22nd March 1975

Peter

 

Saturday and I spent the day in Oxenhope Woods, prize goes to 5029 for the sound effects on the mid-afternoon train after detaching 34046 at Haworth.

 

During the last two photos, we were practically standing side by side.

Kind regards from the Germans.