Mid-Hants Railway | Autumn Steam Gala | 2nd-4th October 2026

Ivatt 41313 from IOWSR
GWR 4247 from P&DSR
Autumn Steam Gala - Watercress Line

 

That's a very early announcement! Certainly not complaining. 41313 is a very welcome guest. I was hoping for 41313 to visit Watercress to run with 41312 before it went out of ticket.

 

News of the Autumn Steam Gala. <BJ>

''As the dust settles on another successful Spring Steam Gala, we are very pleased to share that the first visitor for our Autumn Steam Gala is 41313, attending courtesy of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway!
41313 is the sister locomotive to our very own 41312, of which the Autumn gala will be its last gala prior to being withdrawn for overhaul.
Save the dates for 2nd, 3rd & 4th of October - tickets on sale soon!''
John Faulkner

 

It will be nice to see 41312 and 41313 (in operational reality 31312 and 31313) together, presumably a double header with them both will be arranged at some stage in the event timetable.

And maybe also 41313 double heading with a Bulleid light pacific (34070 or 34072?) as per - '41313 piloted West Country 34036 on an Exeter Central to Okehampton train'.

Bryan

 

Agree 100% - 41313 will be a popular visitor. Having already crossed the Solent on different occasions to visit the Bluebell, Spa Valley and Swanage railways, perhaps this loco ought to qualify for a "frequent traveller" concessionary rate with Wightlink?

 

I must mention the East Somerset Railway where the loco was restored. 41313 double-headed with visiting loco 41312 at the railway's steam gala. A third Ivatt, no.46447 was also in service that day. [BJ]

 

Well at least that's going to climb the hill!

 

Brave statement, bearing in mind the number of locos over the years that have had issues when the weather has not led to good rail conditions.

 

I was on the "Wine Line" train last night. 4 Mk1s (including kitchen car 1973) and a BY. Showery weather so the rail was wet. 41312 managed very well up to Alton and back and the up to M4M and back thank you!

 

Well it managed proper hills up north last year ,so should be ok with the mole hills down south .

 

NYMR too .

 

The climb out of Alton is hardly a mole hill. Some big engines have come to grief on it in the past.

 

GWR 4247 announced as guest two from Paignton