Foxfield Railway Autumn Steam Gala 23rd & 24th October

Why do you need a fitted brakevan though, it has a handbrake and a Guard should it become uncoupled..

Sounds rather like the Mr Whiston PC brigade are about.

Like Ive said befoe, Mr Whistons other outfit, The GCRN, do unfitted brakevan rides for birdwatching.

 

Interesting information there inspiration... is this another case of one rule for some and another for others?

 

So we have the shaping of a cracking gala in the hat all we need to do is come up with some sort of timetable...

The longer passenger trains would be difficult as the platform lengths are not long enough to cope...

I will have a word with some of my contacts to see what I can find out about lorries & vans etc...

Rich

 

Also what do people think of the event name? "Steam in Time",this is giving us an angle to target families to the railway for the event, so not only do we want to run a gala, it needs to tell a story...

Rich

 

Rich,

Most of the engines that will be available have a Staffordshire pedigree (either worked in the county or built in it). The event could develop into a demonstration of 'Staffordshire at Work' or 'Industrial Potteries' as per the War event. With supporting attractions this could then be sold to the wider market than just industrial steam enthusiasts.

With this theme how about a PMT workers bus linking the colliery and Caverswall Road? Perhaps a small bus rally could be added through a local bus preservation group? Groups often look for an excuse for a running day and these could link the railway to other local industrial attractions. The Avon Valley Railway have a similar event in mid August that has developed into a very large bus rally. Also order plenty of oatcakes and Titantic beer..

Cheers,

 

In that case, how about a couple of fitted vans or similar on the (DOWNHILL!) end of the rake? Ok so Florence hauling vans and mk1s/2s may not look any more prototypical than Florence hauling mk1s/2s to enthusiasts, but if the intention is to appeal to families etc as well then it's something to talk about, "this was often done on branch lines to enable goods to be taken to remote villages" etc. And of course it means more weight on the train without the platform issues :lol:

Depending whether we're trying to recreate any specific era with the road vehicles, I might be able to talk a mate into bringing a vintage bus for display (late 60s / early 70s period)?

 

As an addition to this, if the bus group could be persuaded to run long distance shuttles to (say) Derby or Crewe, this could bring in significantly more visitors on the Sunday, given the woeful train service between the 2 and Blythe Bridge!

As for drink, Old Rosie again please

 

The idea from George of a couple of vans on the passenger train would be easy enough, SOme of them are fitted so I'm sure these can have the vac brakes put into use with some minor attention.

 

Why not run miner paddy trains with passengers in the vans as per Pontardulais.... October might not be the right time though!

Some milk churns, beer or mail in the vans would add interest. Not industrial but would appeal to a wider audience.

A late 60s or early 70s bus would be ideal - for many the high point in interest in industrial steam.

Working on an old car or two at the mo...

 

Can be done - and the reason that it should is that Hawarden will be in bits soon !. I like the idea of Dubs loading a lorry & one or two traction engines.

A great deal more to do on the planning front yet, dont forget it will be dark early. As for the name - Autumn Steam Gala - you know where you are with that, but then again "The Great Staffordshire Steam Working" could be played around with. Are there any other events on the same weekend ? - next year we should move into September ?.

These things take time to mature - what about two train sets - one running from the bay ?.

What can the knotty trust do - body on chassis by then ?.

Driver for a fiver ( ten ? ) at C/R

Keep the ideas coming - remember it is not the summer gala and that we are looking for a new event with its own identity. In the future this event will feature passenger trains to the colliery, but not this year.

 

Would imagine that 'elf and safety may have an issue with that though, but it could be worth a thought!

 

The event is on just the right weekend I think, the earlier weekends in October have galas or events of the enthusiast nature on at other railways, the GCR has its Steam Railway Gala on the 8th, 9th, 10th of October and is always a very popular and busy. The GCRns diesel Gala is the same weekend but thats a different audience, Peak Rail have a diesel shunter weekend on the same. So Steam Galas elsewhere generally wont clash with Foxfields.

 

For the Staffordshire theme perhaps Mr Whiston would be prepared to carry 'Dilhorne No.3' on his tanks again?

Do like the idea of Austerity top-and-tailed coal train (without brakevan) on the Bank to recreate genuine Foxfield train if do-able.

 

Busiest month of the year for galas, generally

 

aye....the best of the year is then. :rockon:
(runs away lol)

Traction engines in the Colliery.
or maybe with the framers permission some traction engines working in the fields? (long shot)
or old tractors.
i agree with mixing the waggons up, maybe throw odd ramdom thing in. (just not a mk1 lol)
will post more ideas when i think of them lol

 

More great ideas - one or two reaction engines in the field blows my mind - just imagine what could be done.

Not sure if Mr Whiston is around for this week end - taking his engine to Poland or somewhere I think. We have a traction engine gathering soon and some good contacts. I think that the farmer may be re seeding at the end of this year, will fnd out.

Visiting loco ?. I said that we would not do it, I may have a plan however but I need to look a the costings with care. Hard to say how many folk this would bring in as a first off. Everything has to start at the somewhere.

I wonder if Sidmouth, Hunslets Finest, Rich & I can meet up one Sunday lunch ?. Mr Newton would be very welcome - I will give him a nudge.

 

This is all sounding very interesting guys. This event has already gone from completely off my radar to a must do event. Well done, I await developments.

Cheers,

Paul

 

Happy to meet up either for lunch or one evening when in the area. Can not do w/end 7th August (another industrial event!) but fairly free otherwise until Sept when the fun starts again...

Love to see two austerities on the bank on minerals and no brake but perhaps one for next year.

 

Dubs working along side traction engines would be nice give dubs a flatbed or 2 to play with in the colliery
i'd pay good money just to see that! lol