Foxfield Railway Autumn Steam Gala 23rd & 24th October

We have already !!.

 

Next week then - planning meeting @ 13.00 c/r... ?

Some good stuff in latest issue of Heritage Railway regarding the summer gala - no doubt Steam railway will also do a good job. Work continues on Dubs towards a finished job - still a fair bit to do. The normal pace of Sundays only has returned so things appear quite slow at the moment.

Dubs will be used to strip Hawarden in November so if anyone want to get them together you will have to be quick - may be a photo op in its own right ?.

 

Slightly off-topic,

Whiston's paintwork has been lightly flatted with W+D paper to de-nib it in preperation for its final topcoats. This will be followed by the application of the lining/lettering and finally a couple of clear varnish coats hopefully in the next week or so.

Then I suppose its onto the Crane Tank, but this ofcourse will rely on Dave Dub's continued input in getting all of those essential bits sorted and proving its lifting ability and worthiness before attending to the final cosmetics.

 

Bearing in mind that lack of brakes and dumb buffers restrict Dubsey to not working passenger trains, can you please use that on the driver for a fiver? This would as you say have to be at Caverswall Road. In order that it can also do crane demonstrations it could perhaps be roatated with diesels (as already suggested) on the driving turns or if needs be work part of the day at Foxfield Colliery on crane demonstrations before running light the length of the line (an interesting working in itself) and doing driving turns at CW in the afternoon.

Don't underestimate how many people would be prepared to pay good money to have a ride on or behind this loco.

 

Dubs will never be fitted with vac brakes but there may be away of doing something on the passenger front one day. We will be running Dubs the full length of the line and I hope by then we can lift.

 

PS - Dubs is a 14" and has shown some indication that she will be quite handy once we have got to know her better.

 

well there is a way, dont need vac, as long the each carriage/brake van has a hand brake and is manned.

 

I doubt that she has ever pulled passenger in her 109 years, our ops boys are having a think.

 

Or it double heads with an engine with vac brake?

 

Many ideas coming out for the Autumn jobbie, eyes were being glanced over the Florence wagon at the weekend... Some possible cameo shot to be had possibly?..

Rich

 

..And the Iron Ore tippler, shelton flat & hopper..

 

Well the pool of locos for the gala is confirmed as:

Hunslet Austerity No. 3694 Whiston
Hunslet Austerity No. 3839 Wimblebury
RSH No. 7684 Meaford No.2
Bagnall 2842 No.2
Bagnall No.3059 Florence No.2
Haydock Foundry C Bellerophon
Dubs Crane Tank No. 4101

Hopefully Whiston will be officially launched into traffic over this weekend after final lining out she will look lovely.

it may also be Meaford No.2 final gala on the line...

The plan is coming together with an official confirmed announcement to be published very shortly...

Rich
Co-event Organisor

 

What a good line up! There are two on there that I didn't think we would be seeing.

 

TIme will tell what can run - Wimble has problems that can be resolved with effort.
Dubs still has a list of jobs - Whiston will be like a new pin.

 

The gala event is getting closer and will soon be upon us all, adverts will be in the press and I'm sure you will see them .

Attractions during the event are still to be confirmed and as well as the timetable which is being written as I write this. I'm sure you will not be disappointed....

Rich

 

News Update: The Timetable is firmly under way... plenty of head scratching going on...

Also confirmation has been received that classic cars will be in attendance over the weekend... With upto 15 on the Sunday.

Rich

 

Indeed, visitors can look forward to two runs per day from Dubs on the bank banked by 2842 and lifting demos at the Colliery.