Ribble Steam Railway steam gala - September 11 - 12

The Ribble Steam Railway is holding a steam gala THIS WEEKEND!

Headlining the event is Manchester Ship Canal 32 'Gothenburg' from the East Lancashire Railway, appearing alongside the RSR's own Hunslet 'Austerity' 0-6-0ST 'Walkden' and Barclay 0-4-0ST 'John Howe'.

Demonstration freights will also feature, and the timetable for each day is as follows:

1030 - Freight - John Howe/Gothenburg top & tail
1115 - Passenger - Walkden outbound, John Howe return
1200 - Passenger - Gothenburg outbound, Walkden return
1300 - Passenger - John Howe + Walkden outbound, John Howe + Gothenburg return
1400 - Passenger - Gothenburg + John Howe outbound, triple head return
1500 - Passenger - Walkden + Gothenburg double-heading outbound and return
1600 - Passenger - Walkden/Gothenburg top & tail
1645 - Freight - John Howe outward and return.

The above timetable and all locomotives are subject to availability.

 

Due to circumstances beyond RSR's control, 32 'Gothenburg' will not now be appearing at the September 11 - 12 Steam Gala.

The RSR apologises for any disappointment caused. However, the event will still be going ahead to the timetable outlined above, with obvious changes to the motive power. The Gala will offer visitors the chance to see 'Walkden' on a freight train for the first time.

 

- and just to point out, the non-appearanceof 32 is not the ELR's fault either, before the anti-ELR brigade get going.

 

No, it was not the ELR's fault - a poblem with transportation!

Well, a great gala - with some inventive timetabling that saw the Barclay haul three Mk 1s on its own for the first time, the two home fleet locos (plus the 05 on the last freight of the day both days) more than made up for the lack of 'Gothenburg' with some spirited performances. I'm sure the noise coudl be heard miles away!

 

As I said in the Chasewater gala thread, such a shame it clashed with Tanfield's gala... Clashes are, of course, inevitable, but for THREE industrial themed galas to be on the same weekend year in, year out... Can't help feel some lines are shooting themselves in the foot...

 

Agree that - I missed the lot and ended up driving MEA2 as a good deal of our members were visiting galas !!!

 

Lets be honest and perhaps a little cynical, no matter what dates were agreed to avoid clashes and no matter what guest or even resident locos were lined up we'd all come up with reasons why we couldn't attend all the galas.

 

As I said, clashes are inevitable. To clash with another "steam gala" somewhere, absolutely, was going to happen whichever weekend was chosen. But the enthusiast market for the event will clearly be industrial fans, for obvious reasons. Therefore, to clash with Tanfield (and chasewater!)...

 

Or for them to clash with the RSR....? The RSR steam gala is held on the same weekend each year....

 

As are Chasewater's and Tanfield's, my point precisely. However, in all honesty, I think Ribble and Chasewater would be more likely to notice the difference than Tanfield - can't speak for the former 2 but I saw many of the regular industrial followers at Tanfield over the weekend!

 

I think that Foxfield, Tanfield, Rutland, Chasewater & Ribble should be able to work together for the benefit of all concerned - we all get along ok.

 

I guess we chose the right dates for Middleton's gala, then! Plenty of industrial action. Hope to see you all there.

 

..and Middleton...