Blaenavon Steam Gala 2011 - Industrial Steam of South Wales Reunion Gala

Re: Blaenavon Steam Gala 2011 - What do you want to see?

Sounds excellent!

 

Re: Blaenavon Steam Gala 2011 - What do you want to see?

They used the loop at Furnace Sidings, and down towards the Big Pit branch for Driver for a Fiver with 73128 at the recent Class 37 50 years Gala.

 

Re: Blaenavon Steam Gala 2011 - What do you want to see?

Hello Tim,

Thats about to change, with the new branch to Big Pit coming on line (pardon the pun!) in the near future. I expect there is a solution to the problem, however...

Regards,
Ian

 

Re: Blaenavon Steam Gala 2011 - What do you want to see?

We've got a big industrial gala at Tanfield in September too and it would be a shame if they ended up on the same weekend, I'm sure that there'd be a large contingent from Tanfield who'd want to come to another line with industrials and serious gradients as we do with the mass migration to Staffordshire every summer for the Foxfield gala... anywhere to camp?

 

Re: Blaenavon Steam Gala 2011 - What do you want to see?

Looks great. Will be there. Any dates yet?

Hopefully freights will feature strongly during the gala? In addition to the NCB train you could run a steel industry train for Jessie with the flats, weltrol and palvan. Also perhaps a ballast train?

Good luck!

PS Obviously the Tanfield lads haven't been to Blaenavon in September? Chances are it will make a November night by the Tyne seem tropical in comparison!

 

Re: Blaenavon Steam Gala 2011 - What do you want to see?

Dates are 16, 17, & 18 September 2011.

There is a pub at one end of the line which also offers camping for a small charge. The weather tends to be good in September starts to get a bit cold in the nights thou!

There are plans for a short steel train as well as the NCB coal train, how many freights we can fit in will depend on space in the timetable. But there will also be some photo charters the following weekend with some of the visiting locomotives.

 

Re: Blaenavon Steam Gala 2011 - What do you want to see?

No you're right I haven't but anyone who's done Marley Hill at 5.30am on a morning where the snow is 3-4ft deep, you have to shovel you're way IN to the engine shed and then go and start lighting fires to clear points and make the water tower work should be more than capable! We're no whimps up here you know.

Wanted to do Blaenavon for a while and this sounds like a good excuse to make the long journey.

 

Re: Blaenavon Steam Gala 2011 - What do you want to see?

Thanks for the update Alex. All sounds great and dates are in the diary.

Mark I would never suggest anyone from Newcastle was a wimp - I have been out in Newcastle in the middle of winter and seen how little everyone wears! Blaenavon though is on top of a mountain and has its' own very cold and damp micro climate. The chances are if Chris brings his cardboard caravan it will either end up blown to Cardiff or a soggy mess!

 

Re: Blaenavon Steam Gala 2011 - What do you want to see?

Assuming he hasn't set fire to it first to keep warm!

As a taster to add to what you normally see, here's the site of the Big Pit Halt, ballast added yesterday.

http://www.aligrieve.fotopic.net/p67924090.html

This is looking the other way

http://www.aligrieve.fotopic.net/p67924091.html

looking down the branch

http://www.aligrieve.fotopic.net/p67924094.html

taken from the rail over rail bridge, branch on the left mainline on the right 9can't wait to get some shots here)

http://www.aligrieve.fotopic.net/p67924095.html

looking back up the branch, Big Pit is round to the right, on the left is the rail over rail bridge with the mainline underneath.

http://www.aligrieve.fotopic.net/p67924097.html

and looking back up from the junction with the mainline

http://www.aligrieve.fotopic.net/p67924100.html

Are you excited yet!

regards
Alistir

 

Re: Blaenavon Steam Gala 2011 - What do you want to see?

Looks like a pretty decent gradient!

 

Re: Blaenavon Steam Gala 2011 - What do you want to see?

September at Blaenavon is pretty good. Its not too cold, but as Alex said, it tends to start turning down around then. We're 1,400 feet above sea level, so rain tends to be horizontal.....

As for gradients, The main line is average (about) 1 in 40, for 2 miles up. 1 in 24 (about) under the rail bridge (about 1/3rd mile total).

There are a few excellent videos on youtube from this years gala, to give you a taster....

Regards,
Ian

 

Re: Blaenavon Steam Gala 2011 - What do you want to see?

very intersted in this Gala, Andrew Barclay?
South Wales Gala, i'll make sure attend it has been on the list for long time.
just looked though the photos of the extention.
LOOKS great. cannot wait to see somthing working up them graidents.

 

Re: Blaenavon Steam Gala 2011 - What do you want to see?

If you have never been to our railway then this will definitely be the time to visit, we have the steepest (adhesion) passenger carrying steam line in the country, with gradients up to 1 in 24 with no let up for the full two miles (ruling gradient 1 in 40). Until you have experienced an industrial on load 4 up our bank you have not lived. Everywhere else seems boring in comparison. As well as the three day gala we are arranging with our friends 'Compo Club' a two day charter featuring all visiting locomotives the following Friday and Saturaday. Watch this space for more information as it arrives.

Alex
Events Manager
PBR

 

Re: Blaenavon Steam Gala 2011 - What do you want to see?

Alex I assume you meant Wales when you say steepest in the country? Fawley Hill is 1 in 13 and carries passengers.

 

Re: Blaenavon Steam Gala 2011 - What do you want to see?

Perhaps he meant to add 'public'? :lol: In which case, YOU WON'T BE HOLDING THAT RECORD FOR LONG!

 

So we have confirmed we ARE the steepest 'Railway', as Robert Heath No.6 says Fawley hill is not a public railway, we have been waiting for the foxfield extention for a while now - i for one cannot wait, but in the mean time we have the right to hold the title. ;-)

Alex

 

Ive seen videos and not that much noise.
Does anyone have good videos of locos being worked hard on the bank? (Please post)
Ive noticed there all T'n'T due to no run around.
So there are 2 locos doing the work, with few mk1's works out the same roughly 6 waggons and van at foxfield.
So you'll have to prove what you’re saying "Until you have experienced an industrial on load 4 up our bank you have not lived"
Mk1's are roughly 30ton each. So 4 are 120
So 120ton between 2 locos is roughly say 60ton per loco to haul. (Due to no run around)
On a 1 in 40...ish, videos ive seen both locos are powering.
It would be nice to see one loco working on its own and then you can claim what your saying lol.
Tanfield Rly Santa Trains are 60ton with 6 carriages (i think its 6 or 7 cannot remember). And do 1 in 38 thought the woods and your still claming till roughly half way though, but there is alot curves which adds plenty friction, and then you go into the 1 in 36. With more powerful locomotives. Although our smaller locos put on very impressive show, like 0-4-0 RSH Cochrane 12" can do 5 up the 1 in 36 with some left to give.
The NYMR had Lambton Tanks doing 4-5 mk1s up a 1 in 49.
So you'll have to prove what your claming lol

And I look forward to it

Just to give idea of the Rep your wanting to claim you've go to beat this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL48XrFYkq8
Robert heath on load 2, (60ton)
1.51 is ruddy good =D

just to give idea how steep tanfield is.
http://ksrailwaygallery.fotopic.net/p55184803.html
cochrane on 5, on the 1 in 36.
Hope you noticed all the clips etc, are normal services and not daft trains.
Other wise....Tanfields passenger trains get heavier again! =P

 

The man talks sense... Law of averages said it had to happen eventually I guess! :lol:

 

Re 12" Coch RSH

I'd suggest you actually come down and sample things for yourself then you'll realise there is noise and lots of it. Yes the trains are top and tail but the rear one does very little if any work at all up the bank.

It's all very well basing your judgement on videos but until you've seen and heard it in the flesh it's difficult to comment.

Did a diesel railtour many years ago over the S&C and as far as we were concerned that was no effort from the locos and they were quiet as anything - but the video I've seen suggests they were flat out and very loud! And who says the camera never lies!

regards
AliG

 

Hello Coch RSH,

As AliG says; "come & see". We certainly enjoy it, and we don't see why others can't (or shouldn't) experience it as well. Some of the Youtube videos are taken from about 800-1,000 yards away, to encompass the run up from Blaenavon to Furnace Sidings. Its just the way things are laid out at Blaenavon, thats all. The sound effects are muted over the distance. On the footplate, it can get a bit noisy!

If, on the videos you've seen, both locos are powering, that should give you some idea of the climb....

If you can make it to the gala, we will be happy to show you around.

Regards,
Ian