The Great K&ESR Gala Weekend 30th April - 2nd May 2011

Visiting loco is City of Truro.

Press release can be found at http://www.kesr.org.uk/special-events/details/81-the-great-kaesr-gala-weekend.html

 

Fantastic. Even a loco you've had plenty of time with elsewhere over the last few years seems freshly exciting when Tenterden bank is involved... Unfortunately I'll probably need an asteroid to land on my employer's office to get this weekend off work, though, but hopefully Dad can go along at least. Great to see how these KESR galas have gone from strength to strength. What's the likely home fleet line-up?

 

It's a pity that this event coincides with the NYMR gala and the Bank Holiday weekend. I've tried it before and it took me 4.5hr to get to Tenterden from Harrow because of the traffic going to the south coast/Heathrow/Gatwick/Dover. When I finally got there it was a good event, I enjoyed it, but it really needs to be moved to another weekend.

Regards

 

There are only a limited number of weekends in the year and therefore some conflicts are inevitable.

I doubt too many people will be torn between a conflict betweenthe NYMR and K&ES.

Have you tried rail and then bus? I'm sure it would be quicker than 4.5 hours.

 

I haven't quite tried public transport, I used to go to my sister's in Borough Green by rail and it took ages.

It's true that there are going to be conflicts but it doesn't have to be with a Bank Holiday Weekend! The south-east just clogs up, best to go north.

Enjoy your gala!

Regards

 

Looking forward to this gala, will Bodiam be painted in lined black in time for the w/e?

 

Travelling on a Saturday, i.e. 30th April
Dep Harrow & Wealdstone 07.57
Arr Ashford Int'l 09.48
Dep Ashford Int'l Bus Stn 10.24 Stagecoach/East Kent Route 400
Arr Tenterden 11.03
5 min walk to trains
Total time just over 3 hours, beats 4½ by car, dunnit?

 

Orion,

I travel to Harrow every Monday and return to the Kent Coast either Thursday or Friday (including Bank Holiday weekends). If you are travelling by car, I recommend you go northabout on M25. It is considerably quicker - typically 2.5 hours even with the roadworks and Dartford crossing.

 

A poster advertising the Gala is available for download here http://kesr-operating.org.uk/2011 Gala poster.pdf

If any of you can print one or two off and display them at your local pub, club or workplace it would be of great help. Thanks.

 

You've forgotten the two buses to get to Harrow & Wealdstone! You are also assuming that all services will work as advertised a big assumption in itself. Also not having the car with me will make getting about difficult, although it has to be said that going by road around the K&ESR is very time consuming.

I've just come back from the K&ESR, or about two hours ago. Left at 3.15, took a little time out at Lasham aerodrome, bought a kebab in North Harrow and arrived home at 5.30. Just about two hours, which is what I would expect on a normal day.

Regards

 

I will be working on this gala,
Serving on the Pullman cars with a mad scotsman!
Gonna be great!

 

well we are doing our best, she entered C&W last week end and ive made a start on the preperation which is what takes the time, we should do it, but its going to be very very close.

we are only a very small team at Tenterden and so far its just me who is tasked with doing the work helped by Meg, once ive got the preperation done , it hasnt helped that the engine came up straight out of traffic after the junction road week end and hasnt been properly cleaned prior to entering the paintshop ,ive spent the past few days having to clean it before i could start to rub down the paintwork a task that given the already short time scale hasnt helped

 

So who were the two footplate crew busy working on her all day on Wednesday then?

 

Howard, that i didnt know about, did you mean the wednesday before the junction rd gala ? but take my word for it, she was not what i would call ready for the paint shop , it needed a lot of cleaning . but im glad to say that with help from harry and simon, who made a lot of difference the first grey primer coats are now on so its looking good, but its still going to be very tight because there is still a lot of work involved but i think thats for another thread

 

Without giving too much away I'll say this. ALL of the servicable steam loco's will feature in traffic at somestage over the three days with 8 loco's in steam each day (Including Truo). Diesel enthusiasts need to come Sat for the Crompton & Monday for the Ford & 03.

 

Loco line up for the weekend is as follows:
Sat - 23, 65, 1638, 5753, 32670, 32679, D6570 & Truro
Sun - 14,65, 1638, 5753, 32670, 32678 & Truro
Mon - 14, 23, 65,1638, 32670, 32678, D2023, Ford & Truro

Does this mean what you stated in the earlier thread has now changed?

 

are we likily to see double headed Br liveried terriers during this week end ? and are there any plans to try and get 32662 down at some stage once her transformation is completed obviously not in time for this gala, but maybe later in the year?

 

There should be some double heading and top and tailing with the two Terriers plus several chances to see them passing one another.

The loco line up is still envisaged to be as listed above but with an extra loco in action each day. The P Class (5753) is likely to cover the extra turn on Monday.

 

No it is correct, but there is 1 small addition on Sat & Sun (Small being the operative word).

 

Could it be Marcia at last? Surely not Gazelle (go on .. overhaul it - you know you want to)!