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

Never visited the line but I hope to rectifiy this at the Gala. Just for info, will operations be confined to the stretch between Furnace Sidings and Whistle halt or will you use all you available mileage?

 

Have to say this is shaping up into a 'not to be missed' event. I'm really pleased that Big Pit are going to be working in co-operation with you, makes for an epic day out - when I visited last Summer I did both and thoroughly enjoyed it. Can't wait to see the lineup!

 

We only restrict operations for Santa’s and Halloween due to the sheer volumes we need to pass through the 4 coach train, we will be running the full 2 miles Blaenavon to Whistle for the whole season adding in the extra mileage to Big Pit when we finish it but definitely by the 16th September. This gala will be the biggest show at the P and B yet and should live up to its expectation, interesting timetable, two passenger, one freight train operation and 5 – 6 locomotives in steam.

Should be one to ink into the diary.

Alex

 

Thanks for this. Thankfully it doesn't clash with the Spitfire 75th anniversary show at Duxford so I intend to be there. Last South Wales industrial thrash for me was Mountain Ash in 1978 so time I had another fix.

 

just wondering what rake do you have in mind for the freight.
i thought you's only got 12ton vans and other BR stock, and GWR stock.
saying that.....if you were to recreate one of the railtours to do Welsh industrial lines with 12ton vans with all the doors open as ive seen in pics on fotopic (would link but its dead) .

 

just wondering what rake do you have in mind for the freight.
i thought you's only got 12ton vans and few other BR rolling stock, and GWR stock, not the most industrial stock, unless you were to convert GWR waggons into NCB :tape2:
saying that.....if you were to recreate one of the railtours to do Welsh industrial lines with 12ton vans with all the doors open as ive seen in pics on fotopic (would link but its dead)

 

We plan to paint our five plank china clay wagons into NCB internal user wagons for the coal train. I also understand that a few box vans are going to be repainted to recreate the NCB railtours, for the photo charters which will be taking place the weekend after the gala.

 

Hi, the more i read about this event , the more i think it will be worth the huge fuel cost to travel down (from the far north of england )and stay a week or more bringing , spraying equipment and paint brushes , to ocupy the days between the weekends ! even better if you could get DB to donate a rake of MGR's to the cause ,which if reading this month's Heritage railway mag, seem to be stored down your neck of the woods. perhaps then you could recreate the 50's , 60's , 70's and 80's , that would be some photo charter ! .

 

cheers for the info. looking forward to it

 

How about a pannier, or a gwr prairie as that brought a lot in in the previous years, and a nice larger engine to?

 

Would detract a tad from the "Industrial steam of South Wales reunion gala" title!

 

7754?

 

In bits?

 

Curses.

 

Any news on a final roster for this yet?

 

Not yet guys, I am in the process of finalising the visitors, it now looks as though we will have three 0-6-0 tank engines all with stong Welsh NCB connections. I have two confirmed and am now waiting on the third. I will post as soon as they are signed and sealed. I dont want to count my chickens!

It is a shame about 7754 as it worked in such close proximity to our railway, but there is always the future.

Alex

 

A thought just occurred to me - not one for this gala, but perhaps in years to come. A certain large locomotive in Bressingham...would make for a different static exhibit!

 

Although I am unable to announce the full line up for the gala, recent developments have led to a change in the planned line-up which currently consists of two 0-6-0 NCB machines and one other more local guest locomotive. We feel it will add a new dimension to the gala celebrations. All of the visitors have strong local connections and their bark will be heard once again resounding in the valleys.

On another note if anyone would like to bring a stall or stand to the event you are more than welcome, please PM me if you are interested.

Watch this space for announcements as they come in.

Alex

 

All,

Following on from a meeting with Big Pit yesterday I can now confirm that the pit is supporting our event with access to Blaenavon Company Number 5 Nora, a photographic display of south Wales Industrial steam and a lecture on the Saturday all about local NCB steam in the 60's. All this as well as playing an integral part of the opening celebrations on the Friday.

Look out for News of the visiting locomotives over the coming weeks.

Alex

 

Sounds good!