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

Gala Update:

Mardy Monster and Whitehead are due to land in Blaenavon on the 13th September in preparation for the big weekend, we are hoping that the other engine will be with us in just over a weeks time.

Three five plank wagons have been painted in NCB internal user livery and will appear with the LBSCR pattern 'Shark' brake van on demonstration freight trains during the weekend as well as forming the basis for the Charters the following week.

See you there!

Alex

 

How far is Blaenavon High Level from the centre of the town please? I'm looking at arriving on the bus from Newport

 

Blaenavon is about 200yards from the Station, the X24 actually goes past the Station.

Alex

 

That sounds pretty doable then! Cheers

 

Hi there.

Can you tell me, is Sir Gomer running on the Friday of the gala?

Regards

 

Well....we've finally had confirmation today that Sir Gomer has passed its steam test so will be coming to the railway for the gala moving as early as next week.

The Friday should see Sir Gomer and the Monster working the passenger service between Big Pit and Blaenavon on the Friday afternoon with the full gala and all 5 engines in steam on the Saturday ans Sunday.

Regards
Alistair

 

No Whitehead on Friday? That's mucked up my weekend plans.

 

All 3 visiting engines will be runing on friday 16 September. That will be 'Sir Gomer', 'Whitehead' and 'Mardy Monster', with 71515 & No. 19 joining the party on the Saturday & Sunday.

 

Excellent! Inlaws lined up to pick little one up from school....

 

The plan is to have two trains out Friday one running from Furnace Sidings to Big Pit and the other on 'mainline' trains to Blaenavon and Whistle Inn. BBC Radio Wales presenter Roy Noble will be opening the branch at 11am. The order of the locos is still TBC but all three visitors will be in steam.

There are still a couple of spaces on the Driver Experience Day on the 25th, PM me if you are interested, likewise with the Photo Charters.

We are looking forward to the gala now, there is still much to do but we should have it done!

Regards,

Alex

 

Sounds like an impressive weekend all round now! Really looking forward to spending a day with our engine at your obviously popular gala. Will be great to have our engine back in its home surroundings, echoing its voice around the valley, especially when it will be rubbing shoulders with fellow Peckett's 'Mardy' and 'Whitehead'. Looks like you're on to a winner here

 

Sir Gomer has landed, she touched down on Welsh rails around 1630 yesterday. Thanks to the Shakerstone lads for all their efforts in getting the loco ready in time.

Regards,

Alex

 

A couple of pictures to wet your appetite of Sir Gomer arriving Wednesday and the newly painted wagons that will form the coal train.

 

Should be there on Friday. Has the potential to be an excellent gala. Really looking forward to thrashing up the bank behind the three guest beasts! Then Statfold on the Saturday . Probably should spend the Sunday with the family....mind you it's Driver for a Fiver at Perrygrove.....hmmm...

 

What DMU will be running on the big pit line? Will it be the thumper?

 

Err, don't think we've got any DMU's out that weekend. Might have something to do with it being a steam gala. Mind you, I've been wrong before!

Ian

 

It says on the timetable that a DMU will be used as stock with Whitehead in the morning, then No.19, after that the Monster takes over and then finally the mog (71515) does the last few trips. So MK1's will be on the mainline and DMU on Big pit branch if timetable is correct.

 

A 117 DMU Driving car will be used as passenger stock on the big pit branch

 

Hi Guys,

Sam here from Shackerstone. I will be joining you for the Friday as Rep for our engine "Sir Gomer" - hence the log in. haha.

Anyhow, is this big pit branch just a little extension from furnace sidings then? Giving you the chance to access the pit sort of thing? I see on the Friday timetable that our engine is down to run up there for most of the morning with it taking over the main train in the afternoon.

Kindest regards and look forward to a fab day Friday

Sam
Battlefield Line - Shackerstone

 

Just to answer the above questions, as Nathan has confirmed the Big Pit coaching stock is a DMU trailer -

http://aligrieve.smugmug.com/Pontyp...y/PBRGOMER/18972293_WjSsTP#1473214857_J9xKZRq

As for the branch, it's a separate spur from Furnace Sidings and runs through the site of what were once the UP exchange sidings. This shot here shows a train dropping down from Furnace Sidings to Blaenavon, on the left is the branch and on the right the Down Exchange Sidings, now filled with stock.

http://aligrieve.smugmug.com/Pontyp...R-3rd-2011/16665748_jQDRHh#1256575016_3gk7QcX

And this shows the site before work started on building the station at Big Pit. As you can see it's just across the car park!
http://aligrieve.smugmug.com/PontypoolandBlaenavonRailway/PBRIVOR/18547316_VjKTtt#1432089117_JBK5Phw

And as a taster here's Sir Gomer at Blaenavon on the 14:15 departure on Saturday on it's test run.
http://aligrieve.smugmug.com/Pontyp...y/PBRGOMER/18972293_WjSsTP#1473214708_w2jM7kW

regards
Alistair