Foxfield Railway, Autumn Steam Gala

Hot on the heels of the Summer Gala follows our Autumn Gala! A new event in 2010, the event aims to grow on last year and like our other gala is becoming a must in the diary of die hard fans in search of hard working engines doing what they do best.

This year aims to better last year, many ideas are in the melting pot with more still to add. Keep your eyes open as this thread will keep you up to date with the latest from Foxfield HQ.

Richard

 

any news on what will be present

 

Latest Press Release

Staffordshire reigns supreme at the Foxfield Railway as local steam engines take centre stage at the annual Autumn Steam Gala over the weekend of the 15th & 16th October.


Foxfield will showcase some of its fine steam engines that worked in Staffordshire as well as further afield. In the starting line-up will be*THE*only working Steam Crane Tank, Dubsy. This impressive engine dating back to 1901 has just entered service and is ready to demonstrate its power that it once showed during its time at Shelton Steel works before being replaced by modern diesels. It’s not only its pulling power that will be on offer, it be showing its strengths through its lifting capabilities too. The engine was fitted with a crane that could be controlled by the driver to pick up loads weighing up to 6 tons! Now this fine engine will be steaming throughout the weekend along with other industry survivors including Ex-Florence Colliery Engine, Florence No.2 and Stafford built Bagnall 2842. An interloper will also play a part in the event as well, Whiston and ex-Bold colliery engine and built in Leeds will add power to the event with its extremely strong hauling capacity. Over the weekend engines will take their turns in running the entire length of the Foxfield line including the infamous Foxfield Bank which offers fine chances to see the engines working extremely hard to haul the heavy trains.


Also on offer throughout the event will be a classic car display by the Potteries Classic car club with up to 20 cars expected to attend this special autumn event. Other attractions including trade stands, displays and a mini beer festival will also be on offer.

 

In fact here is the timetable..........

http://www.foxfieldrailway.co.uk/Autumn Gala Working Timetable.pdf

Rich

 

Staffordshire feast of four steam engines for our Autumn Steam Spectacular on 15-16 October !!!!

Locomotives featuring at this event include:

RESIDENTS:

Hunslet 0-6-0 saddle tank Austerity class built 1950, number 3694 "Whiston"'

Dubs 0-4-0 crane tank built 1901, number 4101

Bagnall 0-4-0 saddle tank built 1946, number 2842 "2"

Bagnall 0-6-0 saddle tank built 1954, number 3059 "Florence No 2"

Hunslet 0-6-0 saddle tank Austerity class built 1956, number 3839 "Wimblebury" (Driver for a fiver).

5 engines in steam enabling an intensive timetable service and different loco combinations throughout the event to see, photograph and ride behind !

WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO SEE?

Our fantastic rakes of restored wagons will be marshalled into a demonstration trains with at least 3 freights venturing out over the weekend.

Also the Potteries Classic car club will be displaying a variety of cars on the station forecourt throughout the event.

Our shop at Caverswall Road is well stocked with a great selection of DVD's, models and more.

DRIVER FOR A FIVER!

You can drive a steam engine for just £5 during the weekend. You will be able to take control of Wimblebury for a short run in the yard at Caverswall Road Station.

REAL ALE BAR - The One Legged Shunter

Our Real Ale Bar will be in service on one of the sets serving quality local real ale.

TIMETABLE

Proposed timetable with loco allocations can be found here to help you plan your visit. Please note this is subject to change and is a statement of intent only at this time.

FARES

Adult £14

Senior Citizens: £12

Child (aged 2-16): £6


Please note that our fares offer excellent value allowing unlimited travel on the day of your visit, so arrive early to get the most out of your day.

CAR PARKING

Free car parking is available during this event in the large field next to Caverswall Road station (ST11 9BG). Please note parking at Foxfield Colliery is limited, so we encourage all visitors to join the trains at Caverswall Road Station. Directions are available here.

All subject to availability.

Rich

 

Whats with the short freight trains? Normally its 6 wagons and a brakevan.

 

(Hopefully) attached is a simplified version of the above timetable - all the info's there, just this one's laid out for ease of use by passengers rather than staff. Completely unofficial, so any differences between this and the above link are my mistakes, and are not updates!

View attachment 3459

 

Respite: For the Autumn Gala we do something different, they provide a nice change and also some variety to what we normally offer.

However the length of the freight trains is decided on by what weight the smallest engine can haul, in this case Bagnall '2842'.

Rich

 

Free bus service Blythe Bridge main line / Caverswall Road / Foxfield Colliery - Sun Caverswall Road / Foxfield

 

Don't forget its this weekend to see engines charging Foxfield bank once again...

Also have a look at what we did two weeks ago...

http://www.foxfieldrailway.co.uk/Latest/dubsandhdn.html

Rich

 

Well kind off, the engines were together at one of the Shelton charters - Dubs dead and Hawarden in steam,

The next challenge is get them in steam together. For those interested ( and better still want to help ! ) Hawarden's fittings have been removed, cab, tank & smoke box are all loose - bunkers and boiler slides to be loosend after gala. Boiler will be removed in November using a road crane - but I am sure that I can find lifting work for Dubs !. For me the fun is the restoration - it will be a challenge.

 

Weather looking good for the weekend, particularly Saturday.

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/wm/stoke_forecast_weather.html

 

Everything now in place ready for another great gala, engines look stunning on shed this evening...

Don't forget you can drive Wimblebury for £5 during the weekend in the yard...



Rich

 

Glenalmond shall have gloves over the weekend - I dont want to blow my cover !.

 

Cracking day, if you are thinking of visiting dont hesitate !.

Dubs running well on the bank and also lifting a few old pit tubs around the colliery. Wimble in steam on driver for a fiver so we made five out in the end.

 

Well, we made six if you count the little Leys diesel doing the yard pilot duty at Caverswall Road...

 

Brilliant day at Foxfield...with sunshine in abundance!

Here's the first of my many photos from the day:


Bagnall No. 2 by Teenage Steam Photography, on Flickr

Thanks,
Lewis

 

Phew !.

Thanks to all the members of the Foxfield Railway who worked so hard over the weekend - a small return on the event makes it worthwhile.

Highlights for me - John Turner who was in on the Dubs project from the start. Dont know if you do Nat Pres John but it was was great to see you after all these years.

And, the the six year old ( approx ) with his mum who told me that that Dubs looked just like Harvey and told me all about his friends !. Its not my thing but I fully understand the need look to the future. For what its worth this lad will be with us in ten years time !.

And the "dig" in the mine shaft - things I have never seen before - brill.

We are what we are and the is future is bright.

Marston T & A next out ?. Said owner would not take my bet the Hawarden will pip him to the post !. "Sentinel" to have a coat of fresh paint soon, Wimble to have a motion overhaul. If you like what you see join us and you could be part of the summer gala. Planning in hand, something very special next year I think Mr P ( of the N.E. ).

Look forward to seeing what we did on this forum in the next few days.

 

Read Harvey tonight to number one....we also had tears today when we had to leave Jessie at Avon Valley!

Glad gala went well and sorry I couldn't make it but at least I got an industrial fix a bit closer to home http://www.flickr.com/photos/64433281@N07/6251465150/in/photostream ... you would have been impressed with the noise these two made! Must be one of the most powerful pairs of industrials to work in the UK in preservation away from the bank?

See you in December.