Foxfield Autumn Gala - 20th - 21st October

Foxfield Railway showcases industrial horsepower at forthcoming gala weekend…

The Foxfield Railway October Gala has now become extremely popular event after its first introduction 4 years ago. Over the past 20 years Foxfields’ reputation for providing a quality steam event has grown to such that visitors from all over the country make the trek to Foxfield to see such fantastic sights and sounds as steam takes on the steepest adhesion worked incline in the country.

This autumn event taking place over the weekend of the 20th and 21st of October will feature engines from our home fleet including Florence No.2, Wimblebury, Bagnall ‘2842’ and the Dubs Crane Tank. Bellerophon will also be in steam at Caverswall Road throughout the weekend.

Saturday & Sunday

**Provisional**

Saturday Only. ‘BAGNALL PRIDE’ The start of the gala weekend will feature ‘2842’, ‘Florence No.2’ and Diesel ‘Wolstanton’ departing from Caverswall Road station at around 6:15am ready to be in place at Foxfield Colliery for a morning photographer’s charter. The shoot will take place from 7:00am until 9:30am after which the main event will start. Places on the charter are limited and if people wish to take part then please email Richard on rbarnett@foxfieldrailway.co.uk who will be happy to book your place. The cost is £15 which also allows discounted rover tickets for the day. Anyone who has a charter ticket will receive £5 off a ticket.

At Caverswall Road the site will be open from 8am for visitors to view the locomotive preparations as well as sampling the excellent Full English Breakfast’s served in the station buffet.

The event will start with the first train leaving Caverswall Road at round 9:00am for Dilhorne Park featuring the Dubs crane tank which will be making its trip to Foxfield Colliery with its very own steel works train. Throughout the day Dubs will load and unload items and transport them to either end of the railway. The jobs Dubs will be doing are not for show and will be pre-planned lifting jobs to help with the maintenance of the railway.

Throughout the day an intense passenger service will connect Caverswall Road with Dilhorne Park from where visitors will be able to alight and make the short walk to Foxfield Colliery using the paths provided – please follow signs and keep to the designated route. (Anyone found walking on the railway will be removed from the site and possibly fined!)

For those who fancy travelling the easy way to the colliery then a connecting bus service will run frequently throughout the event which will call at Blythe Bridge mainline railway station en-route.

At Foxfield colliery you will be able to view the start of the notorious Foxfield Bank where engines of all sizes will take their turn on hauling the heavy trains up ruling gradient averaging 1:25! Bagnall Diesel Mechanical ‘Wolstanton’ will also be display outside the old engine shed re-creating a scene of many pits when steam was back in favour after the failure of a diesel locomotive…

Guided tours of the pit will take place which will include taking in the dig currently taking place within the small headsticks which were used to lift and lower minors to the pit face. Details of the tours will be available on the day.

Also open will be the ‘Paint Store Café’ where you will be able to grab a cup of tea or coffee and try some the homemade cakes on offer. Look out for various DVD’s available from previous galas, all proceeds go to the development of Foxfield Colliery.

Throughout the day all engines will take their turn on passenger and freight trains with the exception of Dubs. Your ticket will allow travel on all passenger trains as well as entry to Foxfield Colliery. Please note if you are visiting to take and decide not to travel on the railway but wish to into the fields adjacent to Foxfield Bank a standard day rover will be required.

Also why not ride the freight train? For a supplement of £3 you can ride in either a shark brake van or an ex-GWR engineers van from Caverswall Road to Dilhorne Park or vice versa.

On the Saturday evening a real ale train will operate which will depart at 18:30 for two round trips to Dilhorne Park arriving back at around 20:30 leaving enough time for fun and merriment to continue upon arrival at Caverswall Road. On board entertainment will be provided as well as real ale being sold on the move. This is available at just £5 per head or a supplement of £3 for anyone in possession of a rover ticket.

Back at Caverswall Road trade stands will be based here which will include the Knotty coach trust, the Betton grange society, the Staffordshire Jinny, the Industrial locomotive society as well as some more waiting to be confirmed.

The ‘One Legged Shunter’ Foxfield’s very own real ale pub will be open from 12 each day through until late and have a variety of ales on the pumps to cater for everyone’s different tastes – we are sure you won’t be disappointed.

Don’t worry if you need somewhere to stay we have an ample size field which can accommodate tents, caravans and motorhomes – although the facilities are basic this will be provided free for users of the railway.

The last passenger train from Dilhorne Park will leave at around 16:45 after allowing visitors to return from the short walk across to the top of Foxfield Bank to witness the highlight of the weekend – a loco cavalcade up Foxfield Bank. This will be led by the Dubs crane tank each day. A first for a Foxfield Gala.

Once everything has arrived home and been stabled for the night engine crews will be on hand at Caverswall Road station to chat the railway, the engines and even there exciting days. I am sure they won’t begrudge you a pint on the Sunday evening.

Steam Engines in operation throughout the weekend:

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"
Bagnall 0-4-0 saddle tank built 1946, number 2842 "2"
Haydock Foundry 0-6-0 well tank built 1874, number C "Bellerophon"
Dubs 0-4-0 crane tank built 1901, number 4101 ‘Dubsy’

Diesel Engines in operation throughout the weekend:

Bagnall 0-6-0 Diesel Mechanical ‘Wolstanton’

More information will be posted on Welcome to the online home of Foxfield Railway. as it becomes available.

 

Rich, I'm sure you've missed out crucial words in the last paragraph, "...I am sure they won't begrudge you 'buying them' a pint..."

 

Due to timetabling issues the loco cavalcade at the end of each day on Foxfield Bank will now not happen and instead a show finale with Florence No.2 hauling 10 minerals with Wolstanton providing assistance will now deputise.

I'm sure you will agree this will be an awesome sight as we demonstrate how industrial steam and diesel worked alongside each other in industry.

Rich

 

Why only 10?! Mr Donkins Bagnall is a belter, to me it tackles the bank far better than the austerities.

 

We could of course use more wagons but we have to make sure both engines are capable of hauling the train as well more importantly able to hold it on the bank if say they stalled or slipped to a stand. We base our loading's on one and half times the engines weight which has been proven with trials and works as a pretty rule of thumb formula.

Rich

 

The timetable for the gala is now completed and looks rather good. Guides for the event will be available on the gate - a great souvenir of the weekend.

An event not to be missed.

Rich

 

Don't forget that the juniors of the railway will also be holding their Completion Gala to mark the official opening of the extension to the miniature railway at Caverswall Road. The balloon loop extension has brought the round trip to something approaching 600 yards.

https://www.facebook.com/events/416087731788511/

 

A week ago I emailed the advertised address for the photo charter but have had no reply, has anyone managed to book a place?

 

I will look into that Alan, although if you pm The_Shunter you should get some response

 

Just had a reply... thanks! Looking forward to it, now to book accommodation...

 

Excellent, Rich just needed alerting to the email he'd missed.

 

The charter is booking up quite nicely now. If you wish to be a part of it then please email me: rbarnett@foxfieldrailway.co.uk.

More information available here: Foxfield Railway Photo Charter -

On another note Bagnall 2842 is running in over the next week after receiving attention to its coupling rods brasses. Dubs has been in the shed for some minor work although it really it has just been in the shed for a little while.

Wimblebury continues as our main service engine at the moment - she is due a re-tube this winter which should see her work for a few more years.
Florence No.2 has been having a little rest lately as she worked all of the early season.

Bellerophon is now out of traffic pending repairs to the bottom end - it is hopeful she will be in steam in the yard during the gala.

Whiston continues in service over at Ruddington - a return date has not yet been confirmed and so will miss this years Autumn Gala.

Rich

 

What's the latest on when passenger trains to the colliery are likely to run? I like watching trains run up the bank but I can't wait to travel on one.

 

Don't worry the thought of a passenger train has not slipped our minds. You see, the trouble we have is volunteers, we need to fit point locks and a couple of ground frames before we can open the line to passenger traffic.

We do hope we can make significant headway with this over the winter but the main Caverswall Road to Dilhorne Park section with see the Pway department's attention first.

Anyone for volunteering? Any S&T engineers fancy lending us a hand?

Rich

 

alternatively James, if you want to travel up the bank before the first official passenger run why not join and get involved, that way you can ride as a volunteer on works trains or the demo freights

 

What is the walking distance between Dilhorne Park and Foxfield Colliery and what are the paths like to walk on?

 

A half mile walk following the track down to colliery is all it is with the terrain being very dependent on the weather. Most of the walk is quite firm but we are operating a shuttle bus if you wish to take the comfy option.

Cheers Richard

 

Somewhere around the half mile mark, very easy in terms of distance. Paths aren't TOO bad, but don't wear your favourite shoes...

 

Thanks Robert hope to be there Saturday 9ish.

 

Evening all. I'll probably be heading over on Saturday for photography ( donation to railway in hand! ), but I've never actually visited Foxfield before. Can anybody advise on where some photospots are in relative location and how to reach them?

Thanks in advance