Foxfield Autumn Gala - 20th - 21st October

Please could we know what is planned with the freights at the gala ie will it be the minerals, the hoppers or mixed freights. Also what time is the first train on Sunday morning?

Thanks.

 

Hi Jonathon,

There are plenty of spots easily got to, but the best ones that everyone wants are on Foxfield Bank or down at the colliery. Best way to get there is to go to Caverswall Road Station, Blythe Bridge, and then either catch the free shuttle bus to the colliery or catch a passenger train and follow the footpath from Dilhorne Park station down to the colliery (walk of approx half a mile which parallels the railway).

 

There will be a variety of freights including a couple of mixed freights, a short rake of hoppers and a rake of 10 16T minerals.

First departure from Caverswall on the Sunday will be a freight at 9am and the first passenger departure is at 10am.

 

So would I be correct in thinking that there will be 3 engines used on passenger/freight services plus Dubs? And will the first passenger service on Saturday also be at 10am?

 

Yes, that is correct. A guide will be available on the gate at either Caverswall Road or Foxfield Colliery.

Rich

 

Throughout the 'BIG' railways gala the miniature railway will be holding there very own miniature one too. You will be able to see all sorts of weird and wonderful engines working on what is a miniature Foxfield which features steep gradients just like its big brother!

More details can be found here on their Facebook page... https://www.facebook.com/events/416087731788511/

Rich

 

Given that there are 3 Loco's availible for the standard passenger/freight runs, and the need to operate a passenger and rideable freight on the Caverswall RD - Dilhorne PK section, would I be right in guessing the freight runs up the bank will be single headed ?, Just if 2842 is what I think it is, I'd be suprised if it takes a full mineral/hopper rake up by itself.

Toying with the idea of popping over on Sunday, an Austerity or Bagnall thrashing up the bank on a goods single handed appeals.

 

Hi David, Regarding the single heading, there's always the option for banking assistance from the Dubs which will be pottering around the colliery most of the day, or assistance from the diesel Wolstanton which will also be at the colliery. We will also be operating with some shorter rakes than the summer gala, but with more variety of vehicles.

Don't forget that there is the option to ride on the brakevan of one of the freights between Dilhorne Park and Caverswall Road during the day.

 

Thanks Nigel, think I'll make the trip so long as nothing comes up in the meantime.

 

more of my photos of Saturdays steam gala


http://www.flickr.com/photos/glenngaw/sets/72157631818405296/

 

Had a lovely full day on Saturday, seemed a shame about the lack of numbers in the field on the bank:


Florence No.2 & Bagnall No.2 by Teenage Steam Photography, on Flickr


Bagnall No.2 by Teenage Steam Photography, on Flickr


Bagnall No. 2 by Teenage Steam Photography, on Flickr

Thanks,
Lewis

 

Great photos of a good day Lewis I was there on Saturday and walked in the bog from Dilhorne Park and ruined a pair of shoes getting to the colliery as there was said to be a path to there and I did not want to stand in a bog for hours on end but as I said a good day.

 

Foxfield Railway, 20/21 Oct '12!


Foxfield 'Bagnall Pride' Charter Blog: Frank Junior Richards : 'Bagnall Pride' Photocharter - Foxfield Railway Autumn Gala 20/10/12


Foxfield Gala Blog: Frank Junior Richards : Foxfield Railway Autumn Gala 2012.


Foxfield Gala Flickr: Foxfield Gala, 20/21 Oct '12 - a set on Flickr


FMR Gala Blog: Frank Junior Richards : Foxfield Miniature Railway Extension official opening! 20th October 2012.


FMR Gala Flickr: Foxfield, Big & Small! - a set on Flickr

 

A few pics of mine from the Sunday: Foxfield Autumn Gala - a set on Flickr

A bit more challenging photographically (not to mention someone definition of "path" from Dilhorne Park!), but could of been a lot worse all things considered, highlight was watching the Dubs toying with a NG wagon at the Colliery.

 

Hi David, thanks for those photos, hope you enjoyed the day. The path down to the colliery has suffered this summer due to the weather and the farmer making more use of the field than in the past, something we have to look at for next year perhaps. The weekend was a great success and everything ran just about as timetabled. Role on next year now.

 

Forget to mention, was rather amused seeing the method used to run round at Foxfield Colliery, sure I could hear the "runaway trucks" theme from Thomas playing in my head as the freight freewheeled back down into the sidings.

 

Haha, gravity shunting has always played a part in Foxfield's shunting procedure's from early in the societies history and now with training being passed down through the ranks we can continue this for years to come.

I was the signaler in charge at Foxfield and I think we managed to gravitate around eight trains. An interesting state we found out on Sunday night was that Wolstanton - the pilot for the weekend managed a total of 20 miles covered, Saturday its total mileage was 12 miles and Sunday was 7 miles. This was the difference in using the steeply graded bank to do the bulk of our shunting work. Only one train was gravitated on Saturday...

Long my it continue.

Rich