ELR October Steam Gala

Now confirmed as visitors for the Oct 18/19 gala.

A4 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley
A4 60009 Union of South Africa
K4 61994 The Great Marquess.

So with the Crab, that's one black one, one green one, one red one and one blue one......................

 

Imagine 80080, 132 and 1370 also.

 

A Streamlined Steam Festival awaits with Mallard’s sisters…

The East Lancashire Railway are gearing up for their autumn steam finale with the visit of two very special steam engines.

On the 18th & 19th October our 3rd Steam Gala of the year takes centre stage as two class A4 steam locomotives visit the railway. These famous steam engines were part of the Mallard 75 celebrations at National Railway Museum during 2013 starring alongside the world renowned ‘Mallard’. One of the visiting locomotives is named after its designer, ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ and will be visiting the railway for the second time. Our other visiting A4 steam locomotive, ‘Union of South Africa’, will be making its foray on the ELR and will be a welcome addition to the event.

Visitors will notice the streamlined look of our visiting steam locomotives, this was inspired from by a Bugatti rail-car which Sir Nigel Gresley had observed in France and was impressed by the need for streamlining, although he realised it was only useful at the highest speeds.

BR Class A4 4-6-2 No. 60007 ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’

In 1937 the 100th Gresley Pacific was built by the London and North Eastern Railway, and the railway honoured her designer by giving the locomotive his name. Sir Nigel Gresley, now bearing the British Railways number 60007, was saved from scrapping in 1966 by a small group of determined men who set up the A4 Preservation Society.

BR Class A4 4-6-2 No. 60009 ‘Union of South Africa’

Built for the LNER in 1937 and originally numbered 4488, it was named after the then newly formed Union of South Africa. The locomotive, like its counterpart 60007, was built to haul trains from London to Edinburgh and further afield and worked until being withdrawn in 1966. The locomotive was then preserved and restored to its former glory.

Both of these engines will be welcome additions to our line-up which includes:

LMS Hughes Fowler Crab 2-6-0 No. 13065 (First gala appearance)

BR Gresley 2-6-0 No. 61994 ‘The Great Marquess’

BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4 Tank No. 80080

LMS ‘Jinty’ 0-6-0 No.47324

WD Austerity 0-6-0ST No. 132 'Sapper'

Peckett 0-4-0 No. 1370 ‘May’



Saturday & Sunday

At around 9:30am the first train will leave for Rawtenstall which heralds the commencement of the main event. Throughout the day an intense passenger service will connect Bury will all the stations on the line. You will be able to swap and change trains with your unlimited travel tickets, so catching a ride behind every steam engine is possible if you wish! Visitors can ride in style as the Observation Saloon will be added to a passenger train for the duration of the gala – you can travel in this for a small supplement. This will be added to the 09:35 departure from Bury on both days and stay coupled to the service throughout the weekend.

A freight train will also be out on the line between Bury and Ramsbottom with various engines taking their turns on this throughout the event; furthermore we will also make sure our engines get around the railway in style with some combining forces to double head!

If you feel the need to sample riding through each station then a non-stop will run at the end of each day.

During your visit why not take time out to watch the goings on in and around Bury as locomotive swaps take place and May shunts around acting as the station pilot.

Whilst all this action is going on it you may find yourself in need of refreshments but don’t worry we have that covered too. The Trackside at Bury and The Buffer Stops at Rawtenstall will both be open serving a selection of hand prepared food as well a fine array of Real Ales all of which are on hand pull.

Bury Bolton Street buffet will have a wide range of food available including fresh sandwiches, drinks and snacks.

 

Interesting hint of doubled headed snow ploughs, lets hope they appear both facing the same way! Looks like it should be a great event as usual.

 

A mouth watering lineup. Looking forward to it.

 

I'd prefer them to face opposite directions. That would throw up some unique photo opportunities, and just
think, you could also have a steam HST! OK....I'll get me coat.

 

Even at this distance I'm looking forward to this Gala - two cop locos (the Crab and 60009), a really good freight train and another excuse to visit the Trackside and the Sidings bar..... Steam and Real Ale, always a winning combination.

 

Yes, looks very tasty and will have my full attention both days, one photting and the other riding

 

Just to add to Foxfield_Rich's fine description of the event. the A4's will double head over the weekend. the freight train will run full length of the line and it is hoped that for the first time in a long time we will be offering brakevan rides ( Bury to Rammy & return only. supplement payable) and the parcels train will also have passenger carrying vehicle in the consist. and we should be operating a passenger shuttle around Bury station.
more details to follow as and when available

 

This gala just sounds better and better, I'll have to try and get a ride on the freight train, always an interesting experience. The ELR can also do a very good parcels train what with the GUV, two types of CCT and a Stove.

Tasty, very tasty.

 

http://us8.campaign-archive1.com/?u=b765f7c2b4e3c35c0de27b4e4&id=efa633b438&e=7a5ee90e37

any takers please contact Richard Newton on richard.newton1957@gmail.com

 

Timetable;

http://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/...11/12/Oct-Steam-Event-2014-Public-No-Loco.pdf

 

Additional visitor for this gala, courtesy of Andy Booth and making a welcome return to the ELR, is L & Y 'A' class 1300, currently running as LMS 12322.
Loco to stay until end March 2015.

 

The timetable for the gala is now available here...

 

I see no 47324 - it was advertised - or will it be relegated to Bury Shuttles again. If so is there a fault on this loco thats stops it from being diagrammed on main trains?

 

Working on station limits as its due for overhaul.
Presume that the others on offer aren't good enough...............give me strength.

 

Thank you Spencer - you have answered my question. I never said there was anything wrong with the rest of the line-up - in fact its great - I was just enquiring about 47324 thats all !!!

 

Will this be the first time since the early 1960's that a crab an a class and a jinty have been in steam together?

 

Wasn't Jinty 47298 was resident some while back, would need to check records, but could have been there along with 42765 during its first certificate?

 

I think 47298 has been to the ELR three times in the past. Once in the very early days, which was before 42765 entered traffic, again during the big 1993 gala - I think that was also before the Crab was in traffic, and I think it's visited again since then ... which may have been while the Crab was in service, but I don't know whether 1300/52322/12322 was there at the time.

By the way, will the Jinty still be in Thomas blue livery this weekend?