2017 Special Events

Once again I'm compiling a list of Special Events for UK preserved lines.

Visit the Whats On Guide Here for listings.
Updated 17th September 2017

STEAM ENTHUSIASTS HIGHLIGHTS
27th – 29th January 2017 - Great Central Railway - Winter Steam Gala
11th - 19th February 2017 - South Devon Railway - Winter Steam Gala
17th – 19th February 2017 - Mid Hants Railway - Spring Steam Gala
25th – 26th February 2017 - Churnet Valley Railway - Winter Steam Gala
25th – 26th February 2017 - Nene Valley Railway - Winter Steam Gala
3rd – 5th March 2017 - Llangollen Railway - Spring Steam Gala
3rd – 5th March 2017 - Keighley & Worth Valley Railway - Steam Gala Weekend
10th - 12th March 2017 - East Lancashire Railway - Spring Steam Spectacular
17th – 19th March 2017 - Severn Valley Railway - Spring Steam Gala
18th – 19th March 2017 - Chasewater Railway - Spring Gala
25th March - 2nd April 2017 - North Yorkshire Moors Railway - Royal Scot (Not Mon/Fri)
31st March – 2nd April 2017 - Swanage Railway - ‘Strictly Bulleid’ Spring Steam Gala
1st – 2nd April 2017 - Ribble Steam Railway - Steam Gala
6th – 9th April 2017 - Beamish Open Air Museum - Great North Steam Fair
14th - 17th April 2017 - South Devon Railway - Easter Heritage Gala
14th - 17th, 22nd - 23rd & 29th - 30th April & 1st May 2017 - Didcot Railway Centre - 50 Years at Didcot
17th – 23rd April 2017 - Isle of Man Steam Railway - Isle of Man Festival of Steam
21st – 23rd April 2017 - North Norfolk Railway - Spring Steam Gala
27th – 30th April 2017 - West Somerset Railway - Spring Steam Gala
29th – 30th April 2017 - East Somerset Railway - Spring Into Steam Gala
29th – 30th April 2017 - Bressingham - Heritage Steam Gala
30th April – 1st May 2017 - Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway - Mixed Traffic Weekend
30th April – 1st May 2017 - Buckinghamshire Railway Centre - Steam Gala & Model Exhibition
13th – 14th May 2017 - Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway - 90th Anniversary Steam & Diesel Gala
13th – 14th May 2017 - Bluebell Railway - Branch Line Weekend
13th - 14th May 2017 - Apedale Valley Light Railway - Stanhope Centenary Gala
13th – 14th/20th – 21st May 2017 - Dean Forest Railway - Wartime Steam Gala
14th May 2017 - Foxfield Railway - 40th Anniversary
20th – 21st May 2017 - Hollycombe Collection - Steam in Miniature
20th – 21st May 2017 - Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway - Spring Steam & Real Ale Festival
27th – 29th May 2017 - Bure Valley Railway - Everything Goes
27th – 29th May 2017 - Fairbourne Railway - Steam Gala Weekend
27th – 29th May 2017 - Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway - Cotswold Festival of Steam
27th – 29th May 2017 - Epping Ongar Railway - 5th Anniversary Bank Holiday Gala
3rd - 4th June 2017 - East Lancashire Railway - Small Engines Weekend
17th - 18th June 2017 - Tanfield Railway - Legends of Industry Gala
22nd - 25th June 2017 - Mid Norfolk Railway - Summer Steam Gala
23rd - 25th June 2017 - Churnet Valley Railway - Anything Goes Weekend
1st – 2nd July 2017 - Spa Valley Railway - 2nd Annual Summer Steam Festival
1st – 2nd July 2017 - Mid Hants Railway - End of Southern Steam Gala
7th - 9th July 2017 - Keighley & Worth Valley Railway - Small Engines Gala
8th – 9th July 2017 - Mid Hants Railway - End of Southern Steam Gala
8th – 9th July 2017 - Keighley & Worth Valley Railway - Little Engines Weekend
8th – 9th July 2017 - Amberley Museum - Rail Gala Weekend
14th - 16th July 2017 - Foxfield Railway - Summer Gala
15th - 16th July 2017 - Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway - 90th Anniversary Celebrations
22nd - 23rd July 2017 - Foxfield Railway - Summer Gala
29th - 30th July 2017 - Middleton Railway - Mixed Traffic Weekend
12th – 13th August 2017 - Severn Valley Railway - Steam on the Road
12th – 13th August 2017 - Bressingham - Steam in Miniature
25th - 28th August 2017 - Bala Lake Railway - Steam Gala
25th - 28th August 2017 - Mid Norfolk Railway - Tanks and Tankards
26th - 28th August 2017 - Spa Valley Railway - 20th Anniversary Bash
1st – 3rd September 2017 - North Norfolk Railway - Autumn Steam Gala
1st – 3rd September 2017 - Welshpool & Llanfair Railway - Steam Gala
8th - 10th September 2017 - Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway - Steam Gala Weekend
9th – 10th September 2017 - Nene Valley Railway - September Steam Gala
9th – 10th September 2017 - Ribble Steam Railway - Steam Gala
9th – 10th September 2017 - Chasewater Railway - Summer Gala
15th - 7th September 2016 - Welsh Highland Railway - Superpower
16th – 17th September 2017 - Amberley Museum - Miniature Steam
16th – 17th September 2017 - Middleton Railway - Main Line to Industry
21st – 24th September 2017 - Severn Valley Railway - Autumn Steam Gala
23rd – 24th September 2017 - Didcot Railway Centre - All in a Days Work
23rd – 24th September 2017 - Foxfield Railway - Autumn Gala
29th September - 1st October 2017 - North Yorkshire Moors Railway - Autumn Steam Gala
5th – 8th October 2017 - West Somerset Railway - Autumn Steam Gala
5th – 8th October 2017 - Great Central Railway - Autumn Steam Gala
8th October 2017 - Cauldon Double Header Day
13th - 15th October 2017 - Chasewater Railway - Coal Train Weekend
13th – 15th October 2017 - Swanage Railway - Autumn Steam Gala
13th – 15th October 2017 - Llangollen Railway - Autumn Steam Gala
14th – 15th October 2017 - East Lancashire Railway - Autumn Steam Gala
21st – 22nd October 2017 - Churnet Valley Railway - 25th Anniversary Gala
4th – 5th November 2017 - Avon Valley Railway - Autumn Gala
29th – 30th December 2017 - West Somerset Railway - Winter Steam Festival
DIESEL ENTHUSIASTS HIGHLIGHTS
18th – 19th February 2017 - East Lancashire Railway - Diesel Gala
11th – 12th March 2017 - Spa Valley Railway - Diesel Gala
18th – 19th March 2017 - Great Central Railway - Spring Diesel Gala
18th – 19th March 2017 - Ecclesbourne Valley Railway - Diesel Locomotive Weekend
25th – 26th March 2017 - Ribble Steam Railway - Diesel Weekend
31st March – 2nd April 2017 - Bluebell Railway - Diesel Gala
7th – 9th April 2017 - Nene Valley Railway - Diesel Gala
8th – 9th April 2017 - Avon Valley Railway - Diesel Gala
22nd – 23rd April 2017 - Epping Ongar Railway - Diesel Gala
29th April 2017 - Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway - Blue Electric Day
29th April – 1st May 2017 - Mid Norfolk Railway - Diesel Gala
29th April – 1st May 2017 - Midland Railway Butterley - Diesel Gala
5th – 7th May 2017 - Swanage Railway - Diesel Gala Weekend
18th – 20th May 2017 - Severn Valley Railway - Spring Diesel Festival
18th – 20th May 2017 - Barrow Hill Roundhouse - Diesel Gala
20th May 2017 - Nene Valley Railway - Heritage Diesel Day
3rd - 4th June 2017 - East Lancashire Railway - Small Engines Weekend
9th – 11th June 2017 - West Somerset Railway - Diesel Gala
9th – 11th June 2017 - North Norfolk Railway - Diesel Gala
17th - 18th June 2017 - Midland Railway Butterley - Diesel Gala
17th June 2017 - Nene Valley Railway - Heritage Diesel Day
24th - 25th June 2017 - Churnet Valley Railway - Anything Goes Weekend
1st – 2nd July 2017 - Great Central Railway Nottingham - Summer Diesel Extravaganza
7th - 9th July 2017 - East Lancashire Railway - Summer Diesel Spectacular15th July 2017 - Nene Valley Railway - Heritage Diesel Day
3rd – 6th August 2017 - Spa Valley Railway - 15th Annual Diesel Gala
12th – 13th August 2017 - Ecclesbourne Valley Railway - Diesel Locomotive Weekend
19th August 2017 - Nene Valley Railway - Heritage Diesel Day
9th September 2017 - Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway - Blue Electric Day
9th – 10th September 2017 - Great Central Railway - Diesel Gala
23rd September 2017 - Welshpool & Llanfair Railway - Diesel Day
23rd – 24th September 2017 - East Lancashire Railway - Autumn Diesel Gala
23rd – 24th September 2017 - Llangollen Railway - Diesel Weekend
23rd – 24th September 2017 - Epping Ongar Railway - Autumn Diesel Gala
30th September – 1st October 2017 - Ribble Steam Railway - Diesel Weekend
7th - 8th October 2017 - Apedale Valley Light Railway - Diesel Delights
13th – 15th October 2017 - Nene Valley Railway - Diesel Gala
20th – 22nd October 2017 - Mid Hants Railway - Diesel Gala Weekend
27th – 29th October 2017 - Mid Norfolk Railway - Diesel Gala Weekend
3rd - 5th November 2017 - South Devon Railway - Diesel Gala
4th November 2017 - East Lancashire Railway - DMU Day
30th - 31st December 2017 - Mid Norfolk Railway - Diesel Gala

Regards,
Lee Davies,
www.preservedrailway.co.uk

 

The Bluebell's Branchline weekend will be 10th - 12th March 2017 ( from the G.O.S Gala booklet).

 

Swanage Railway special events:
2016
Winter Warm Up - 27th December
2017
Spring Steam Gala - 31st March to 2nd April
Diesel Gala - 4th to 7th May
Transport Rally - 8th to 10th September [organised by Bournemouth & Poole Preservation Club adjacent to Harmans Cross station]
Autumn Steam Gala - 13th to 15th October

 

Nothing to mark 50 years of the end of Southern Steam in July? The 2007 event (to mark 40 years) was really enjoyable.

 

K&WVR Gala 3rd - 5th March according to the latest Steam Railway.

 

John, I believe it is hoped to have this as a 'theme' for one/some/all the Galas next year. Unfortunately I have no idea whether anything specific is being proposed for the actual 9th July anniversary.
I too enjoyed the 2007 commemoration at Swanage although, frustratingly, I can't now remember which locos I drove. I do recall that 73129 was the loudest Standard 5 I've ever heard. One evening, after the wind had dropped, a group of off-duty crews listened to it climbing from Swanage for at least 2 miles judging by whistles at the various whistle boards.
Video (not mine) showing some of that gala's action:

 

You drove 80078 on the Saturday afternoon, as I won a footplate with yourself and Annie! Was only meant to stay on for 1x round trip, but you let me stay on until the disposal where I seem to remember I ended up with an iron in my hand at some point as there was some solid clinker that took a bit of persuading to drop through the rocking grate.

That weekend cursed me, as I made friends with Marbles who managed to get me to complete a membership form afterwards and I ended up volunteering at 71B when I moved South. And even though I've returned "home" I still make the trek down to the South Coast 3/4 times a year...

You're right about 73129 being loud, especially the Saturday night departure which shook all the windows on the surrounding houses. My video from the event is below, including THAT departure (final clip).

 

Thanks for reminding me. BR Standard 4 tanks are very nice locos having the ideal combination of power and economy. I believe 80078's current owner is getting on with restoration so hope it can be spared for an occasional visit to it's former home at 71B.
Embarrassed apologies for apparently awarding you the dart/pricker as an extra prize. I didn't make a habit of lumbering people like that but you are still part of the Swanage team so that's very encouraging. Even though I've retired from the footplate I may see you at Norden during the Spring Gala (31/3 - 2/4/2017) perhaps.
Good video but couldn't 'feel' the noise as my PC's speakers distorted before increasing the volume too much. Either that or it's my hearing - which is more than likely after many decades of suffering cylinder drain cocks and safety valves doing their jobs. Still, as the old adage goes - "You had to be there".

 

The Mid-Hants are marking the 50th with a double-weekend gala, 1st/2nd & 8th/9th July.

 

You know it makes sense.......

 

Certainly was one of those moments you had to be there. And I was 1 of 3 with Mr Lloyd and Craig Tiley. Certainly left a lasting impression..! I'm hoping to be down for Spring Gala, after I was sadly called away from the Autumn gala. Had a good day on 31806 on the Friday at least...

 

https://www.national-preservation.c...ly-bulleid-gala-31-march-2-april-2017.821864/
Keep watching this thread Lil Bear to see what you might have to fire on

 

Lee
Would you please update your list for the Swanage Railway's Spring Steam Gala at the end of March to:
"STRICTLY BULLEID" SPRING STEAM GALA as we appear to be having a few Bulleid Pacifics visiting us.
Many thanks, Peter

 

Listings updated and first post updated with Enthusiasts Events Highlights...

 

Listings updated with North Yorkshire Moors events...

 

Listings updated with East Lancs Events...

 

Provisional list of the Bluebell's Special events is now available see : -

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/events/index.html

or http://www.bluebell-railway.com/event/special-events-2017/

Note : - The list is not complete, and that the Branchline Weekend is now the 13th and 14th May.

 

Just received the KWVR timetable for 2017. No Autumn Steam Gala. Anyone know why?

 

Dean Forest having a Forest Wartime Steam Gala 13-14, 20 & 21st May.

Diesel gala 15th-17th September.

 

It's to ease the demand on Volunteers in October. With the build up to Santa and the Beer fest, recovering from civil works in September.