Bodmin September Steam Gala

Just been looking at the timetable and line-up for this on the website. Definitely going over for the Sunday morning. The timetable only lists passenger services but the description on the website mentions freight too, so I was wondering if the freights would only appear on a working timetable, if they were happy before the first passenger service or what.

Will email the rally too but thought asking on here might be helpful for drawing attention to the event. It's just home fleet but T9, two Panniers, autocoach and 4247 with those mega gradients will do nicely for me even if it's lower key than some recent events there.

 

In the past, the most likely time for freight workings was at the start of the day, before the first passenger train, and it would vary between Bodmin Parkway and Boscarne Jct. People have been allowed to travel in the brake van for a supplementary fare. However, in recent years, goods trains have been interwoven with the passenger trains, again with people being allowed to travel in the brake; this time free if you have a day rover but needing to book a place before you go.

Certainly, the home fleet gives plenty of variety. It should be a great gala.

Around 12 October, the Met no. 1 is meant to pay a visit - see website for more detail.

John

 

Yep, I'll be back for both Met 1's visit and the diesel gala as well. Very handy that it's close enough to do half-day visits around work so I can make it to most events.

 

If anyone's at Bodmin on Saturday and is able to post here about their experience, that'll be great. I'm in two minds about whether to go on Sunday or not now. I have to be back in Totnes for work by 1pm and haven't had a reply from the railway about whether there will be any freight trains before the passenger service, or how early the car park/station/cafe opens to get some atmosphere early on. Probably leaning towards heading a little way east to watch the Royal Duchy and Torbay Express before work on Sunday instead, but if anyone goes on Sat and comes back saying there are clay hoods out first thing or double headed Panniers or something equally awesome that's worth a 9am-11.30am trip on Sunday, it would be great to hear it. If not, I'll chase some main line this time and hold off on Bodmin till the diesel gala and Met 1's visit. Thanks. If I had longer I'd definitely be at Bodmin as the gradients and T9 are always worth it, but with a very limited free-time window I'm being a bit more choosy.

 

some photos and video from event on friday at http://www.youtube.com/user/keyhamtrain/videos?sort=dd&view=0&live_view=500&flow=list and at http://keyhamtrain.weebly.com/6-9-13-bodmin-steam-gala.html

 

"Choosy" about a T9?? Words fail me!

I'm off to the booking office today - wouldn't mind seeing that old lady doing the honours.

John

 

Well, indeed... I made good use of the revived loco roster on Bodmin's website to make two additional trips over in August for 30120. 40+ working weekends each year raise my selectiveness bar for special events though, but the October line-up with Met 1, the T9 and the Beattie makes the cut and it's a weekend where I can work overnight to get the day free.

 

Hopefully see you in October, and that the weather will oblige!

John