Dean Forest Railway 'GW Branchline Day' - Saturday 30th April 2011

The Dean Forest Railway this Saturday will be running a two steam train service using GWR Auto Tank number 1450 on the Auto train and Pannier number 9681 on the main set. Trains run from 10am until 5.15pm. Refreshments available at Parkend and from Norchard's Plate-Layers Buffet.

Timetable for the day - http://www.deanforestrailway.co.uk/shopimages/DFR GW Branchline Day 30 April 2011.pdf

On the Bank Holiday Monday a two train service will run using one steam loco on the main set and DMU, to Timetable B.

There is then a GW Branchline Weekend over 2/3 July where 1450, 5521 & 9681 will be in action on Auto, Passenger and Goods, including double heading.

 

Thinking seriously about going to this. Do you have any details about photo spots, Joshua?

Regards

 

The Dean Forest is a great line for the amount of locations it has considering its just over 4 miles long. I went to the SDR the other day and unless you have a car it is very difficult to go to many places without a long walk and this is where the DFR differs.

Out of Parkend station a footpath runs directly alongside the line to Whitecroft on either side of the track, plus you can also walk on the road. From Norchard there is another path that goes as far as Upper Forge, it is possible to walk on to Tufts as I did many years ago but not advisable! Then you have Middle Forge Jcn which is just off the main B4234 on a path, and the Park next to St Marys Church for the section between Lydney Town and St Marys Halt.

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks a lot.

Enjoy your weekend

 

I just got back from this event and most enjoyable it was too. The volunteers were friendly and helpful and the railway is very leafy, lots of green!

I parked the car at Norchard and walked to Upper Forge after doing some filming at the station. Then a walk to Middle Forge Jc and a drive to Lydney Town and back to Norchard was pretty well the itinerary for the day. I'll edit the film tomorrow, hopefully, and have it on YouTube early in the week.

Regards

 

I also had a good day out, the sun shone and the trains ran to time (mainly early!).

Interestingly 1450 now faces Lydney with 178's driving end facing Parkend, allowing for shots of steam engines going forwards south, apart from WD132 'Sapper' for 2 weeks at the end of March/early April and Rocket last year, this is the first time this has happened since about 2004. I'd think this will now become the norm for 1450 and 178.

 

My film of the day is now available on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjwt485tXeg

The film starts at Norchard, with the other locations being Mills Crossing, Upper Forge, Middle Forge Junction, Lydney Town and back to Norchard for the disposal of engines 1450 and 9681 and their rolling stock.

I am very impressed with this railway, all the infrastructure you see on the film has been built from scratch by the volunteers and it has been done to a very high standard.

Regards