Middleton Railway Leeds Diesel Gala 15/16 Sept inc rare track

If you are looking for something a little different this coming weekend (15th/16th September), perhaps on your way to or from the North Yorkshire Moors then the Middleton Railway may have something to interest you…

Our annual September Gala this year is intended to be an all diesel affair. Due to last minute trackwork and rostering we can’t be completely definite about everything but updates will be posted here as things are firmed up.

The current plan is that the infrequently used Drewry Car RDB998901 will be used on the Moor Road – Balm Road (Network Rail connection) branch. It is intended that each trip will traverse all available track on the branch – i.e. both sides of the loop at the end and as close to the NR gate as we can safely get. The last train of the day should return from Balm Road and head for the end of the line at Middleton Park Halt via the Moor Road loop and this will then do the run round loop at Middleton Park Halt before returning to Moor Road.

The service between Moor Road and Middleton Park Halt will be operated by a selection of our diesel collection – LMS 7051, 138C, Peckett 5003 and Hudswell, Clarke Mary are currently in the frame but this will be confirmed in the coming days.

Trains from 11:00 both days and the locos on the Park service should change regularly.

Further details – including bargain fares – to follow…

 

I think the Middleton Railway website needs an update to say that this is diesel gala....

Selecting Timetable -> Events 2012 opens a page which says...

No mention of it being diesel only.

 

Even a diesel gala at Middleton is well worth attending. I've been to three in recent years, and this small line packs a lot of interest into its site.

 

Thanks Nanstallon and there is a note on the front page that the Diesel Gala is taking place this weekend but I will talk to the webmaster...

The all important fare information:

Adult day rover: £6
Child day rover: £3

The following locos are booked to work:

Saturday: LMS 7051, Austins No.1 (Peckett 5003/1961), Mary (HCD577/1932) & RDB998901 (DCC2268/1950)
Sunday: LMS 7051, Austins No.1 (Peckett 5003/1961), 138C (TH138C/1964) & RDB998901 (DCC2268/1950)

There is no roster as such - yet - but our usual gala policy is that things work in turn so 3 locos on a 40 minute service means you shouldn't be hanging around too long for anything. If any more details surface I will post them here.

 

The Balm Road branch has been passed fit for traffic today and a timetable and roster is in the final stages of preparation and will be posted here ASAP.

 

First train from Moor Road to Park Halt is 11:00 with LMS 7051 & Austin No.1 both days. LMS 7051 works back from the Park solo and then Mary (Sat) or 138C (Sun) works the 11:40 to the Park. The service then departs Moor Road at 12:20, 13:00, 13:40, 14:20, 15:00, 15:40 and 16:20 each service changes locos at the Park and Moor Road so two round trips should get all three locos for you.

The first Railbus service to Balm Road (covering both sides of the Balm Road loop each time) departs Moor Road at 11:10 and then every 40 minutes until 16:30.

The 16:30 Balm Road departure from Moor Road will run from Balm Road to the Park via the loop at Moor Road (no alighting or boarding then) and then traverse the loop at Park Halt before returning to Moor Road around 17:15 (or near offer) - no surcharge for this all line tour!

We look forward to seeing as many as can make it.

 

All went according to plan today - what a refreshing change! All in place for it to happen again tomorrow...