NYMR Spring Gala - 1st to 4th and 8th to 10th May

Really known as The Tornado Gala!

Arrangements still being finalised, but obviously the guest star is Tornado, makings its first heritage railway Gala appearance since completion and naming and providing the first opportunity for travel behind this new star of the steam world are "ordinary" (all right, Gala!) ticket prices!

During the course of the Gala, it is planned that 60163 will run on the Teak set that matches its 1948 livery, and the Blood and Custard set, as well as operating between Grosmont and both Pickering and Battersby. Tornado will also work two evening diner trains during the event, seeing an A1 back on "Tyne-Tees Pullmans" for the first time in 40 plus years (all our Pullmans were used on this famous service - see latest Back Track for pictures of A1s on the train)

Places are still available on the photocharters that will take place during the visit. The loco will be used on the Teak Set, Blood and Custard set and goods train during the course of these on different occasions. Bookings are via John Hunt - if you don't have his contact details, please PM mean and I will pass on to John via e-mail.

In addition to 60163, other locos in use will be drawn from 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley, 6619, 825, 30926 Repton, 45212, 43935, 63395 and 75029 with further guest(s) still under negotiation; all locos subject to availability.

Steven Hogg
NYMR

 

Really looking forward to this one! Up for the whole 2nd weekend

 

Further guests Steven, sounds interesting, I thought the pot was empty when it came to more visiting motive power?

 

A budget has been set for the event for both income and expenditure, so there is "pot" of money available and it was always the plan to have at least one further guest. What we did find last year was that bringing in a lot of guest locos soons costs a fortune and you have to be very careful to ensure you actually don't pay out more than the extra you bring in. We are fortunate in having quite a large, varied and interesting fleet based on the NYMR, but it can be difficult to compete in the world of Galas with lines that bring in 5 or more guests for every big Gala they run.

Well done to Keighley for achieving a good Gala in February with just one guest!

Anyway, watch this space!

 

Will 5407 and 76079 be on the line at this time too?

 

Looking forward to this- Up 1st through to the 8th.
Will Tornado be used during the week at all or just the gala dates? Or s it too early to say?

 

Hopefully, will be used during th "week" (actually, with first weekend being a Bank Holiday, only Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The loco is in use for photo charters during this period before and after the scheduled services. (Places still available - £55 per day - PM me contact details and I will send on to the organisor, John Hunt).

 

Timetables are being finalised, based on current expected line-up.

As hinted at above, 76079 is expected to be with us for the event.

One change from the original plan is that on the first Sunday (3rd May), it will be 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley making its passenger debut between Grosmont and Battersby. Although 60007 regular travels over this line with its support coach, this will be the first time it has hauled a passenger train.

60163 Tornado will undertake the same duty on the last Sunday, 10th May. Both locos are restricted to Grosmont to Battersby due to the curvature of the line on the approach to Whitby. There wil, however, be through services to Whitby on both Saturdays and Sundays with other locos.

60163 is planned to be matched Teak or 1950s "Blood & Custard" coaches throughout its visit.

At present, it is expected (subject to availability) that a total of 11 different locomotives will be used over the 7 days of the Gala. In addition to ordinary passenger service, there will be goods trains and Pullman diners.

If you want to dine behind Tornado, early booking is advised on the Friday night North Yorkshire Pullmans from Grosmont To Pickering by ringing 01751 472508. Ordinary seating will also be available. Keep a eye out for the announcement of a further special dining car (and non-dining) service involving 60163 during the event.

One or two further guests may be announced shortly!

 

Nice to see the whole fleet in action, some gala's in the past have seen the likes of the super 'D' stood in the siding, Always nice to see the guest engines, but without the home fleet taking a full part I think something is missing. Secondly thiose who travel from afar may be in fact more intrested in the home fleet than visters who have probably come from their neck of the woods.

Finaly A big shot to everyone, espesialy the likes of myself, namely photographers and film makers out there who don't get to ride as they don't wont to miss that picture, her is you chance to donate if you won't to keep coming to the gala's we need every penny, well I will be keeping 1 penny as you know but part from that, please make a donation to the bridge appeal.
http://www.bridgeandwheels.co.uk/

 

The only gala the super D wasn't part of when at the NYMR was the autumn 2006 when it had broken a spring and couldn't be run safely. Again thats the reason it isn't running at the moment, and the MPD have to wait up to 8 weeks for new ones to arrive with no spares being carried; NRM policy I believe. From what i have heard there will be another guest but its not confirmed yet, intrigued to hear of potentially another guest on top of that as well. A return of 53809 has been mentioned, can anyone shed light on this??

 

53809 now being advertised as a guest on the NYMR website.

 

As the NYMR website is now advertising the event programmes

1)Anyone now able to confirm whether any additional visitors besides 60163/53809.

or

2)Will be programmes be potentially out of date by the time received if additional visitors arrive and aren't included in the rosters in the brochure.

Why cannot they just supply an accurate A4 roster on the day when you purchase a day rover?If buying a rover ticket I want to know what I am travelling on,without buying some out of date,inaccurate brochure for a roster.

With only two weeks to go,I cannot beieve loco guests not finalised and transport arranged.

 

Well, you'll just have to believe it. From a conversation I had last week they were still trying to get another loco if it could be made available. Additionally, I believe that 76079 is heading to Grosmont tomorrow. As for the home fleet, 30926 is still being prepared for Whitby running and its availability is not yet certain; 49395 is awaiting a new spring and has been for quite some time, the delivery of which is out of the NYMR's hands. Things have been a bit tight for steam locos this last couple of weeks with only four in service each day but I believe that 75029 is back in traffic today to ease the current loco situation. Given the above information, are you able to put together the best possible gala line up? I'm sure that the NYMR would like to hear from you with your crystal ball, if you can.
On a normal day, the days planned loco roster is posted in the buffets at Pickering & Grosmont so that you can see which locos will be hauling which trains.

 

I've just noticed this. There was no such train as the Tyne Tees Pullman. It was the Tees Tyne Pullman. The 'replica' headboard sometimes carried on the NYMR is a mistake.

 

That Steve,is exactly my point.Why produce and sell a £3 brochure to enable rover ticket holders to obtain a roster,which unless the writers crystal ball is perfect,will be wrong anyway.The one thing worse than no information is wrong information.
Here's hoping(but not expecting),that a free up to date accurate roster is freely available to rover ticket holders on the day.

 

I'll be happy to buy a three day ticket, pay £3 for a brochure and take what comes. NYMR Gala's are always worth attending and excellent value. Looking forward to it =D>

 

Well it seems as though the guest locos are now sorted. See NYMR website. Shame that the other potential visitor isn't going to make it. Perhaps for the autumn gala. Don't know what will be doing what, though, with a potential 12 locos to choose from.

 

Don't know if the website has been changed since you had a look Steve, but it now says that other visitors (well, visitor) is under negotiation. My latest advice is that a decision will be taken very close to the event, so watch this space.

 

Does anyone know what time the last train or similar will be back at Pickering? I hope to do this in a day from Surrey but I can't book my train home until the timetables come out.

 

There's a timetable of sorts on the NYMR diesel website, if that's any use...don't know how accurate it is though.

R.