Steel Steam and Stars 4 - March 6, 7, 8, 13, 14 and 15 2015

So with one guest engine to go we've got GWR, LMS, Southern and BR Standard - so we just need something LNER - I really enjoyed riding behind the D49 and Mayflower at SSS2, so either of those or 61264, or how about (my freight-fanaticism showing now) the Q6 from the NYMR?

 

http://www.6880.co.uk/steel-steam-stars-iv/

Tickets now on sale. Look a good price to me for what is available.

 

I said 63395 from the start. It's a beast on the NYMR and I would love to see it on my home line.

 

I had a feeling 1450 would end up attending. It certainly looked the part on the SVR in late crest green with a maroon autocoach. I wonder whether that'll come as well. Having said that, last time i passed Pentrefelin, it looked like they were painting one of the autocoaches. I know they repainted 2 of the mark 1s into red and cream for SSS2.

Anyway, it's looking like:- 7822
5199
3802
80072
3205
1450
92212
34092
One other TBC

 

I photographed 5542 about ten years ago with my old 35mm camera which I have now managed to scan from the negatives and put on

http://steammemories.blogspot.co.uk/

 

What about 45337... will that be there?

 

From the information around 45337/5337 (depending on whether it has been repainted by SSS4) is more likely to be around than either 80072 or 7822.

 

80072 unlikely as boiler coming out.
7822 now requires a full retube, so highly unlikely.
45337 apparently booked to stay for the first part of 2015, so is "in".
The full confirmed list is available on the 6880 Groups 'event' page on Facebook (which should be set to public)
https://www.facebook.com/events/723587457718513

 

Personally like to see the T9 visit. Didcot/Newbury with 3205, North Cornwall with 34092 plus 30304 did haul one of the TRPS AGM Specials to Towyn in the 50s.

 

Sorry to hear about 7822 and 80072 being unlikely, although I guess you never know for sure.....

So I make it 7 confirmed locos for the gala (although the "faceache" page doesn't mention 1450) - are there still any more being negotiated?

 

It is stated in a post in this thread and one of the magazines, that there will be a total of 5 visiting locos. So one more .

 

The T9 would have been even better in 2009 with 9017. It is one of the ones people have been talking about for a while. Por old Foxie doesn't seem to have had much look with SSS galas. She would have been good for double-headers with 3205 and 5199. If anyone else out there is a fan of doubletraktion like I am, a standard 4 4-6-0 would be a perfect visitor. It would go well with 34092, 92212, 45337 and 80072 and 7822 if there's any chance of them being ready, Otherwise, the only authentic combo you could do would be 5199 and 3205 and I've never actually seen a picture of that combination but I'm sure it must have happened on the Cambrian.

 

Except it was dismantled for overhaul in 2009?Entered traffic in 2010 initially at Bodmin at the request of he who paid?

 

Its a great shame losing them 2 years and 5 years into their boiler tickets, but these things unfortunatly happen.

So we've got:

Home fleet - 3802, 5199 (hopefully overhaul will be finished), 45337.

Visitors (confirmed) - 3205, 92212, 34092

 

Although how they work is just as incomprehensible as in previous years.

With both SSS2 and 3 I went on the first weekend, then Fri to Sun on the second. In both cases I bought the full 9 day rover: a) to support the objective of the gala and b) because I couldn't be bothered to work through all of the possible combinations.

For SSS4, I will probably attend the first weekend (Fri to Sun), not the second. Surely having a three day "long weekend" ticket is a reasonable ticket to have on offer?

 

I was standing next to the T9 in August 2010 and heard the inspector say something like, "Well done. You have an operational loco." All I meant was the Tal-y-Llyn railway special double-header ship has sailed and it could be some time before it could happen again and that's the only time you would have seen a T9 (or any Southern loco) on Cambrian metals. When the recreation train with 9017 and Morayshire came into Carrog, Will Naylor turned to me and said, "I would have liked a T9, really!"

 

Edit: made a post about standard 4's and totally forgot about 75029

The holy grail of authentic combo's would be 7822 piloting 9017 IMO, shame it may be some time till it's possible

 

75078 is in works and due out soon. 75029 needs new tyres.

 

6880 will look like many Granges did, 92214 doesn't look like any 9F did.

 

Looks quite similar to how one did