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

Whilst I enjoyed SSS3 the weather was lousy, esp the cavalcade. Is March a tad early? I do apreciate that the Principality is usually on the damp side, thats why its so green

 

I have a feeling it was repainted for charters. So ran in both liveries. Very late 90s or early 00s. Will dig through the Steam at Llan collection later and find out.

 

I guess no matter when you plan a gala, your never going to know the weather. Pick a date, and keep your fingers crossed all the way up to the event!

 

It was in 2000. She was piloted by 7822 on the last train of the day on the Saturday night.

 

The photos look great, can't wait to see it at Llangollen again!

 

Fair play to you then, I'd still suggest people visiting all three would be in a small minority however.

 

It did arrive in GWR livery and left in BR green. 4277 was at Llan around the same time and again, arrived in GWR green then left in BR black.

 

And failed spectacularly on the Santas! I remember seeing her at Berwyn. She stopped when she wasn't supposed to, whistled for about 10 seconds and moved off again. By all accounts, she didn't make it much further. I spoke to the fireman who said he'd never known another engine take water at Glyndyfrdwy in both directia. I'm not sure what was wrong with it but after it was repaired and repainted they only ran it with 2 suburbans!
Come to think of it, that's 3 visitors that have arrived in GWR and left in BR. The other, of course, being 9017.

 

I'm not sure how a Niagara would cope with Berwyn bank.

 

Now THAT would've been a sight! though gauging may have been an issue..............

 

The 52xx we had for SSS1 was the same. Massive boiler, but limited water capacity. The Santa runs 4277 did would have been worse as they'd have had steam heat on all day.

The ex Vale of Glamorgan railway austerity Pamela was another loco that arrived in one colour and left in another.

 

Heritage Railway's article (P7) contains a teaser that at least one headline grabbing mainline engine will be in attendance, sounds like Tornado to me, but could also be Sir Nigel Gresley?

Good news that visitors will be able to ride on the freight (for a small supplement). Interesting though that this is allowed for SSS4 but normal Llangollen galas no longer seem to allow it - could that situation be about to change after SSS4? Fingers crossed because riding through Berwyn Tunnel in a Toad Brake is quite an experience.

 

Doubt it will be Tornado, as it visited the last SS&S in 2012.

The Betton Grange Society has also created an events page on facebook, just browsed through some of the comments and found out that there will be no calvacade at SS&S 4.

 

It would also be very unlikely that Tornado's intermediate overhaul and repaint will be completed by March.

 

Seeing as they've hired from Hosking's before from his main line fleet with Britannia, I wonder what the chances of one of his locos being in the line up... Bittern could fit the bill as headliner?

 

Bittern is being withdrawn for overhaul at the end of the year. I suspect there is a strong chance a loco owned by Jeremy Hoskings will attend, but not necessary a mainline registered one.

 

60007 would be a winner for me.

 

Bearing in mind that Hoskins does have Bittern going out of ticket, Brit attended SSS3, and Braunton out for intermediate I would imagine his engines will be unlikely to attend. Although I would be very happy to see one of his none mainline locos!!

I personally like the "different" engines at a SSS. 828 was superb last time as was the 4-4-0s at previous ones! So say something like the T9, M7, Crab, Butterleys 7F, D49, Fairbourn tank is the sort of locos I would love to see.