The Foxfield Steam Gala, 17/18th July 2010.

Gala update

"been a long time since I rock & rolled, been a long time since.."

The cold spell is holding up the hydraulic of the boiler for Bagnall 2842, so to that for Whiston. The boiler for Dubs should be at the same stage by Sunday next so things are getting busy.

If you would like to help with this years push please get in touch.

 

Mention of the Beyer turning up at the CVR has been made a number of times. Since finishing its 10 year on 12th Dec the boiler has been removed, shot blasted and inspected.

New side plates are required for the firebox outer wrapper. Work is taking place on contract and it may be back for gala, this information is from Mark Tweedy who is carrying out the contract work.

If it does the line up could be :-

Wimblebury, Bellerophon, Meaford No 2, Florence No2 - all in service.

Whiston, Dubs, Bagnall 2842 - all reaching the end of major rebuilds.

Beyer - Wild card

+ A visiting loco.

Nine engines max !.

Dubs cylinder is a risk, hope to have more info in a few weeks - by then the boiler should have its initial hydraulic.

 

What about a nice M.S.C Tank?

 

Charwelton?

 

Charwelton? What a good idea. Although they were a bit bigger with 16" cylinders perhaps it could run as Blythe No.1 or Foxfield? Could also rename Wimblebury to Arthur Leighton...

Great line up this year. I will reserve my tent space now some where not close to the Tanfield massive! Also any chance of some mild in the bar and not too many beers from the South West?

 

If we're getting bar requests in early - OLD ROSIE PLEASE!

 

Hmm, we are starting to think about how best to promote the start of passenger trains on the bank ( dont worry the July gala will stay as it is in the future ) - the idea of recreating Blythe / Foxfield & Dilhorne No 3 / Arthur Leighton is VERY intertesting and may be a idea for the opening weekend. I have been thinking for some time how best to cover this - cracking idea.

 

If we're putting in bar requests already can we request lots of Amstel... we from the 'Tanfield Massive' drank it all rather quickly last time... no changes to the spirits supplies though please, they were spot on!

Any word on how full line freights will happen again yet?

 

Amstel? Wouldn't put it in Wimblebury's boiler let alone drink the stuff. Anything from the Titanic Brewery will do nicely, especially White Star.

 

Amstel? Wouldn't put it in Wimblebury's boiler let alone drink the stuff!

:rip:

 

If people really must drink Amstel then there's always Amstel Dark I suppose but with all the fine cask ales, stouts and even Pilseners produced in this country by the myriad of independent brewers, why insist on drinking imported beer at a UK heritage railway gala? How would these people
react to the Foxfield getting a foreign loco in for the event?

 

Well it was a busy scene at Foxfield today - Whiston and the Dubs appear to be progressing well as both boilers were full of water with their respective owners engaged in enthusiastic banter as to which project was more advanced. Meanwhile other discussions suggest that 2842 might be the closest to steaming?

 

Team Dubs worked till almost bed time to deliver 20 PSI on hyraulic, the first for 25 years. Hope to go for 240 PSI next week, as does Mr T - hope he can keep up !.

 

So the Dubs might well be more than a myth after all, I think most people have her down in the same category as the 'strategic reserve' by now! Can't wait to see her in action - would much prefer a Doxford one but I'll still have a huge grin on my face seeing any crane tank... what have you got lined up for lifting demos?

Oh and on the beer v lager front. If I find it more refreshing to sink a pint of lager after a long day on a footplate/under a waggon/laying track/digging drainage ditches/hanging carriage doors then why does that make me a lager lout?

 

I take it you don't drink tea or coffee then?

 

Not a myth - more of a legend !. Lots to do yet including the small matter of a cylinder.

As for drink - its a free country, the customer is always right

 

The Bagnall 2842 team have sneaked ahead, the boiler has passed inspection and steam testing, it returned to the railway today and was lifted back into the frames. Everything is pointing to a highwater mark this year - this engine is reputed to have not steamed for 42 years.

The cylinder for Dubs should be ready in around two weeks.

 

Re: Amstel? Wouldn't put it in Wimblebury's boiler let alone drink the stuff!

I can assure you that most modern traction enthusiasts drink real ale over lager. As a 15 year old I was introduced to the pleasures of real ale at Penzance in the Galleon having arrived on 1C11 with a big Sulzer on the front. Never looked back despite the first beers being St. Awful.

Nothing wrong with lager though as long as it is decent stuff - lets face it German and Czech lagers are just as real as British beer. Mind you the Tanfield lot like cl.37s so perhaps frothy beer goes with frothy engines!


Good news on the engine front. Should be a classic gala. With possibly three new engines it could be argued there is no need for a guest but how about the Scunthorpe austerity? The livery might not be right be the individual engine but it looks superb in the authenthic Scunthorpe livery. Only in this months Bylines was I admiring pictures from Scunny in the 60s.

 

Hardly ever and never at home actually. Much prefer a pint of cold milk.

 

Re: Amstel? Wouldn't put it in Wimblebury's boiler let alone drink the stuff!

I was looking at photos on this forum - it does look well. I also note that slough estates no3 looks well at swindon. Lots of ideas, we will indeed be having a visitor.

Spoke to the owner of the Beyer today, things are moving fast on the contract at the CVR she is indeed a prospect. We could turn out as many as four engines with new ten year tickets.