ELR Spring Steam Gala 15-17 March 2024

You could always buy a copy of his book , the story, as told by him, of his time in the pound in Spain after being abandoned,
his journey to the UK and his new life with us! All proceeds go to the charity that rescued him.

 

Such a handsome boy.

 

For handsome, read handful!

 

I agree it was completely over the top! , he ruined everyone’s shot of the double header. Felt more like riot control than a heritage railway! Certainly in two minds about going to galas there again if that’s how people are being treated. The railways not the same as it used to be…

 

In the rush to publicise the Gala event someone at the ELR forgot to mention that both 60007 and 70000 will be working services there this weekend; another chance to see / travel behind the pair if the weather improves from last weekend.

 

I would suggest that may be a planned move, as I assume gala fares were more expensive than normal, and some may some back for a "second bite"

 

Footage from the Friday and Sunday of the event. A great show from the locomotives:

 

'forgot to mention' Can't stop, can you. Very sad.

 

I visited for the first time at the weekend, yes they had 4 nice loco's but the railway has a lot to learn about customer service.

It really put me off going back, not a great experience!

 

In much the same way as the gala visiting locos at other railways work on the weekend(s) after their galas, but they don't advertise this until after the gala has taken place.

The clues were there that 60007 and 70000 would be working on the East Lancs this coming weekend...

* It's shown as an all steam service on the timetable pages of the ELR website (normal operation is one steam and one diesel).
* There is an LSL path from Bury back to Crewe in Realtime Trains for next Tuesday.

I have to admit though that it's a little bit naughty in the ELR case as last weekend wasn't really a full gala using all available locos (as far as I know 34092, 47298, 19, 2890 and Ann were all available, and apparently 45407 was offered), so the only real difference between the "gala" and the coming weekend is the absence of 45690 (which has worked very regularly on the ELR since it's arrival last year) and the shuttle (which was originally only going to be a DMU).

 

It's funny reading people's experiences of the ELR like this is a new thing. Those of us who live near the ELR and have been visiting several times a year since the 90s know that this is nothing new. It did seem to get worse just after the pandemic, though.
Their extremely affected head of security used to be a guard on the railway. Man, he was annoying.

 

i went over to the ELR today Saturday to see 70000 Britannia & 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley working the normal weekend services before they go back to Crewe on Tuesday
https://railway-photography.smugmug...ley-70000-Britannia-23rd-March-2024/i-Sb9zpXq

70000 Britannia arriving at Bury in a very heavy downpour of rain and hail
https://railway-photography.smugmug...ley-70000-Britannia-23rd-March-2024/i-XdfsTtB

Neil

 

Gresley in use on footplate experience duties for members of the locomotives support crew.

 

I thought he was talking about you!

 

Oh, perhaps he was!