Dean Forest Railway Flour Mill 20th Anniversary Gala - 1-3/8-10 July 2016

Drat, I can only go on the second weekend. Oh well.

 

I'm planning on visiting on the first weekend, anyone have any info' yet on the GER 'Coffee Pot' 0-4-0ST no 229 ?
Looking forward to seeing the timetable soon..

 

Timetables for the DFR gala:
1st July
2nd July Not available yet
3rd July
8th July
9th July
10th July

 

Does anyone know the latest regarding visits to the Flour Mill? There doesn't seem to be anything on the DFR website to suggest they'll be happening at all.

 

I understood that they were happening first weekend only, but as you say, can't find anything at all now.

 

From the Facebook Event page:

 

Timetable's now available at http://deanforestrailway.co.uk/events/detail/steam-gala, this Saturday's is to follow however.

 

The DFR website isn't really selling this event, the only info it has is the timetables (which are welcome). It doesn't mention what else is happening including the flour mill visits. I found these by googling the flour mill separately. It's also not clear if you can travel on the freights at all. Is that possible?

 

Can you just turn up to view via the platform or does it cost to enter to get that far?

 

30587 and 5541 seem to be rather under-utilised as far as passenger trains are concerned. Hoping the timetable for Saturday 2nd may be better.

 

Yes you can travel on the freights 'a rideable freight (for a donation)' it says on a facebook post. I do agree they have undersold the event in full, it's poor the timetable for this Saturday isn't even up yet.

'There will also be a vintage bus link on the first weekend between the DFR and the flour mill for unprecedented access and tours of the workshops (small fee).' again it also says on facebook.

 

Timetable for Saturday http://deanforestrailway.co.uk/userfiles/files/2016_Steam_Gala_160702(2).pdf

 

Taken off the DFR website.

"We are planning for all freight to be rideable (a donation for those chosing to ride on the freight would be greatly appreciated) on a first come first served basis.

A bus service will be in operation on the first weekend, Friday 1st - Sunday 3rd July, to shuttle passengers to the Flour Mill for its open days (please note, this will be the only way to access the Flour Mill) at a cost of £5 per person (only valid with a train ticket for the day). The bus will begin departures from Parkend at approximately 12pm. Tickets for the bus must be purchased on the day at either Norchard or Parkend booking offices. Please note, there will be NO PARKING available at Parkend."

 

On the Friday's there are, I assume, non-passenger carrying 'Royal Forester' dining services. These are as follows and do not call at Whitecroft or Lydney Town -

1210 Norchard LL-Lydney Jcn with Met 1+30587
1255 Lydney Jcn-Parkend 30120+30587 (doesn't call at Norchard HL either).
1340 Parkend-Lydney Jcn 30587+30120
1430 Lydney Jcn-Parkend 30120
1510 Parkend-Lydney Jcn 30120
1555 Lydney Jcn-Norchard LL 30120

This Saturday, the 2nd July, see's 5541 run between Norchard and Parkend with Hawksworth Saloon 80943. The engine will always be on the Lydney end of the coach, so propelling to Parkend. These are as follows and do not call at Whitecroft -

1218 Norchard LL-Parkend (via Middle Forge)
1310 Parkend-Norchard HL
1325 Norchard HL-Parkend
1450 Parkend-Norchard HL
1505 Norchard HL-Parkend
returns to Norchard HL as part of 1605 train

I think the railway has uploaded the wrong timetable onto the website for the 2nd as it is missing these runs but everything else is the same.

 

My video and some photos from Saturday at the gala.




30587 rumbles over the crossing at Lydney Town with the first goods train of the day.


30120 coasts into Lydney Town with a train for Parkend.


Met 1 heads away from Whitecroft towards Parkend.


5541 at the head of a private train near Whitecroft.


The photographers look on as 30587 heads away form Parkend with the goods train.

 

Some lovely photos and video there, wetting the appetite for next weekend.

 

A set of my images from Saturday 2nd July at the DFR Steam Gala are now online at my Zenfolio website at: - http://mickrogers.zenfolio.com/p767313145



Cheers,

 

Updated timetable for this Friday http://www.deanforestrailway.co.uk/userfiles/files/2016_Steam_Gala_160708(2).pdf

 

Went to the Gala today, my first proper visit to the FoDR in over a decade. Unfortunately Met 1 failed, which lead to some very late running, I think at one point it was around an hour and half behind. No idea if Met 1 will be back tomorrow for any one who is going or planning to. Nevertheless it was a very enjoyable day out with the three operational locos performing well, thanks to all the volunteers for keeping the show running under difficult circumstances!