Battlefield line

Unfortunately, but perhaps not unexpectedly, it has been confirmed that 6880 will not be ready in time to participate at the Winter Warmer Gala. The loco will still come to Shackerstone for testing and running in, but this will be after the gala. The railway are in the process of securing a replacement for the event
https://www.facebook.com/shackerstoneshentonmarketbosworth/posts/686614326968677

 

I did think it was rather optimistic, but hey ho at least the finishing lines in sight.

 

Great to see them starting to return events that haven't happend for a while. Things appear to be looking up.

 

I'm a little late on the updates here, but 78018 has been confirmed as the final attendee with thanks to the GCR, Loughborough Standard Loco group and Darlington Railway Preservation Society. This marks the return of 78018 to the railway she arrived to as a Barry Wreck in the 1970s before being moved on to pastures new.
The timetable, as well as the timetable for a free bus linking between Nuneaton and Hinckley with Market Bosworth (or Shackerstone after the last train on Saturday) is now available at https://www.battlefieldline.co.uk/winter-gala. Tickets are only available on the day due to updates going on with the railway's online ticketing system, so you may wish to arrive in plenty of time to beat the queues! I'll be firing 5199 on the Saturday so do come and say hi! Hope to see you there

 

Well whatever they're doing their doing it extremely well. Having seen numerous comments on facebook from people that attended the recent steam gala.

It would seem folks are full of praise for the battlefield railway, particularly amazing to see were comments about how friendly & helpful all the staff were.

Plus it seems people really enjoyed the gala too, a return visit is deffo on the cards for me. So well done to battlefield, things have turned a corner & the future looks very promising indeed.

 

Great news. I’d really like to visit soon. Hopefully they’ll be able to get sorted with a resident steam locomotive too to save them having to hire in something every year.

 

The latest Heritage Railway Magazine has a report of the 'best ever' winter gala which also includes a sneaky note that (of course subject to successful completion in time) 6880 Betton Grange will be hauling her first public trains at Shackerstone on March 9&10

 

Post on facebook confirming that 5199 has returned to Shackerstone after her trip to Didcot and is due for some repairs to hopefully enable an extension to her boiler ticket (I believe the target is currently an extension through to the end of August). So all being well she will be taking steam turns for the next few months - https://www.facebook.com/shackerstoneshentonmarketbosworth/posts/713113664318743
Also contrary to the indication in Heritage Railway Magazine referenced in my previous post, Betton Grange will not be hauling her first public trains this coming weekend, and there will be no services as over-running engineering works have pushed the start of the season back to the weekend of 16/17 March. First steam services (subject to 5199's successful boiler repairs) will be over the Easter weekend

 

Although they weren't complete in time for Easter, 5199's boiler repairs were sufficient to grant an extension through to October, which she will work out at Shackerstone. She ran the services today and as her fireman I can confirm that she was in great shape (and voice!!)

 

The Battlefield Line have confirmed on Facebook that 6880 Betton Grange will be arriving at Shackerstone in November and will be the motive power for their Santa Specials and Mince Pie Specials in December, as well as being the first announced attendee at the January 2025 Winter Warmer Gala.

 

You timed the event very well as 5199 was failed the following morning with a leaking stay!!

 

Less than that I'm afraid - this weekend was due to be the final one. Not sure how serious the stay leakage is and whether it is possible to repair it in time for two more days running

 

Called in at Shackerstone recently during half term to do the Market Bosworth – Shenton extension as not been there for years. Have to say the place is just as woebegone as it was last time, which was before 1992. The entrance is the potholed former trackbed to park by various old pieces of machinery. The train was a dmu as it was half term and hadn’t got that many passengers on it. The main rake of coaches I assume was in the other platform.

Departure saw the train pass varying pieces of rolling stock either covered in moss or rotting or both. There appears to be a 2 car emu with shoebeams under tarpaulins and after a large diesel sized gap where a couple of brake vans were rotting away in the damp cutting.

The view of the track from the front of the dmu wasn’t that inspiring and it was heavily weed infested all the way to Shenton. I think more pheasants were seen than passengers. MB station again contains various items of stock inc Mk3’s and a vandalised 08 type loco. At Shenton that train had 15 mins turnround and then came back.

Was going to get a cup of tea at Shackerstone buffet but gave up as only 2 non-catering staff talking in there. The sales shop looks like jumble sale rejects, and most of it is jumble – is this really the way to entice punters?

Sad to say it would be no surprise if it went under. Appears to be too much stock for too few people to maintain and it is in the middle of nowhere and really goes nowhere either. Many of the unrestored items looked little better than the former resident big diesel and will probably go the same way.

 

It does have a certain appeal though. Shades of a Colonel Stephens railway!

 

I've always found the DMU fleet to be sensible and one of the better elements of the line. Given the railway's modest passenger numbers I'd say there's a permanent place for a Railcar. They have one 2-car set and another single unit which have all had lots of work done to them over the years, steadily by a small team. The exact configuration of the fleet means that whilst there are 3 in total one is often out for restoration but there's always enough vehicles left (and facing the right way!) to reliably provide a 2-car set at all times. As I said, a sensible strategy suited to the size of the operation.

My own personal WIBN would be for Market Bosworth to realise its full potential with 2x platforms, passing loop and signaling, to allow a more wholesome 2-train operation for events, which would certainly create galas and a service level that would prove more enticing. However I'm sure there are other improvements higher up on the list that would better benefit the regular/daily trade and earning potential.

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Sadly your description is all too accurate. Particularly disappointing for me as we’ve just moved into a nearby village.
Even the cafe at Shackerstone doesn’t really work for walk-ups, as if you fancy a cuppa and cake then you have to buy a non-refundable platform ticket to gain entry , so we always opt for the pub instead.

 

Pub wasn't an option last year as the Riding Sun wasn't doing food. We actually found the cafe rather good

 

But you were travelling so no premium to gain access ?