Embsay & Bolton Abbey - Hunslet Gala 27-29 June

Looks like long “festers” at Embsay now (which would previously be occupied by a trip to Bow Bridge and back)

 

Certainly has made me consider attending now..........

 

I wouldn't consdier 40 minutes a long fester when you're the crew and have to service locos etc, or if you're a passenger wabting lunch or a cuippa. It soon goes. Go on, go and give the railwayy your support. Don't, and you could be the diffrernce between profit and loss. What an attitude - be psitive mate!

 

Well it has gone from an "all go" timetable to "go slow" timetable................ there's your answer. previous timetable until yesterday had our attendance guaranteed.

As for support, various railways get my support all year every year and have done since the early 80s, however if at the last minute a railway decides to chuck things upside down...............

 

I'd still go. For the engine line up, the atmosphere and the chance to attend something that will never be repeated. I went to he Ffestiniog last weekend. The timetable fell over, we had a grerat time. Come on! Support the railway, the shop, the cafe - or is it really SO awfyl?

 

Guys... I need your help! I defo want to ride behind George and Brookes (L1 & L2), want at least a brake van ride, would like to experience the Thompson bar car and to get haulage by as many of the engines as possible... but need to leave betweeen 1400 - 1430!
Also need to squeeze in the engine shed and model railways.

Am I best starting at Embsay or BA at 10:30? I've tried to follow a couple of options but most of them see me staying with either a loco or a set.

 

I’ll still be going on Saturday, but I had considered going tomorrow as weel. On Saturday, if my revised plans come to fruition, O will now be spending about 4 hours hanging around waiting for my next train and just over 2 hours actually travelling.

 

It's definitely not ideal. There are a few 10 minute connections at Embsay if you change platforms, but then when you next get back to Embsay the next service out is the goods. It's definitely a timetable you need to print out several times and try and work out an itinerary.

 

For anyone interested, I've edited the layout of the timetable for today (Friday) to organise it by timing, not by set.

 

I managed to work out an itinerary in the end, not helped by the fact that the previously-advertised display of model railways at Bolton Abbey had been moved to Embsay. This was logical (a couple of traders and exhibitors had pulled out last minute so the space at Embsay was more than adequate for what was needed) but also mean that the only thing to while away time on at BA was the cafe.

Overall however I had a fantastic day. Managed three return trips before having to leave before 3pm, rode behind all 5 engines in service and got a brake van ride in. Really hope they do soemthing like this again.

I do think Bolton Abbey Plat 2/3 coming into use will make a world of difference to their operational flexibility at an event like this.

 

Had a lovely time at the Hunslet gala today, possibly one of the best days I've ever had at a heritage line

Thank you to all at Embsay for putting on such an amazing little event

 

A few of my photos from the hunslet gala a fantastic day although I couldent book the breakfast train 1st class ticket as all these had sold out for Saturday I managed to get king George double headed with brooks 1 from Bolton Abbey to Embsay bunker 1st and Jessie although I dident get brookes number 1 or king george on their own pulling the trains. I also got my 1st ride on a tender loco at embsay courtesy of 2890 Douglas and stayed until 7pm.

 

Fabulous day yesterday at this event. Hardly seemed to notice the gaps between trains at Embsay, always seemed to be something going on with loco changes, coaling and watering etc. (Possibly quieter at the Bolton Abbey end).
Well done to everyone concerned.

 

Great day today . A great gala and well organized. I hope they do some similar in the future .

 

So, @47406 did yuo go? Looks like you missed out if not

 

As I state above, I had some misgivings about the timetable, but I have to say that I quite enjoyed the event and managed to get a round trip with BROOKS No 1, THE KING, JESSIE and CUMBRIA, plus a one way trip with BEATRICE (the resident loco) and DOUGLAS (which I've had numerous times on the ELR). This involved a one way trip on the dining set, which was rather "cosy" with only one non-dining coach - glad I was able to spend most of the time on the normal passenger set which was fine. I didn't realise until about a week ago that there is now a Saturday bus service from Skipton to Embsay (it was previously only on weekdays, with an infrequent Dales Bus service on Sundays) - this made things much easier to get there and means I will probably get to the railway more frequently (hopefully to get a trip with the J27 while it's there, if the railway advertise when it's working - a proper timetable on the website would also be nice!).