K&WVR Steam Gala 19-22 March 2026

Nope. We don't hire for Steam Gala, never have done.

75078 was always likely to miss as it's currently without Driving Wheels.

45407 was a very pleasant bit of luck but not planned.

 

Thursday and Friday gala timetables live The Steam Gala – Keighley & Worth Valley Railway

 

The Timetable for Saturday and Sunday is now also live.
https://kwvr.co.uk/events/thesteamgala/

 

I think this will be Nunney Castle & Braunton from Crewe to KWVR 17th March for the steam gala

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U75692/2026-03-17/detailed

 

I was considering coming to the gala on Saturday 21st but have had second thoughts after looking at the timetable. The big attraction for me is 34046 but it doesn't seem to have any solo runs after 11.10AM and doesn't seem to be in use at all in the afternoon apart from a double-header at 14.05 from Keighley. Are there any goods workings which it operates which aren't shown in the timetable? Alternatively, will the loco be in operation on any other days apart form the gala weekend? Any further info would be most welcome as I'd love to pay the line a visit for the first time in absolutely ages and 34046 is a real draw.

 

I don't think so. They can't operate additional trains to the published timetable due to the only passing loop in Damens. There are also published any light engine moves and goods. Why there should be hiding any 'secret' trains?

 

Braunton and the Castle are scheduled to return to Crewe on the Monday after the Gala. It is not usual for there to be any workings other than those timetabled. K&WVR Galas are famous for the timetable "slipping" somewhat, (as with many others, all part of the fun) but providing the locos are fit to run they do try to keep to the rostered allocation. I have two days booked and am sure it will be the usual "good do" as we say in Yorkshire.

 

I guess it was just a bit of wishful thinking on my part - I'd like to have seen a bit more of Braunton. Oh well, never mind. Thanks for the clarification.

 

Well--up to a point. As discussed in another thread, at the last East Lancs gala I attended, I ended up stuck in Rambottom for two hours with platform staff unable to give any indication of when the next train might arrive. That was NOT fun. I've certainly experienced 'slippage' at past KWVR galas but never anything as bad as that--and I hope it stays that way!

 

Easiest solution i found was to get the bus back to Bury that day, if you get the right one it stops outside Bury Bolton St station

 

There are 3 visiting engines so just running one all the time doesn't work. The idea of a Gala is variety around your visiting locomotives.
Friday - Braunton has 5 trips, the Castle 3. On the Saturday that switches around, where Braunton does 3 trips but the Castle does 5.

There's 5 other main locomotives and two smaller shuttle engines all to fit in too.

They leave immediately after the Gala on Monday

 

Well, I've brought my 2 day ticket and will be doing Friday and Saturday. I did think about Sunday but poorer public transport and the fact I'm rather busy the week after made me decide against that.
Hopefully the weather will oblige and be at least alright. Both BBC and the Met Office reckon it will be currently.

 

LE move from York to Keighley: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U76473/2026-03-18/detailed

I don't get it. Will be the 45407 heading chimney oder tender first to Keighley?

 

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U76476/2026-03-18/detailed

Looks like hauled tender first by a 47 to Keighley so it's facing the right way to go on to KWVR. 47 then heads back to Carnforth.

From what I can piece together (and I'm sure @torgormaig will correct me if I'm wrong) the ECS comes across from Southall with a 47 to Ferme Park, 86259 runs light from Rugby to Ferme Park, the 47 runs round and the 86 attaches to the north end. The 47 is left behind King's Cross and stables at Bowes Park for the day. 45407 and another 47 are attached at Holgate after coming across from Carnforth in the morning. In the evening 45407 and 47 go to Keighley, 86259 takes the train back to London, the other 47 takes the stock back to Southall.

Edit - ...and I've just realised this is the KWVR gala thread, not the Whitby Flyer thread, and most of the above is irrelevant!

 

But where is the Black 5 being turned to be hauled tender first to Keighley?

 

Is the turntable at Keighley long enough to fit a 5?

 

The turntable is around 45ft long (mesured with Google Maps). I don't think it will fit. Also: there mentioned that 45407 will maybe running tender first to Oxenhope on Facebook

 

I'm pretty sure a 5 including tender will not fit on the Keighley turntable. As said elsewhere, possible tender first towards Oxenhope was trailed a while ago by the K&WVR on Facebook. This must be "by design" as there is opportunity to turn the loco, definitely on the York turntable or possibly on one of the triangles en route to Keighley (subject to gauging). On a previous occasion a Caprotti 5 arrived by road facing the "wrong" way and had to stay that way. In the past an occasional loco has turned on the nearby Shipley triangle but not for quite a while now.

 

It's not. By the look of things it is chimney first to Keighley, then tender first up the Worth Valley.

 

Thanks both. I had seen that suggestion that it would face Keighley but couldn't remember where I'd seen it! A loco facing Keighley will make a nice change IMO. Hopefully the KWVR don't get the same level of photographer based grumbling as the GCR got about the 9F! Surely everyone has enough photos of 45407 facing Oxenhope by now...