National Preservation Gala of the year 2010

ELR Autumn Gala with a fantastic line-up and visitors of Tornado, 73129 and Leander returning to the railway where she was based a couple of years ago made for a fantastic weekend, had some fantastic running behind all said locos plus support from the home engines made for the best gala in a while!

 

Middletons MSC Gala For Me Proper traction, big hill, plenty of noise and a beer tent bliss.

 

Bluebell 50th Anniversary Gala in August, when we put on a show and a half! Actually, I would nominate it with the Middleton 50th Gala so that both lines achievements are recognised this year.

Regards,

Dan

 

SVR 40th Anniversary in September. 3 days of non-stop action, and first time I spent both nights on the train. 422 miles later I still wanted it to go on.

Bodmin's Branchline gala in April though was a good effort from them, my first visit for a long long time that I thoroughly enjoyed.

 

Given that I'm too biased to vote for one of the Foxfield galas...

For atmosphere, the SVR Autumn gala - overnight running (including one very spirited run with 46443), proper branch trains mixed amongst the main line rakes, a nice variety of stock, and everything else we've come to expect from them! For sheer noise, either Byker Grove* (Twizell) at the Tanfield gala or the yank tank at Churnet...

I don't feel the need to choose between the above :lol:.


* Nickname used in jest. Please don't kill me, kind Geordies!

 

Surely it has to be Novembers blast up to Cauldon. The other events are well practised but this was organised in a short period of time on a railway that has also raced ahead and I think they did an amazing job.

 

Have to agree with lil Bear. First time I spent 2 nights on the train instead of using a B&B/Hotel. So the SVR 40th Anniversary Gala in September gets my vote too.

 

Got to be Bluebell 50 for me for the same reasons Dan gave. But I'd also like to nominate Branch Line w/e just for the reason that we finally managed to get a Fairburn Tank down to our railway.

 

Can't believe no one has yet mentioned the GWSR's 9 day GWR 175 gala. Admitedly slightly spoilt by the Gothrington slip - but you can't blame them for that!

Stephen

 

Bluebell 50th again. A great way to celebrate one of Standard Gauge Pioneers 50th anniversary and there was always something to keep you interested. I went all 3 days and had something different to do each day.

 

Whilst the SVR autumn gala was very good personally I feel that the GWSR's GWR 175 celebration was the best, in terms of locos but also the problem of the landslip and how little it affected the event

 

Just totting up what I did last year and came up with a total of 17 events rangeing with the little events @ Ribble Steam Railway, little Industrials at Foxfields -narrow guage @ the Amerton Railway to the larger events at NYMR / GCR / ELR etc with the bigger mainline engines.
All these events have their own place and enjoyed all and never came away disappointed.

But my favorite of the year was the "Old Timers " gala on the GCR - It was so different to see these old engines running up & down on double tracks PlUS and extended timetable with freight workings. Hardly fiveteen minutes wait between some movements passing by & on four occasions,two trains passing me mid station in the country. Just Brill !!

The NYMR Giants of Steam gala didnt live up to all the hype due to failures, freight cancellations & late running but did better for their Autumn gala but still missed the shuttles.
Still enjoyable days out.

The ELR & K&WVR also managed to put on a good show at all their events.

The Cauldon Lowe branch opening gala still makes me laugh at what happened to me - Turning up after the expected first departure train, I jumped on the awaiting train for Cauldon Lowe - sat down & it set off. Only then to find it was running 40 mins late & got thrown off(nicely) at Consall for not having the right ticket - this being the first train.
Catching the next train at Chedellton for Cauldon Lowe we were packed in like sardines and couldnt get into a carriage and was stuck in the entrance corridor of a carriage for the whole journey.
Didnt make the first train to Cauldon Lowe but was the first to be thrown off a train going to Caldon Lowe

What fun will we have in 2011? 2010 was quite interesting !

John

 

well, as an SVR man, I SHOULD say our own Autumn steam gala, however, purely for the increadiable achievement that it marks, my vote is with the Bluebell's 50th aniversary gala.

 

Ffestiniog Railway Vintage Weekend, unique and utterly unrivalled.

 

Apart from being completly biased in that i was on the organizing committe for the GWSR gala, i feel that getting 12 engines on site with 7 in use every day, for 9 days straight (56 loco days - did anybody else beat this ?) And all done by volunteers - Toddington has NO paid staff at all, is just short of incredible. The Gotherington slip may have put a stop to the impressive timetable we had planned (14 departuress) - but with the re-opening this year we can try again. (although we wont be getting seven guest locos!) anybody involved in gala planning knows the horrendous costs involved. . .

 

Foxfield Summer Gala.
as always staff were very welcoming, good noise, and great phot'ing.
but please....less orange next year, or make it NCB donkey jacket.