Churnet Valley Railway Steam Gala 25/ 26th February 2012

I'm more intruiged as to whether 6046 will be there. Yesterday, I could see the tender in the yard, pretty much finished. However, I'm presuming that S160 boiler stood next to it isn't hers? If it is, then it certainly will be a tight race to get her reassembled and in steam in just 2 weeks

 

Correct. That is not the boiler off 6046.

 

Iain is he referring to the 3rd boiler? the one Greg was going to use to speed up overhauls between the two?

 

Guess so, as both S160's have their boilers in place right now.

 

Anyone from the railway able to comment on ticket prices, buses from Stoke to Froghall etc?

 

The worst thing about these event is the excessive banking which is being done.

I rode behind 34028 on the first event and the locomotive could of easily handled that train on its own. In fact what happened was that the Class 33 on the back was on full chat the whole time. Not very good and I hope it stops unless absolutley neccessary. I did not come to that event to hear the 33 making more noise than the steam engines. Its only 1/40 ish, they do it on the NYMR every day without that!

 

That's enough to put me right off.

 

I presume the banker was necessary as there was no run round loop at Cauldon?

 

Trains had to be banked that weekend due to there being no run-round loop available at Cauldon Lowe (one point was not in working order, and the second one had had the groundframe stolen weeks before).

If you are talking of the trip on the first Saturday, the trains were running late due to a brake failure on one of the sets in the morning and 71000 running low on water. The 33 was pressed into service to cover for 71000, and it was asked to assist the train in order to try and claim back some of the delays.

And it's not just about the gradient. NYMR doesn't have the tightness of the curves that the Cauldon Line does. It's that tight in some places I believe a 9F is banned from the route due to the length of its wheelbase. Also NYMR get some sort of 'run' at the hill from the shed to the start of the climb. At CVR we only get from the loop at Leekbrook before we hit the 1in40 on the severe curve.

 

There will not be any banking at the gala, there is the possibility that the trains may be top and tailed between Leekbrook and Cauldon Lowe if the run round loop is not finished at Cauldon Lowe however the lead locos will be doing the work with the tailing loco only taking its own weight.

There will also be no diesels banking/ top and tailing at the gala.

I will post a full gala update tomorrow to cover the questions that have been asked about the event.

On a good note Black 5 No. 45379 has arrived today.

Regards

Chris

 

Although the track is clear the line has lots of overhanging vegetation still on the first 2 miles and a series of very tight curves. During that year in the wet, locos had sometimes struggled to get themselves and a brake van up, would a 6/7 coach train packed to standing with a diesel "dead" on the back really have got up "easily" in November? I'm not so sure.

 

If you were behind a Bulleid, it'd be hard for the crompton NOT to make more noise!

Now running for cover.

 

Had my first ride up the Cauldon line in December and in cold, wet conditions the 5 struggled for adhesion at times, which is where the 33 on the back became very useful, merely in maintaining some speed before the 5 could regain its footing. That said, the 5 was clearly taking the majority of the strain on the climb. Still an excellent spectacle!

 

I was at the cvr at the weekend for there Thomas the tank engine weekend and was told by a bloke who is restoring 6046 that it won't be ready for the gala also there is no planned other guest engine so looks like a 3 engine gala so the elr have won me over and shall be going there instead sorry cvr.

Nathan

 

Yet I understand negotiations ARE in hand for a guest engine but no announcement is being made until the details are confirmed.

You pays your money - you takes your choice.

 

The on-line flyer (and I'm not alluding to the speed of trains planned for the gala weekend!) suggests the event will run between Froghall Junction and Leekbrook. So whereabout's is this well kept secret then?

Pity about 6046 and the uncertainty over an additional guest loco. If only three locos are ultimately available it makes double-headed Black 5's to Cauldon a bit of a luxury, if there are also two return steam hauled freights to schedule into an 'intensive passenger service'. Let's hope the double-headed trains can go up in daylight.

 

With regards to 6046, is it not worth waiting for the day to arrive? For several galas I've been to an engine has been turned out of the works the night before/morning of the event... Give the guys a chance!

 

The online flyer clearly states that the passenger trains will be running Froghall and Cauldon Lowe;

CVR Steam Gala

Regards

Chris

 

"Intensive passenger service........".

It doesnt look like that at all ....looking at the timetable...

 

Will there be services just on the Froghall - Cheddleton (Leekbrook) section alongside the Cauldon Lowe trains?

Thanks,
Lewis