Mid Hants Spring Steam Gala: 26th-28th April 2024

45690 Leander announced on the railway’s Facebook page, on one of its final appearances before its boiler ticket expires in May. Should sound good over the ‘Alps’.

 

Excellent, a loco I have yet to even see.

 

I've seen it at the Bluebell many years ago, at the Severn Valley and had a trip over the Settle & Carlisle with it in 2018. Here's me sat in the driver's seat during a water stop at Appleby.

 

Glad you posted this as my (yet again) poor memory had totally forgotten a Bluebell Jubilee, although I did think it was one of the others. So not only have I seen it, I have ridden behind it as well (Nov 13 2004). Seem to remember could not attend the GOS but it must have stayed on.
Despite numerous CME'S and CCE's never did get it on a mainline run though.
Stil a great choice of visito though.

 

Couldn't remember what year it was but 2004 sounds about right. Yes it came for Giants of Steam and stayed till Christmas that year. Must say I preferred it in LMS colours.

 

Thank goodness!

 

Webpage for the event https://watercressline.co.uk/special-days/spring-steam-gala/

 

45690 has arrived. Another guest TBA in the coming days

 

Blimey, Leander has arrived early. Additional running days or a photo charter before the Gala I wonder? Great to hear also that there will be an additional visiting loco.

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Photo charter a week before the gala, not sure about anything else

 

MHR have told me nothing before Gala

 

Please tell me its NOT 6880, so many other engines that could visit:
60007.
60532.
70000.

Please just let it be one that’s actually in service!

 

Well not 60532 then!

 

If it was to be any LSL engines, 61306, Royal Scot & 60007 are the options which will be in Southall at the time.

 

60532’s on test at another railway many miles away and hasn’t yet finished that testing, please tell us all why it could be a potential visitor?
Or are we playing fantasy trainset’s again?

 

45690 has been tucked away in the wheeldrop shed today according to a post on Instagram.

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If that is the case Matt37401 then I apologise.
The whole point is, I hope to god that it isn't 6880 and anything would be 100× better.

AaronT, I'm not an Eastern or Midland man, but I would take any of those anyday of the week, as long as they could appear.

 

So someone who is a self confessed lover of things GWR doesn’t want a GWR loco at the gala. Strange.

 

I don't think that's the point. The point is it would be better to advertise something that is actually available to run at this moment in time rather than a new build that may or may not make it. There seems to be an assumption that the extra visitor will be from the LSL stable. Is there any basis for that? It could be a complete surprise like 5239 was last year!

 

Thank you 6026 King John, that is exactly what I was saying, I think the LSL stable assumptions were my fault, I literally just thought of a few examples of engines that have been recently overhauled.

Honestly, GWR or not, I just hope it's in service, at this point, I wouldn't care less if it was another Bulleid, just anything but 6880.

Spamcan81, I maybe a GWR fanatic but are you really that suprised that suprised I think this way? Heck, I would be bouncing off the walls if something like 6990 'Witherslack Hall' or 7812 'Erlestoke Manor' was announced, I just think there is no point in booking something that won't turn up.