Worth Valley steam gala ‘most successful in years’

CROWDS flocked to the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway’s March 11-13 Steam Extravaganza as the spring gala made a spirited comeback following a two-year absence.

One big plus was the combination of guest LMS 4-6-0 No. 46100

Royal Scot alongside Jubilee 4-6-0 No. 45596 Bahamas, which for many enthusiasts was an eagerlyanticipated combination.

The other guest was GWR 57XX 0-6-0T No. 7714, visiting from the Severn Valley Railway. For its size, it produced some excellent performances with six coaches up the 1-in-60 grades.

Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Class 25 ‘Ironclad’ 0-6-0 No. 52044, perhaps best known by the general public as ‘The Green Dragon’ in the 1970 movie The Railway Children, made its first appearance in early BR livery since 1963 after being painted by KWVR member Alan Hardaker in Oxenhope Exhibition Shed before the event. In the weeks leading up to the gala, the public was given access to see the necessary skills in progress.

KWVR business & operations manager Noel Hartley said: “It was our most successful gala in recent years, perhaps since we saw the combination of GWR 4-4-0 No. 3440 City of Truro and LNWR G2 ‘Super D’ 0-8-0 49935 visit back in 2005 when we introduced three-day events.

“We enjoyed 3700 visitors over the weekend, with the Saturday being particularly busy.

“It is clear that the passion for steam is still very much alive and also that a younger generation are now attending these events, hopefully meaning that galas such as this one have a future on heritage railways.

“No. 52044 looked a treat paired with Mk.1 suburban stock and also with Taff Vale Railway No. 85.”

The next enthusiasts’ event is the June 10-12 diesel gala, details of which are at kwvr.co.uk

Over the summer, the line will be celebrating the July 16 release of The Railway Children Return sequel. ➜ Bahamas will visit the Nene Valley Railway from June 4-10 and will haul trains as part of the line’s June 5 event to mark The Queen’s platinum jubilee.

On its first gala outing, Jubilee 4-6-0 No.5596 Bahamas passes Bridgehouse Mill at Haworth on March 11. DAVE COLLIER

The morning sunshine catches No. 46100 Royal Scot making its second visit to a Keighley & Worth Valley Railway gala, as it charges up Oakworth bank on March 13. ANDREW DENNISON

LMS 6Ps 4-6-0 No.46100 Royal Scot and No.5596 Bahamas crossing the Worth Viaduct with the 3.15pm from Keighley to Oxenhope on March 12. RODNEY TOWERS

One of the highlights of the gala was the emergence of Lancashire & Yorkshire ‘Ironclad’ 0-6-0 No. 52044 in BR black livery, as pictured last issue. It is seen climbing Keighley Bank, with Taff Vale Railway No. 85 for assistance on the 1.20pm departure for Oxenhope on March 12. MARTYN TATTAM

Right: Taff Vale Railway 0-6-2T No.85 and LMS 2-6-2T No.41241 departing Keighley with the first train of the day on March 12 during the gala. RODNEY TOWERS

Below: Visiting from the Severn Valley Railway, GWR 0-6-0PT No. 7714 approaches Haworth Loop with the 10am services from Keighley to Oxenhope on March 12. FRED KERR