The May Bank Holiday weekend saw the Churnet Valley Railway operating their first steam gala since 2019, with BR Standard 4MT 75014 'Braveheart' and GWR Castle Class 4079 'Pendennis Castle' visiting the line running alongside home fleet USATC S160 pair no.5197 and no.6046. The weekend additionally saw use of the Cauldon Low branch as far as Ipstones, with locos putting on a strong performance up the sustained 1 in 45 gradient.
The gala was 75014 last weekend at the railway, having been visiting from the Dartmouth Steam Railway since February; An appropriate guest for the line, as 75014 had been allocated to nearby Stoke shed (5D) between 1963 and "64, and likely would have worked the Churnet Valley during this time.
In addition to four locos in service, LMS 4F 44422 was on static display at Cheddleton Station, having received a repaint earlier this year. An appeal has been launched to return the loco to traffic for her centenary in 2027, more information can be found at www.44422.co.uk.
LINKS
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LOCOS & STOCK
USATC S160 5197
BR Standard 4MT 4-6-0 75014 'Braveheart'
GWR Castle Class 4079 'Pendennis Castle'
British Rail Class 25 25322 'Tamworth Castle'
British Rail Class 33 33021 'Eastleigh'
TKh49 no.2944 'Hotspur'
LMS 4F 0-6-0 44422
USATC S160 6046
VIDEO CONTENTS
0:00 - 5197 - Consall
1:07 - 75014 - Consall
2:15 - 4079 - Consall
3:16 - 75014 - Black Lion, Consall
4:55 - 75014 - Cheddleton Yard
5:28 - 4079 - Cheddleton Station
6:33 - 44422 - Cheddleton Station
7:06 - 5197 & 6046 - Cheddleton
8:46 - 75014 - Froghall
9:58 - 75014 - Brandnop Tunnel
Filmed on 5th May 2024.