Severn Valley Railway 'Spring Steam Gala' 2024. All footage filmed on Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st April 2024, released on Sunday 21st April 2024.
The Severn Valley Railway held their annual 'Spring Steam Gala' over 18th-21st April featuring a total of nine locomotives running across the weekend. Unfortunately, the gala took a somewhat unexpected (or expected!) turn during the run up as No. 6880 "Betton Grange" was due to headline the event, supposedly making it's first public appearance following the completion of it's construction. But unfortunately, this was not to be as time had ran out for sufficient light & loaded test runs to take place before the gala which were necessary to upon out any niggling faults which are to be expected with a brand new engine. To fill a 'Grange' shaped hole in the roster, No. 21C127 "Taw Valley" was resurrected after previously having been withdrawn for overhaul in January. Luckily, it still had a valid boiler certificate until mid-May allowing for one last chance to see it in it's unauthentic wartime black livery it has carried since to start of 2023. This meant that the gala was left with a 'small engine' theme in terms of visiting locomotives with No. 72 "Fenchurch" & No. 29 visiting from the Mid Hants Railway and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway respectively. To the surprise of many, a late addition to the roster came in the form of No. 1369 from the South Devon Railway, substituting for No. 813 which as declared unfit to run at the gala needing repairs to it's saddle tank after various leaks were found in the run up to the gala.
The visiting trio would be joining a variety of other locomotives from the Severn Valley Railway's home-fleet, one such loco being Mogul No. 13268, which had recently returned to traffic the previous year and now sported a fresh coat of LMS Lined Black. Completing the line-up would be No. 4930 "Hagley Hall", 57xx No. 7714, No. 7812 "Erlestoke Manor" & 4MT No. 75069.
The railway put on an intensive timetable for the gala featuring a healthy mix of full-line services, local services, goods trains, double-headed trains & much more.
Timestamps:
-00:00, 72, Eardington Bank
-00:55, 7812, Eardington Bank
-01:56, 21C127, Severn Lodge
-03:20, DMU & 4930, Arley Station
-06:06, 75069, Bank Farm Crossing
-06:54, 29, Severn Lodge
-08:14, 13268, Severn Lodge
-09:32, 1369 & DMU, Arley Station
-12:21, 7812, Victoria Bridge
-13:08, 29 + 1369 + (7714), Rifle Range
-14:24, 72, Crossing Cottage
-15:11, 7812, Hay Bridge
-16:59, 72, Hay Bridge
-17:49, 1369 + 7714, Aveley Miners Crossing
-18:49, 75069, Hampton Loade
-19:52, 21C127, Hampton Loade
-22:05, 4930, Waterworks Straight
-23:00, 72, Waterworks Straight
-23:48, 21C127, Rifle Range
-25:07, 1369, Rifle Range
-26:50, 29, Elan Valley Aqueduct
-27:32, 4930, Elan Valley Aqueduct
-28:22, 29, Orchard Crossing
-29:33, 13268, Orchard Crossing
-30:31, 7812, Tenbury Wall
Locomotives:
-Kitson & Co. Class 0-6-2T (Works No. 4263) No. 29
-LBSCR Class A1X 'Terrier' No. 72 "FENCHURCH"
-GWR Class 1366 No. 1369
-GWR Class 4900 'Hall' No. 4930 "HAGLEY HALL"
-Ex-GWR Class 5700 No. 7714
-Ex-GWR Class 7800 'Manor' No. 7812 "ERLESTOKE MANOR"
-LMS Class 5MT No. 13268
-SR Class WC 'West Country' No. 21C127 "TAW VALLEY"
-BR Class 108 DMCL No. 52064, BR Class 108 TBSL No. 59250 & BR Class 108 DMBS No. 51941
-BR Class 4MT No. 75069
-BR(E) Class A2 No. 60532 "BLUE PETER"* was also on display at Kidderminster during the gala
*Not featured in the video
Maximum Pressure Steam