The Watercress Line in Hampshire would play host to three guest locomotives over the weekend of 26th - 28th April, as they held their annual 'Spring Steam Gala'.
The main visitor, courtesy of West Coast Railways and the Beet family was LMS Jubilee Class No. 45690 Leander. With her boiler ticket due to expire next month, this would be her penultimate event before heading to the Epping Ongar Railway the following week to bow out of service. As such, getting the engine on a line close to home was certainly not to be missed.
Alongside Leander, was Battle of Britain Class No. 34070 Manston, currently on long term loan to the MHR and visiting from the Swanage Railway. The engine would look very much at home on the line, moreso in it's current weathered condition, recreating scenes from it's working life. The third visitor would be Lambton Tank No. 29, visiting from the NYMR. However, the locomotive would be rarely seen over the event, as leaking tubes caused it to be withdrawn halfway through Friday, returning late on the Saturday, before being completely scarce from the event altogether on the Sunday.
Alongside the guests, the MHR would utilize their home fleet, consiting of S15 No. 506 & Ivatt 2MT No. 41312. The event would see a mixture of passenger services and non stop freight runs, and while the weather over the weekend was a mixed back of sunshine and cloudy weather, that never stops the locomotives putting on a show over the lines steep gradients. Leander would also be seen sporting a wreath throughout the event, in memory of Craig Potter, a member of her support crew and a WCRC fireman who sadly passed away in the week leading up to the Gala.
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27 апр 2024
