Arguably the highlight on the Autumn steam calendar is the Severn Valley Railway Steam Gala with three standard gauge visiting engines and the full triumphant return of 4930 Hagley Hall to Severn Valley metals. The event was held over four days and the video featured here was taken across the first two days. The weather conditions were fine throughout though a pesky northerly wind gave ample reminders we were now in Autumn despite the warmth from the sunshine making it rather pleasant on some occasions.
As stated above 4930 Hagley Hall was billed as the star engine on show, though a mid gala departure for the engine caused major disappointment for the final two days of the gala due to the locomotive setting off a string of lineside fires which put nearby neighbours property in jeopardy. This was followed up with a host of visits from the local fire brigade which was never a good look. Its firmly believed by many that the railway took the right decision, though those passengers who were due to travel on the Saturday and Sunday would be left disappointed. Thankfully the Great Western Hall class is a home based loco and there will plenty more opportunities to travel behind the engine.
The second visiting engine was mainline LMS Black Five 45231 Sherwood Forester which was brought in from Crewe courtesy of Locomotive Services Limited. The engine performed faultlessly throughout and we captured some of our best shots with the locomotive. The third engine to the visit the railway was West Somerset Railway's GWR inspired mogul 9351 which certainly looked at home on the former Great Western branch line despite its long term history. The final visiting loco would turn out to be a fan favourite throughout the gala and that was the former Side tank Hunslet 0-6-0ST Jessie (Works No. 1873) courtesy of the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway in South Wales. With its distinctive black livery and wasp stripes this little loco put on some fine displays on the local services between Bridgnorth & Hampton Loade which in turn provided much enjoyment by many.
As usual with most steam galas the home fleet were all in action though 75069 just avoided our grasp. The homefleet featured in the video were No 70 aka 34027 Taw Valley, GWR 2857 & GWR 1501 which were both participating in their final gala appearances before overhaul. Pannier tank 7714 makes a brief appearance and the Flying Pig aka 43106 was assigned on a short goods train. Having traveled the trains on the Saturday and spent time at the lineside we have enjoyed all aspects of what the gala had to offer and it was definitely right up there with some of best galas we've attended, though this was no surprise as the SVR and Autumn galas go hand in hand !
I hope you enjoy our take on the proceedings of the event.
29 сен 2024