So, here we are again with another 3 days of wonderful steamings, although I think we could have done without the weather being quite so hot. There was certainly quite a variety of locos this time with the Caley tank returning, an outing for the little Great Eastern saddletank, the lovely green Standard Class 2 from the KWVR, and the Black 5 back in action. All that topped off with existing 2026 visitors GWR Railcar 22 and "Manston", and of course our home team. What a treat!
All the photos are shown in the order taken.
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Saturday
Caledonian Railway 439 class 15189 collects the shuttle rake from the siding and moves into Platform 2. It looks great in its LMS livery. When it was last here it was in its Caledonian light blue. Both look good.
We certainly had some numbers on Saturday as can be seen with "Betton Grange" about to leave for Toddington.
Being a Saturday for most of our regulars it was work as usual. Paul and Maurice were having a battle with the new roof edge planks on the Mink D van.
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"Betton Grange" steams past the Works. |
At the south end of SO 4798 Ian fits a new vacuum hose.
Visitors appeared almost from the start of our opening - even a few before we had put out the sandwich boards on the platforms! It's that giant sign on the side of the old Workshop declaring we are open in very large letters.
The end vestibules in 4798 need varnishing, both for the new veneer panelling that has been inserted, and to refresh the existing panelling and beading. Graham makes a start on sanding the latter with 240 paper.
Maurice drills the marked locations for the bolt holes in the new primed roof plank.
In the Barn our visitors in the viewing area are able to watch John start up the vacuum pump to test the braking system under SK 25451 and check for any leaks.
The chained off viewing area is always very popular. The Caley tank heads for Toddington with the shuttle.
Talk about innovation, what will they come up with next?! Our wonderful Upholstery team have surprised us again with another winner. Eve and Laura proudly show the moquette key rings that have now been made. What a brilliant way to make use of the scraps of moquette that would have inevitably been wasted with the making of the cushions, bags and spectacle cases.
And here we are with Jane busy making more key rings using the overlocker while Carol watches.
Cutting lengths of moquette to the right size.
Peter, our very knowledgable member of the team with the workings of our machines, is resetting the high and low speed levels of this particular one.
Laura talks to two of our many visitors to Upholstery about our items for sale.
[Photo : Nick] Two more happy customers with cushions in the popular flower vase moquette.
Lots of action for the visitors. While "Manston" waits in Platform 2, Alex guides the crew of 3850 as the freight backs into the south yard headshunt.
Now round the Works to the yard to capture the train in full view, starting with 3850. It all looks very good.
Great to see the Gunpowder van included, having a "holiday" from its normal location in Platform 2 Bay.
Repeating what I did last year. A walk to the far end to get a photo from the Toad brakevan along the length of the train. Including the brakevans there are now 16 vehicles and the train is about the length of a 6 coach rake. I have ridden the Queen Mary brakevan to Toddington with some returning wagons, but I must have a proper go on the freight sometime, a good there and back run to Cheltenham from Toddington.
The rear view with Chicken Curve in the immediate foreground and the Cotswold escarpment in the distance.
3850 up close and personal. Built at Swindon in 1942 and now owned by Dinmore Manor Locomotive Limited, it resumed working in August 2024 following its 10 yearly overhaul.
Great Eastern Railway No. 229 "Coffeepot" on hire from Bill Parker's Flour Mill Works in the Forest of Dean is on the mini demonstration freight.
Perfect timing! Standard Class 2 78022 from the KWVR emerges between 229 and 3850 with the next southbound train.
"Manston" now passes with its train.
In the GW Inspection Saloon kitchen Simon and Phil discuss the fitting of the water heater and other equipment to be plumbed in. The Painting team have been asked to get the work surfaces varnished as soon as possible, and of course all the shelves.
[I intended to start this on Tuesday, the day after the Gala, but it was far too hot in the Barn for varnishing. Hopefully it will be cooler by Thursday].
Paul W and Jenny have given the toilet compartment and saloons a lovely clean throughout.
The notice on each of the saloon doors says it all !
229 prepares for another trundle to the station with the demonstration shunt.
Ah, Black 5 45110, a particular favourite of mine. It's a real delight to see this running again and on our line. And judging by the dense crowds on both platforms, I'm most definitely not the only one.
That mournful Stanier hoot, clanking side rods and lovely exhaust beat - a treat!
With 45110 now departed, 229 chugs to the station.
What a great little engine. I was hoping to see this at the recent DFR Gala and was disappointed it didn't appear.
Back to the Works with Paul and Maurice still working on the Mink D roof.
With Pam not able to attend I ended up looking after our doggy visitors. I gave the owner some treats and after a "Sit. Paw."command, they were gratefully enjoyed. We had very few dogs in this time, no doubt because of the hot weather.
In 4798's north vestibule Graham is now well into revarnishing. It does look good.
Services were going to continue into the evening, but at the Works most left at their usual times, leaving the Saturday late gang to stay on for a bit longer. 78022, with 229 at the front, returns to Toddington.
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Sunday
Into day 2 and another very hot day. We were back in early to adjust the Works and remove the visitor restrictions to allow full access through the Workshop and Barn via a taped corridor.
My first photo for the day was of 78022 with the freight.
As before, the first run of the day has the freight backing into the south yard headshunt. These Class 2 Standards are lovely little engines and are basically the Ivatt Class 2s with modifications. I have vivid memories of travelling behind the latter in 1963 on the Oswestry - Bala and Oswestry - Whitchurch - Crewe runs.
"Manston" departs on another nortbound train.
One of the many enjoyable aspects of being a Works Monitor during galas is meeting and talking to our visitors, and especially so when they are very enthusiastic about our Carriage & Wagon blog. It gives me great pleasure to be able to include a lovely couple who said how much they enjoy reading it. It makes all the many hours of effort in producing it feel very worthwhile.
There was a lot of interest in SO 4798 and all the work going on to upgrade it to a First Class coach. Nick explains what we have done as the group views the interior through the corridor connection.
Our displays are of a lot of interest and often avidly read.
It was lovely to welcome this lady with her very friendly black labrador. Being a labrador I expected the doggy treats to snatched from my hand, but she was very gentle and gratefully accepted them in a very calm way.
A lot of interest was also shown with the Mink D van, in particular when are the doors being done.
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This was actually a quieter moment. At times there was hardly anyone in. Then after a while, both the Works and viewing area became very busy. |
The flyby with the Dakota going very low above us caught us by surprise. I could have got a great shot, but had to be content with a distant one as it circled back round.
Barry Cordell, former MD of Riviera Trains, visited with his wife in the afternoon. I showed them around the Works, describing our progress and letting them see inside 4798 and the GW Inspection Saloon. GW Railcar 22 passes by.
Lots of interest in the Caley tank.
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Monday
Monday was forecast to be the hottest day of the Gala and much replanning the previous evening enabled a reduced timetable to be put into place.
The first photo of the day was for 78022 collecting Rake 3.
Next up was the Caley tank to collect the shuttle coaches.
Almost 120 years old.
Unfortunately "Betton Grange" had failed the day before, so 2807 was lit up and is now available for running. She appears on the first train of the day.
A close up of the other side of the Caley tank with the Westinghouse brake pump prominent on the side and making its characteristic sound.
A walk up to the station and the griddle tent was followed by a sit down on a nearby bench to enjoy a delicious sausage bap (with the mandatory onions and brown sauce). A perfect situation to enjoy 3850 pass by with the freight.
Rose appeared wearing a lovely dress and carrying a very nice bunch of sweet peas to put on the lobby cupboard.
A quieter moment to relax before Eve rushes upstairs with more visitors on their way to Upholstery.
It's almost midday with 2807 on another southbound run with the freight. At £10 a time we must have done well with our brakevan rides. During all three days both vans had good numbers of passengers.
Back through the Works with plenty of visitors.
Robert, a former headmaster and so well experienced with children, shows these youngsters the workings of the LED / tungsten light comparison.
Almost two hours later 2807 returns with the freight while Robert takes another video.
[Photo : Nick] Another happy purchase made with one of our bags.
Over the weekend Upholstery sold several cushions, bags, specs cases and key rings (these have taken off very quickly!)
Over the Gala our shops at Toddington and Broadway will probably also have done well with Upholstery sales.
It's now mid afternoon and after 3 days of looking after the Works and chatting to a large number of visitors we are getting weary. So the sight of our Crimson & Cream set behind black 2807 is a nice pick-me-up.
"Manston" waits in Platform 2.
Rose very thoughtfully brought the green table and chairs around to the shade of the Barn entrance. All the white chairs had been brought inside the entrance, again to provide shade. The forecast predicted 31C for Winchcombe but I think it was hotter.
It is now almost 6.30. We had closed up the Works at 5 and relaxed in the viewing area to wind down and watch the final trains.
The Caley tank brings the shuttle set back to Winchcombe.
With the shuttle in Platform 2, 45110 now heads for Toddington.
Finally the Caley tank propels the shuttle rake into the south yard headshunt.
And that was basically the day done and another very enjoyable steam gala over for another year.
Just before I drove off I watched "Manston" leave Platform 1 with the last train as 3850 propelled Rake 3 back into the north yard siding. For a few seconds I was able to see the two locos moving side by side, something I've not seen before at Winchcombe.
