Fenchurch Steals The Show: The Severn Valley Railway 'Spring Steam Gala' 2024

Thursday 18th to Sunday 21st April saw the Severn Valley Railway hosting their first major event of the 2024 season, their annual Spring steam gala, featuring an intensive service of passenger and goods trains worked by the line's home fleet and a number of guest locos. This year, the home fleet would be joined by GWR Pannier Tank No.1369, Lambton Colliery Railway No.29 and LBSCR 'Terrier' No.72 'Fenchurch'. The new-build GWR Grange No.6880 'Betton Grange' had originally been pencilled in to attend. Owing to it having barely turned a wheel under its own power at the time, Bulleid Pacific No.21C127 'Taw Valley' was resurrected from its slumber to fill in the gap. Despite being withdrawn for overhaul back in January, the loco still had a few months left on its current boiler ticket, so was able to make a temporary return to service. GWR Saddle Tank No.813 was also set to make a welcome return at the gala, after major repairs. Unfortunately, it was discovered it needs a whole new water tank, potentially setting it return back by a couple of years.
The full line up included:
Home fleet:
- SR 'West Country' Class 4-6-2 No.21C127 'Taw Valley'
- GWR 'Hall' Class 4-6-0 No.4930 'Hagley Hall'
- GWR 'Manor' Class 4-6-0 No.7812 'Erlestoke Manor'
- BR Standard 4MT Class 4-6-0 No.75069
- GWR 5700 Class 0-6-0PT No.7714*
- LMS Stanier Mogul 2-6-0 No.13268 (Freshly turned out in LMS Lined Black)
Guests:
- GWR 1366 Class 0-6-0PT No.1369 (Courtesy of the South Devon Railway)
- Lambton Colliery Railway 0-6-2T No.29 (Courtesy of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway)
- LBSCR A1 Class 'Terrier' 0-6-0T No.72 'Fenchurch' (Courtesy of the Bluebell Railway)
* Does not feature
Despite the "will it, won't it" nature of the gala, the final line up was still a cracking one. For me, the star had to be the small, but mighty Fenchurch, with its stirring performances on the Hampton Loade to Bridgnorth shuttles. Another little highlight was the picture perfect combination of 1369 and the GWR good set.
Timestamps:
00:00 72, Eardington Halt
02:34 7812, Eardington Halt
04:14 13268, Oldbury Viaduct
05:23 75069, Crossing Cottage
06:20 72, Eardington (Top Field)
08:05 4930, Waterworks Crossing
09:17 72, Waterworks Crossing
10:11 21C127, Hampton Loade
12:35 7812, Hay Bridge
14:09 72, Hay Bridge
15:25 1369, Sandy Lane
17:09 13268, Rifle Range
18:39 7812, Eardington
19:52 72, Eardington
21:04 1369, Burlish Top
22:49 1369, Orchard Crossing
23:48 29, Orchard Crossing
25:10 1369, Northwood
26:24 7812, Eardington (Lower Field)
28:15 72, Crossing Cottage
29:00 4930, Eardington
30:35 29, Northwood
32:01 7812, Northwood
33:13 13268, Northwood
Filmed on Friday 19th & Saturday 20th April 2024, using a Panasonic HC-X1500 with an Audio-Technica BP4025 microphone.
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