Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th September 2024
Let's Play Trains! That's right, for our 2024 End of Season Gala, we're opening the toy box and digging out as wide a variety of locomotives as we possibly can! From Red, Green, Blue and Black, 4 wheels to 10 wheels, 10 1/4" and 7 1/4" Gauge, and from the Big and Powerful, to the Small yet Mighty. Here's what we've got in store for you...
Starting with. Saturday 28th September. We are delighted to be formally launching 1003 ‘Western Queen’ into traffic after her lengthy restoration. There will be a Ceremony at 11:30am at Eastleigh Parkway Station, with a special guest joining us to rededicate the locomotive. Following this, she will haul her inaugural passenger run around the railway. Standard Fares apply and seats will be on a first come first serve basis.
We are pleased to add that there will be a pair of visiting locomotives, and they really couldn’t be more different! Firstly, we welcome Harry Spencer’s 10 ¼” Gauge Liverpool & Manchester No.57 ‘Lion’, visiting from its usual base at the South Downs Light Railway. As for the second locomotive, you’ll just have to watch this space…
On the Saturday, 1003 ‘Western Queen’ will be joined out on the tracks by Home Fleet Locomotives, Bulleid Pacific 35004 ‘Cunard White Star’, 4789 ‘William Baker’, Romulus ‘Sanjo’ and D2000 ‘Thunderbolt’. Visiting Great Central Railway Class 8 ‘Fish’ No.181 will be in steam also.
Special Trains to look out for on the Saturday are as follows:
- 09:30 Lakes Express: 2.5 miles of non stop running, both the right way round and the wrong way round our railway! This service will be hauled by GCR 'Fish' No.181 and 35004 'Cunard White Star'.
- 12:00 Western Queen hauls inaugural train.
-14:00 Afternoon Limited (with TBC guest locomotive) this will entail two non-stop laps of our railway.
- 16:30 Sunset Lakes Express hauled by 1003 'Western Queen'.
The Sunday sees a slightly different line up, with once again 1003 ‘Western Queen’ and 35004 ‘Cunard White Star’ and D2000 ‘Thunderbolt’ hauling trains, but this time joined by GCR 8K No.102, Lynton & Barnstaple Tank 761 ‘Taw’ and, making a rare appearance out of the shed, ex Dobwalls Rio Grande No.8 ‘David Curwen’.
Special Trains to look out for on the Sunday are as follows:
- 09:30 Parallel Run with Rio Grande No.8 ‘David Curwen’ with (TBC guest locomotive). Two trains will race each other to Monks Brook Halt over taking and crossing over each other.
- 16:30 Multi engine express. Hauled by 1003 'Western Queen', 35004 'Cunard White Star' and TBC locomotive.
We hope you will join us over the weekend to sample a wide variety of 10 ¼” and 7 ¼” traction, of both Scale and Narrow Gauge Profile.
With so many trains operating the best way to make the most of a fun weekend like this is to purchase a Day Rover ticket. This ticket will give you UNLIMITED RIDES for the entire day!
It wouldn't playing trains with just one ride would it!
