After a new departure (no pun intended!) for the North Yorkshire Moors Railway in May with a 'Scottish Branchline' theme for their 'Spring Steam Gala', thoughts turned to what the Autumn event would bring. The three day weekend is without fail one of the top galas of the year, and has something for everybody, not just enthusiasts. After a distinctly 'Southern' themed event last year featuring the visits of SR Mansell 'U-Boat' 2-6-0 31806 from the Swanage Railway and SR Bullied 'West Country' Pacific 34092 'City Of Wells' from the Keighley and Worth Valley and East Lancashire Railways, the NYMR upped the anti even more with 2016's 'Welsh' gala.

With the railway seeing more and more of its locos back in action (and one or two new arrivals as well), the home fleet could've held the timetable all by themselves, as several engines were renumbered to represent scrapped locos from the western region, but the 'Welsh' title was down the visiting guests. GWR 78xx 'Manor' 4-6-0 7822 'Foxcote Manor' and GWR Churchward 28xx 2-8-0 2807 previously visited in 2011 and 2014, and were back again to take Yorkshire by storm. 7822 also made its first appearance on the line in BR Black livery, applied during its latest overhaul which was completed earlier this year. A third guest was in the form of popular BR Standard 4MT 2-6-0 76084 from the North Norfolk Railway. After making headlines in August for running NNR trains down from Sheringham to Cromer, the engine completed its mainline test runs just days before its visit and was able to travel up to the railway light engine by rail. It is also available for use on the Esk Valley Line services from Grosmont to Whitby. BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4 Tank 80136 was also making its gala debut after it moved under its own power at the railway for the first time in July. Already a very exciting lineup, but the NYMR had one more trump card up its sleeve.

For those of you who don't know, Grosmont not only has a railway tunnel, but also a foot tunnel enabling people to reach the Motive Power Depot from the village. Used in the George Stevenson days of the route, horse-drawn wagons were the only source of transport through. Until this year. For the first time in history, guests had the opportunity to travel by steam through the foot tunnel via the visit of the Ffestiniog Railway's Hunslet 0-4-0ST 'Britomart; and two 'bug box' coaches. With the teak coaches and demonstration freight train in operation, the gala was now certainly a not-to-be-missed event.

I visited on the Saturday of the gala and caught a variety of workings. I had wanted to capture the doubled-headed Standard 4MT run but due to a sudden bout of serious illness had to leave around 15:30. Trains mostly ran to time and were full to the brim, but one or two loco failures marred the event on the Saturday and Sunday.

The Full Lineup Consisted Of:

Visiting:
GWR 78xx 'Manor' 4-6-0 7822 'Foxcote Manor' (from the Llangollen Railway. Running in BR Black for the first time in preservation.)
GWR Churchward 28xx 2-8-0 2807 (from the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway. Failed on the Saturday and Sunday with brake faults.)
BR Standard 4MT 2-6-0 76084 (from the North Norfolk Railway. Recently re-certified for mainline use. Due to stay at the Moors until March 2017.)
USATC S160 2-8-0 6046 (From the Churnet Valley Railway. On loan to the NYMR for the 2016 season.)
1' 11" Gauge Hunslet 0-4-0ST 'Britomart' (From the Ffestiniog Railway. Ran through Grosmont's foot tunnel with two coaches.)

Home Fleet:
LNER Thompson B1 4-6-0 61264 (Recently returned to service after extensive wheel repairs.)
LMS Stanier Black 5MT 4-6-0 45248 'Eric Treacy' (Running as Creos Newydd's 45344.)
LMS Stanier Black 5MT 4-6-0 44806 (Recently returned to service after firebox issues. Running Creos Newydd's 44776.)
BR Standard 4MT 2-6-0 76079 (Running as 76083.)
BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T 80136 (First Gala appearance at NYMR after completion of overhaul.)
LNER Raven Q6 0-8-0 63395 (As Standby Loco.)*
BR Class 25 D7628 'Sybilla' (Ran on tail of Battersby services with 45428.)

*Does not appear in this video.

I hope you all enjoy the video. Special thanks to the NYMR for a spectacular gala. Keep your eyes peeled for 'Behind The Yellow Line's (formerly 'The Richmondshire Railway Series') premiere in November. The wait is nearly over! Feel free to comment and subscribe!

свернуть