My first visit to the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway was on Saturday 27th June 2009, during the line's first 'Summer Steam Gala' which has been created because the 2008 '40th Anniversary Gala' was in June and proved to be a great hit.

The gala had 9 steam locomotives in action, seven from the resident fleet and then a futher two hired in. These were Chris Beet's LMS 5XP 'Jubilee' Class number 5690 'Leander' (who worked mainline shuttles to Settle only) and the NRMs LNER Robinson '04' (GCR '8K') Class number 63601, who is normally based at the Great Central. Sadly to say 63601 had problems with her superheaters so was failed in the morning, but was repaired enough to allow her to do one round trip in the afternoon, although double-headed at all times.

Full line up -

| TVR 0-6-2T 02 Class number 85
| L&Y 0-6-0 Class 25 'Ironclad' number 957
| Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0T number 1704 'Nunlow'
| LMS 4-6-0 5XP 'Jubilee' number 5690 'Leander'
| BR(M) 2-6-2T 2MT 'Mickey' Class number 41241
| LMS 0-6-0T 3F 'Jinty' Class number 47279
| LNER/GCR 2-8-0 Robinson 04/8K number 63601
| BR 2-6-4T Standard Class 4 Tank number 80002
| War Department 2-8-0 number 90733

All engines are featured apart from 'Nunlow', 957 and 47279. WCRC Class 37 37516 also features as she was on the mainline trains with 5690.

I had a great day and thanks to the lads I was with - GJDobbzy, theonlyadsrulz, GWRDec and SticklebackDepot, so don't forget to visit their channels too!

This is what me and GJDobbzy did

1110 - Keighley to Ingrow West 'Local' with 47279 & 'Nunlow' banking
1131 - Ingrow West to Oxenhope with 90733
1215 - Oxenhope to Oakworth with 90733
1441 - Haworth to Keighley with 80002 & 85
1535 - Keighley to Oxenhope with 63601 & 80002
1710 - Oxenhope to Keighley with 90733

Due to 63601 failing in the morning it meant a lot of the roster was changed and that the 1899 built 'Taff Vale' no.85 was thrown into the mix, which was great because she was the 'spare'. I am glad she ran because this is her final gala before overhaul, which unusually for KWVR engines is happening as soon as her firebox is dropped for the final time in the current 10 year ticket.

The KWVR is a great railway with so much to do. Many things have been filmed on it including the 1970 film 'The Railway Children' & the BBC's Born & Bred at Damems. It is a proper midland 50's branch, one of the best railways I've been to, can't wait to visit again!

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