West Somerset Railway DVD: 30 Years of Galas 1996-2026

Description

1996 Spring Steam Gala: The railways first gala was held over 8-10 March 1996 to commemorate 30 years since the closure of the Somerset and Dorset Railway in March 1966. Visiting the railway were 34039 Boscastle, 34105 Swanage, 44422, 73096 and 7802 Bradley Manor joining the home fleet of 53808 and 7828 Odney Manor.

2003 Spring Steam Gala: The 2003 Spring Steam Gala over 28-30 March saw a number of guest locomotives including LSWR ‘M7’ 30053, LMS ‘Ivatt 2MT’ 41312 and GWR locos composition of: 4141, 5224, 5764 and 5786.

2004 Spring Steam Gala: The 2004 Spring Steam Gala over March 26-28 featured Ian Riley’s LMS ‘Black 5’ 45407 and BR ‘Standard 4’ 76079, Bodmin’s Small Prairie 5552, GER ‘J15’ 65462 and SR ‘West Country’ 34027 Taw Valley.

2006 Spring Steam Gala: The 2006 Spring Steam Gala celebrated two anniversaries including the 40th anniversary of the end of steam on the S&D in March 1966. The event featured guests engines including: ‘4F’ 44422, ‘7F’ 53809, ‘Battle of Britain’ 34067 Tangmere, ‘Black 5’ 45407 as 45440, ‘5MT’ 73129, ‘4MT’ 76079 as 76009 and ‘9F’ 92203 Black Prince. Plus, newly overhauled ‘7F’ 88 in S&D Prussian blue and ‘4MT’ 80136.

2016 Spring Steam Gala: The 2016 Spring Steam Gala Attending were 34053 Sir Keith Park masquerading as 34098 Templecombe, visiting from the Swanage Railway was ‘Spamcan’ 34070 Manston, joining these were Llangollen ‘4MT’ 80072 which spent the weekend masquerading as 80043, the Great Central sent BR Green liveried ‘9F’ 92214 rekindling memories of 92220 Evening Star and Stanier ‘8F’ 48624. Also present were 44422, 53809 and 53808.

2018 Autumn Steam Gala: The 2018 Autumn Steam Gala. The event featured BR ‘Standard 5MT’ 73082 Camelot making its first visit away from the Bluebell Railway in preservation, Mid-Hants based LMS ‘Ivatt 2MT’ 41312 and BR ‘Standard 4MTT’ 80072 joined summertime visitors SR rebuilt ‘West Country’ 34046 Braunton and BR(W) ‘Manors’ 7820 and 7822, 6960 and 53808.

2019 Autumn Steam Gala: The 2019 Autumn Steam Gala went for a Great Western Branch Line gala with the appearance of four pannier tanks including former resident 6412, 4612 from the Bodmin & Wenford Railway, 7714 from the Severn Valley Railway and hired in visitor 7752 from Tyseley.

2021 Autumn Steam Gala: The railway held a low-key Autumn Steam Gala during the Covid restrictions period. Featured were 5199, 7822 Foxcote Manor, 7828 Odney Manor.

2022 Spring Steam Gala: May 2022 saw the first Spring Steam Gala held on the line since 2018 and featured three visiting locomotives including Caledonian Railway ‘439’ 419 from the Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway, BR ‘Standard 4MT’ 75069 and 2857 from the Severn Valley Railway.

2023 Spring Steam Spectacular: In 2023, the steam gala theme changed to the ‘Spring Steam Spectacular’ and featured three visiting locomotives including the new-build GWR ‘Saint’ 2999 Lady of Legend from the Didcot Railway Centre.

2024 Spring Steam Spectacular: The 2024 Spring Steam Spectacular featured a wide array of motive power and included Locomotive Services LNER Thompson ‘B1’ 61306 “Mayflower”, GWR ‘Modified Hall’ 6990 Witherslack Hall.

Plus: 2024 ‘150’ event at Minehead and galas in 2025 and 2026.

FULL DETAILS ON INFO SHEET INSIDE!

Approx. 120 minutes.

This DVD is being sold on behalf of and with full permission of the copyright owner – Kingfisher Productions.