STEAM GALA’s 2012 - RUDYARD LAKE STEAM RAILWAY

Annual Steam Gala will be on the 22nd & 23rd of September 2012

We expect to again have some visiting steam engines. With our own 5 locos this should give lots of engines in steam. There will be activity on the Friday as well as we get ready and do test runs.

2011 Steam Gala was on September 10 & 11th 2011

The visitor was Victoria from the Mull & West Highland Railway. This engine vies with King Arthur for the title the largest and most powerful conventional engines on 10.25 inch gauge tracks. We ran 4 trains over the weekend. This will include one goods train and a mixed train.

Train will run from 10.30 to 4.30 at half hourly intervals. Day Rover tickets will be on sale for this event at £5 adult & £3.50 child. We will be running 4 trains with 2 passenger and 2 goods trains.

The 25th Anniversary Gala was on 25 & 26th September 2010

We had hoped to have at least two visiting steam engines. We had problems this year with visiting steam engines with 4 so far having fallen through. In the event we ran every piece of rolling stock we have plus all 5 steam engines, the diesel and petrol locomotives and our visitor Belle.

However we arranged for one of Rudyard's original locomotives to return. This is the 0-4-0 Curwen and Newbury diesel Belle built for the Shillingstone railway. It ran at Rudyard for many years and was called Kingsley. All our locomotives were in use at the Steam Gala.

Diesel Kingsley at Rudyard many years ago was a guest at 2010 steam gala

Diesel locomotive Belle at 2010 Steam Gala

We had hoped that G.N. No.251 will visit is again some time in 2012 and perhaps for the steam gala. Likewise Tryfan from the Wilderness railway will visit in the future.

An earlier steam gala was October 2 & 3rd 2009 with 7 steam engines in use

Peggy was a visitor in 2009 and Bray Valley in 2002 and 2005

Steam Gala’s at the railway started in 2002 and have been held over a weekend every September or October since. They are great fun and an excuse to have fun and run all the steam engines we have with a wide variety of trains. It showcases the improvements to the railway over the year. There is a Gala Dinner on the Saturday evening where the railway thanks its volunteers and honours its guests.

Past visiting Steam & diesel Locomotives

The list of visiting steam engines in order of appearance is:

Bray Valley( Tryfan) 2002 & 2005, Waverley( now resident) 2004, Ivanhoe 2004, E.R.Calthrope 2004 & 2007, Pulborough 2005 & 2009, Gt. Northern No.251 2007, Dolgoch in 2008, Peggy in 2009, Belle in 2010, Victoria in 2011( now temporary resident at Rudyard)

We have 4 steam engines built by the Exmoor Steam Railway in use and had a number of events around that theme.

Rudyard Lake Steam Railway is in the North Staffordshire Peak District and our steam trains give a great 3 mile return trip along the side of the lake. The railway uses real coal fired narrow gauge steam engines to pull all its trains. The railways 5 steam engines all have names linked to the tales of King Arthur. Its one of the UK's finest heritage steam railways and is constantly developing new attractions to give great family days out.

Past Steam Gala Events at Rudyard

7.25 inch gauge Model of J.B.Earle at 2004 Leek & Manifold Gala

Triple Headed steam train at 2007 steam Gala

Views from past two past steam galas

Last Steam Gala Image

Telephone - Office 01995 672280 Rudyard Station 01538 306704

www.rlsr.org

Exmoor built engine peggy from South Downs Railway

Spring Steam Gala April 28 & 29th

To celebrate the old Mull Railway & new Balloch & Loch Lomond Railway a spring gala was held with Victoria and Waveley in steam along with most of the home fleet to give 5 steam engines in total.