SEVERAL well known heritage lines have operated steam enthusiast events during their traditional autumn diary slots, providing welcome variety and featuring guest locomotives alongside trusty home fleets.
First up was the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR), which held its steam gala on September 23-26, featuring three visiting locos – ‘A1’ No. 60163 Tornado, Great Central Railway-based (GCR) ‘8F’ No. 48305 and ‘Saint’ No. 2999 Lady of Legend (see picture p66) from Didcot Railway Centre.
Resident performers included ‘9F’ No. 92134, ‘4MT’ 2-6-4T No. 81036, ‘J27’ No. 65894, ‘4MT’ 2-6-0 No. 76079, Lambton No. 29 and 0-4-0VBT No. 8 Lucie. The Great Central Railway’s September 30-October 3
Autumn Steam Gala brought two ‘heavy freight’ visitors, with members of the line’s restored wagon fleet coming to the fore. Welcome sights included double-heading ‘9Fs’ featuring resident No. 92214 City of Leicester and sole surviving single chimney No. 92134 visiting from the NYMR (see picture p66). Also in attendance was Llangollen Railway-based GWR ‘2884’ 2-8-0 No. 3802, which looked at home hauling the rake of ‘Windcutter’ wagons.