A POWERFUL COMBINATION
The Churnet Valley’s May 4-6 Steam Gala saw locomotives tackle the climb from Leekbrook Junction to Ipstones Loop, offering some impressive performances. Starting away from Leekbrook Junction, the line heads east on a gradient of 1 in 40, before easing to 1 in 45 for three miles. The gradient eases on the approach to Apesford to 1 in 59 for the remainder of the climb to Ipstones Loop. The event featured Didcot’s No. 4079 Pendennis Castle, Dartmouth Steam Railway’s BR ‘4MT’ No. 75014 Braveheart and USATC ‘S160’ 2-8-0s Nos. 5197 and 6046 – the latter making a comeback since its last showing at Super Power Weekend in 2020. No. 5197 leads No. 6046 on the departure from Consall on Bank Holiday Monday, May 6. ROBERT FALCONER