NEWS IN BRIEF

Churnet Valley fire

A fire on the evening of September 24 seriously damaged the Churnet Valley Railway’s carriage shed, together with a Mk 1 coach in the building for restoration. It is understood that nobody was injured and the building is not a write-off, but the coach was gutted and some equipment was lost. The cause is being investigated.

Battlefield gala off

The Battlefield Line has cancelled its steam gala on October 21-23 because it has been unable to secure a visiting locomotive. A main line guest engine is being sought as a backup for visiting ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0ST ‘Cumbria’ for the ‘Santa Specials’.

‘M7 FOR WSR GALA

The West Somerset Railway will welcome an interloper from the Southern Region at its Autumn Steam Gala on October 6-9, in the shape of ‘M7’ 0-4-4T No. 30053 from the Swanage Railway. The other visitors are ‘57XX’ 0-6-0PT No. 4612 and ‘Small Prairie’ No. 5542.

‘PIG’ OVER THE 'ALPS’

The Mid-Hants Railway will host locomotives from the Fowler, Stanier and Ivatt stables for its ‘Autumn Steam Gala’ on October 21-23 - with ‘Flying Pig’ No. 43106 visiting from the Severn Valley Railway. it joins No. 46100 Royal Scot and ‘7F’ 2-8-0 No. 53809.

CENTRAL ‘PRAIRIE’

GWR ‘Small Prairie’ No. 4566 will be the guest at the Great Central Railway’s Autumn Steam Gala on October 6-9, while BR ‘2MT’ No. 78018 makes its preservation debut (see pages 74-78).

SVR CATCHES A‘ CRAB ’

Crimson Lake ‘Crab’ 2-6-0 No. 13065 will be paired with the Severn Valley Railway’s LMS coaches, as it stars in the line’s ‘Season Finale Gala’ on November 4-6. The other guest is ‘42XX’ No. 4270.

FOXCOTE FOR KEIGHLEY

‘Manor’ No. 7822 Foxcote Manor visits the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway’s ‘Autumn Steam Spectacular’ gala on October 7-9, joining rebuilt ‘Battle of Britain’ No. 34053 Sir Keith Park.