70 YEARS ON: LOCOMOTIVES HEAD OFF-REGION FOR EXCHANGES EVENTS

Big names on ‘foreign’ metals prove to be a successful gala format.

Seventy years after the Locomotive Exchange trials of 1948, variety was the order of the day at steam galas this autumn, as locomotives crossed the country on to unfamiliar territory.

The Great Central Railway was the first to commemorate the anniversary at its Autumn Steam Gala on October 4-7. Appropriately running over the metals of the ‘London Extension’ – one of the routes used for the original trials – were visiting ‘West Country’ No. 34092 City of Wells (making its debut on the line) and former resident ‘B1’ No. 1264, recalling the use of No. 34006 Bude and No. 1251 Oliver Bury on the GC main line in 1948.

The Thompson 4-6-0 was renumbered as its scrapped classmate, but a genuine Exchanges engine also took part, namely resident ‘Modified Hall’ No. 6990 Witherslack Hall.

A further seven engines from the home-based fleet were in steam, including ‘8F’ No. 48624 (representing another class used in

the 1948 exchanges) and ‘Britannia’ No. 70013 Oliver Cromwell in one of its last special events before withdrawal for overhaul.

GCR Managing Director Michael Gough commented: “The Saturday was badly affected by awful weather, but the Friday and Sunday were well up in numbers and the overall total was slightly up on 2017.

“We received many compliments about the intensive timetable, and also the heritage bus service from Loughborough Midland main line station, which we hope to repeat for future galas.”

Two Southern Region lines were next to host unusual motive power, as ‘Princess Coronation’ No. 6233 Duchess of Sutherland starred in the Swanage Railway’s ‘The Exchanges’ gala of October 12-14, while ‘A4’ No. 60009 Union of South Africa topped the bill at the Bluebell Railway’s ‘Giants of Steam’ event the same weekend – echoing the appearances of No. 46236 City of Bradford, and Nos. 60022 Mallard and 60033 Seagull, on the South Western Main Line in 1948.

Making its Swanage debut, the ‘Duchess’ was joined by Ian Riley’s ‘Black Five’ No. 44871 and Stewart Robinson’s BR ‘4MT’ 2-6-4T No. 80078, and Southern Locomotives Ltd’s newly overhauled ‘Battle of Britain’

No. 34072 257 Squadron.

With another four resident engines in action – ‘T9’ No. 30120, ‘U’ No. 31806, ‘BB’ No. 34053 Sir Keith Park and ‘4MT’ No. 80104 – spokesman Andrew P.M. Wright confirmed that “this was the biggest gathering of locomotives for a gala in the Swanage Railway’s history.”

Ironically, just as two ‘A4s’ were used on the Southern in 1948, a brace of the Gresley ‘Pacifics’ were present at the Bluebell – albeit one was 10¼in gauge, the Eastleigh Lakeside Steam Railway bringing its miniature No. 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley to run on a demonstration line at Sheffield Park shed.

Duchess of Sutherland returned to more appropriate LM Region territory for the East Lancashire Railway’s gala on October 19-21 – but was still in unusual company, with the other guests being GWR ‘28XX’ 2-8-0 No. 2857 and ‘42XX’ 2-8-0T No. 4270. Former Manchester Ship Canal Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0T Gothenburg also appeared – cheekily carrying a ‘Royal Scot’ headboard at one point – and trains ran beyond Heywood to the ELR’s main line boundary at Hopwood ground frame on the Saturday and Sunday. Arguably the highlight, however, was the return to steam of ex-Barry ‘4MT’ 2-6-4T No. 80097 after 53 years (see page 12).

ELR Financial Director David Layland described it “an excellent

THIS WAS THE BIGGEST GATHERING OF LOCOMOTIVES FOR A GALA IN THE SWANAGE RAILWAY’S HISTORY ANDREW P.M. WRIGHT

gala – the most successful we’ve had since the two ‘A4s’ [Nos. 60007 and 60009 in October 2014].

“Friday and Saturday were particularly busy, the weather was good and we ran virtually everything to time – except for Sunday afternoon when we ran a dining train, but that only cost 15-20 minutes.”

In 1948, GWR engines were restricted by their width, and none worked on the Southern Region – but two broke new ground for the Mid-Hants Railway’s Autumn Steam Gala on October 19-21, with ‘Manor’ No. 7822 Foxcote Manor and ‘Large Prairie’ No. 5199 making their first expeditions over the ‘Alps’ (see story, right).

ROBERT FALCONER Disguised as 1948 Exchanges participant No. 1251 Oliver Bury, ‘B1’ No. 1264 departs from Loughborough on October 7.

TERRY EYRES City of Wells looks the part with the Great Central Railway’s newly restored van train at Kinchley Lane, during a post-gala Timeline Events charter on October 11.

PHIL BARNES ‘A4’ No. 60009 Union of South Africa in the unusual company of Maunsell ‘Q’ 0-6-0 No. 30541 at the Bluebell Railway on October 14, as the Gresley ‘Pacific’ prepares to draw its stock out of the sidings south of Sheffield Park station.

TONY PAGE The Eastleigh Lakeside Steam Railway’s 10¼in gauge ‘A4’ No. 4498 SirNigel Gresley running in the yard at Sheffield Park on October 14.

NEIL HARVEY GWR ‘28XX’ 2‑8‑0 No. 2857 and ‘42XX’ 2‑8‑0T No. 4270 pull away from Burrs Halt with the 1.50pm Heywood‑Rawtenstall train on October 20.

BRIAN DOBBS Suitably adorned with a ‘Royal Scot’ headboard, Duchess of Sutherland departs south from Rawtenstall on October 19, the first day of the East Lancashire Railway’s gala.

ANDREW P.M. WRIGHT NICK GILLIAM There’s a real feel of the 1948 Exchanges beneath the ruins of Corfe Castle on October 14, as Duchess of Sutherland meets 257 Squadron during the Swanage Railway’s gala. Foxcote Manor pilots ‘Large Prairie’ No. 5199 out of Alresford with the 10.15am train to Alton on October 19.