BURE VALLEY’S ROMNEY DEBUT DUO RETURN FOR 30TH ANNIVERSARY

Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway‑based Samson and Winston Churchill will return to the Bure Valley Railway in July – 30 years after they opened the line.

The 15in gauge pair hauled the inaugural trains when the BVR opened on July 10 1990 and will be making a return visit for the line’s 30th anniversary event, three decades to the day after the railway opened. Although both locomotives have since revisited the line in the last 30 years, “next year is the first year that Samson and ‘Churchill’ have both been in ticket at the same time for a BVR anniversary and hence I was keen to secure them,” said BVR managing director Andrew Barnes.

The duo will be in action for the special ‘Step Back in Time’ event on July 10 – when passengers will be able to travel for 1990 fares – and will be staying on for the BVR’s 30th anniversary gala proper on July 11/12.

Samson and Winston

Churchill are not the only visiting locomotives at the BVR this year. The Norfolk line has confirmed the visitor for its ‘Everything Goes’ event on May 23‑25 – Alan Keef Ltd‑built 2‑6‑2T Lydia, which is currently based at the Perrygrove Railway. Meanwhile, the Guest Engineering 2‑4‑2 twins Katie and Siân will attend the BVR ‘Steam in Miniature’ event on September 5/6, courtesy of the Kirklees Light Railway.

It will be a busy year for the pair, as both are set to attend the Fairbourne Railway’s annual steam gala on May 23‑25 (SR500), while Siân has been confirmed for the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway’s annual gala on May 8‑10. Up to nine steam locomotives will be in action, including the resident RER fleet, as well as a visiting engine from the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway. Siân last visited ‘La’l Ratty’ in 2008.