Gala line-ups to whet your appetite

FOUR major heritage lines have announced details of their forthcoming steam gala weekends. Overnight trains are to return for the Severn Valley Railway’s September 16-19 Autumn Steam Gala on the Friday and Saturday hauled by BR 2-6-0 No. 43106 ‘The Flying Pig’ or GWR heavyfreight No. 2857. Negotiations are underway to secure up to three visiting locos. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway’s September 23-26 Annual Steam Gala will include up 13 locos in steam. Visiting traction will comprise No. 60163 Tornado and Great Central Railway-based LMS ‘8F’ No. 48305, plus another loco yet to be confirmed. A beer festival is to be held at Goathland and Levisham stations. Subject to confirmation, the Great Central Railway’s September 30-October 3 Autumn Steam Gala will include two visiting locos – GWR 2-8-0 No. 3850 from Llangollen and NYMR-based BR ‘9F’ No. 92134. Meanwhile, ‘Merchant Navy’ No. 35028 Clan Line is to make a rare visit to a heritage line for the Bluebell Railway’s October 8-10 Giants of Steam gala.