Blaenavon line bounces back with industrial gala

FOUR industrial steam locos will take centre stage at the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway (P&BR) on September 11/12 when the South Wales line hosts its first annual steam gala of the post-pandemic era. All locos will be drawn from the P&BR operational fleet and will include ex-East Moors Steelworks (Cardiff ) Hunslet ‘48150’ class 0-6-0ST No. 18 Jessie (1873/1937), former NCB Measham Colliery Bagnall 0-6-0ST Empress (3061/1954), Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST Rosyth No.1 (1385/1914) and fellow Barclay 0-4-0ST Caledonia Works (1219/1911), which returned to the railway on loan in May courtesy of owner, Ryan Pope. The quartet will work frequent passenger services between Furnace Sidings, Whistle Inn and Blaenavon High Level via Coed Avon each day, along with demonstration coal trains in between passenger turns. Meanwhile, over on the Big Pit branch, regular shuttles will run between Furnace Sidings, Big Pit Halt and Whistle Inn Halt, worked primarily by the two Barclays. However, locomotives will swap between trains throughout the day, with a number of services doubleheaded and/or top-and-tailed. The gala will also see the return of the P&BR’s day rover tickets that allow unlimited travel during each day. Adult rover tickets are priced at £15, with child and family tickets also available. Further details can be found at www.bhrailway.co.uk/annual-steam-gala The bottom end restoration of the P&BR Andrew Barclay 0-6-0ST Llantarnam Abbey (2074/1939) has reached a new milestone in the workshops of West Somerset Restoration at Williton. Following a full axlebox overhaul the loco was rewheeled on July 27; the first time it has been on its wheels since being stripped for assessment in 2004. The work brings the eagerly anticipated return to steam of the former Mountain Ash Colliery loco a step closer.