KWVR Steam Gala 2025

[xotGD]

I received the following piece of gen via email:

"We're delighted to announce that 48305 LMS 8F will be our first Steam Gala Guest from the Great Central Railway!"

The gala is being held 20th to 23rd March.

 

[xotGD]

Second guest loco announced:

16440 LMS 3F 'Jinty'

 

[YorkshireBear]

Nice little line up with those two.

 

[xotGD]

My copy of "Push & Pull" arrived in the post this morning - it states that the 8F will be staying at the KWVR after the steam gala "to haul the majority of our special theatre trains". (This is in connection with a Railway Children show that is being performed over 8 weeks.)

Can I be the first to use the word "Theatrex" to describe these services?

 

[30907]

My copy of "Push & Pull" arrived in the post this morning - it states that the 8F will be staying at the KWVR after the steam gala "to haul the majority of our special theatre trains". (This is in connection with a Railway Children show that is being performed over 8 weeks.)

Can I be the first to use the word "Theatrex" to describe these services?

You may - it doesn't slip off the tongue, though, so how about "Flannelex" with reference to red petticoats?

 

[Iskra]

I think I’ll be attending the gala on at least one day (weather depending), I’m sure it will be good fun

 

[thejuggler]

My copy of "Push & Pull" arrived in the post this morning - it states that the 8F will be staying at the KWVR after the steam gala "to haul the majority of our special theatre trains". (This is in connection with a Railway Children show that is being performed over 8 weeks.)

Can I be the first to use the word "Theatrex" to describe these services?

Thanks for that. We have tickets booked for the show.

 

[xotGD]

Black 5 44871 has arrived this afternoon, ready for the gala.

 

[D6130]

You may - it doesn't slip off the tongue, though, so how about "Flannelex" with reference to red petticoats?

'How about combining the theatrical and female underwear connections and calling them 'Playtex'?

 

[magpiespy]

I went along today for the third consecutive year, and had a brilliant time. I managed to visit all six stations over the course of the day, most more than once, thanks to some imaginative timetabling on the northern section of the line. The coal fires burning in the waiting rooms were most welcome, and the food and drink was first class.

 

[xotGD]

I went along today for the third consecutive year, and had a brilliant time. I managed to visit all six stations over the course of the day, most more than once, thanks to some imaginative timetabling on the northern section of the line. The coal fires burning in the waiting rooms were most welcome, and the food and drink was first class.

With 10 locos working, some of the vintage carriages in service and brake van rides, there was plenty to enjoy.

Busy, without being overcrowded.

 

[Iskra]

Unfortunately I wasn't able to make it as I'd hoped, but some of the footage and pictures I've seen look excellent. Well done to the KWVR! Excellent to hear that others enjoyed the event too

 

[Denis103]

Timekeeping on Saturday got poor. 20mins late from about 11am and the 1345 off Oxenhope was +50 arriving at Keighley.

 

[White Ant]

Both delays were due to lineside fires - and there was plenty of evidence of charred vegetation for those who had rover tickets. Having been to many rail gala this was my first visit to a gala on the KWVR, and I was surprised at the huge numbers of the "hi-vis" brigade who were allowed to wander alongside and across the tracks. I hope they were paying for the priviledge - unlike the masses lining the banks outside the railway boundaries.

 

[thejuggler]

Both delays were due to lineside fires - and there was plenty of evidence of charred vegetation for those who had rover tickets. Having been to many rail gala this was my first visit to a gala on the KWVR, and I was surprised at the huge numbers of the "hi-vis" brigade who were allowed to wander alongside and across the tracks. I hope they were paying for the priviledge - unlike the masses lining the banks outside the railway boundaries.

There certainly used to be a charge for the lineside access pass.

Not such a bad thing having people along the line as they can alert staff and crew to fires.

 

[xotGD]

There were a number of fires on Thursday and Friday. Shouldn't be a problem for the rest of the gala with the current deluge.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Been a very dry early spring. Long range forecasts suggest another fun summer for lineside fires.

 

[Ianigsy]

Timekeeping on Saturday got poor. 20mins late from about 11am and the 1345 off Oxenhope was +50 arriving at Keighley.

It wasn’t a great sign when I arrived at about 11.25 to see the 1100 still in the platform and it seemed as if just as if time had been made up, it was lost somewhere else, either at Damems loop or Keighley station.

Still, I managed to travel behind most of the visiting locos and the secondary offering in terms of catering etc. has definitely gone up a notch in recent years. Interesting to see how many people on the trains weren't there for the gala but the regular Haworth tourist crowd.