Full steam ahead for gala
The ban on using steam locomotives because of the dry summer has been lifted at Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway.
This means that all remaining operating days this year will feature steam power again.
This is particularly good news for the organisers of the Autumn Steam Gala which had been moved from September and will now take place on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October.
All four resident steam locomotives will be in steam running an intensive timetable service. They will be assisted by French built ‘Victory’ a Decauville locomotive built in 1897 visiting from the Bredgar and Wormshill Railway in Kent to help celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Railway’s twinning with the Froissy, Cappy and Dompierre Railway in France.
Andrew Barclay No. 1919 of 1931, ‘Cegin’ (pictured), will also be visiting for the Steam Gala. thanks to Statfold Country Park for giving Buzzrail the opportunity to welcome this wonderful locomotive.
‘Cegin’ will be joining resident Andrew Barclay locomotives, ‘Doll’ and ‘Gertrude’, making three Andrew Barclays in steam during the event. This will be a fantastic sight to see throughout the weekend – and it will be the first time all three locomotives have been together.
‘WDLR303’ Hunslet 1215 of 1916 will be visiting for the Steam Gala as well, courtesy of The War Office Locomotive Trust and Apedale Valley Light Railway.
The locomotive last visited in 2019 shortly after it returned to steam for the first time in preservation for the railway’s 100th anniversary gala. And this year she will take on Munday’s Hill, which was not open when the engine last came. This is the class of locomotive used when the Leighton Buzzard Light Railway first opened before being replaced by the now iconic Simplex diesels.
Tickets are now on sale for individual trains at www.buzzrail.uk.
Day and weekend rover tickets will also be available to purchase on the day from the station building.
As always, the appearance of any of the expected steam locomotives will depend on availability on the day.
Spooky end of season specials
The following weekend Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November will see another two-day event where everything will be themed for Halloween. Come in costume and join in the fun.
At Page’s Park you can join in with Grave Robbing to find buried treasures. At Stonehenge you will need your thinking heads on to find the hidden letters and unscramble them to find a word and win a prize.
Pictured: Andrew Barclay from The Statfold Barn Railway. Photo by Joey Evans