Bodmin & Wenford Railway 'Autumn Steam Gala' - Sunday 6th September 2015

The Bodmin & Wenford Railways Autumn Steam Gala saw a collection of great western tank engines running to an intensive timetable over the weekend. 2 guest engines were brought to the railway which ran alongside 2 resident engines.

Locomotives in service –
|GWR 64xx Class 0-6-0PT No 6412 (visiting from the South Devon Railway)
|GWR 56xx Class 0-6-2T No 5619 (on loan for the summer season after overhaul at the Flour Mill)
|GWR 64xx Class 0-6-0PT No 6435
|GWR 42xx Class 2-8-0T No 4247

With some stunning weather conditions and great performances by the engines, it was a fantastic event for any fan of great western tank engines. Highlights from the gala include the double heading of the 2 64xx pannier tanks and both 5619 and 4247 featuring on goods trains. As you may have noticed from the video, I now have a lineside pass for the railway.

Shots featured in the video –
- 4247 rounds the sharp curve outside Bodmin General with the goods train
- 5619 nears the top of the climb to Bodmin General with a service from Bodmin Parkway
- 6412 & 6435 are seen at Westheath with a service for Bodmin General (if you look closely at the ground near the track you can see the start of a small lineside fire which was put out promptly when the train had passed)
- 4247 climbs away from Parkway with the goods train seen at Charlies Gate
- 4247 takes on water at Bodmin General after arriving with the goods train
- 5619 arrives into Bodmin General with a train from Boscarne Junction
- 6412 & 6435 are seen at Charlies Gate with a train for Bodmin General
- 5619 storms pass Westheath with the goods train
- 6412 & 6435 banked by 4247 climb towards Colesloggett with a train for Bodmin General
- 5619 makes a noisy get away from Boscarne Junction with the final train of the day