metrocammel
Member
A cracking Diesel Shunter (and class 101) Gala.
The Elsecar Railway is a small affair, based in Elsecar, near Barnsley (S.Yorks) Today, for the first time in it's 60 year history, a Drewry shunter, which was based at Devonport Dockyard hauled a passenger service, with a GW brakevan. The railway, especially this rare shunter, brought in large crowds, and was possibly the railways busiest day - enthusiast wise definately, as usually the busiest days are the Thomas the Tank Engine days, which usually attract "normals".
I'm pleased to say that the Elsecar Railway is now "moving forward", as for many years it has been neglected by Barnsley's attrotious Labour Council, but now it is in private ownership, and things are really progressing. They have signed an agreement with "Fastline Rail" (formerley Jarvis) and now use their surplus equipment (rail disc cutters etc) and also the site is to be a test-bed for new "Fastline" equipment, so while the line is extended to Cortonwood (about 3 miles) labour and equipment will be supplied. The railway now boasts a fair number of shunters and of course, the ex-Longsight celebrity, 101685 "Daisy" (or The Green Goddess), which was the last class 101 in mainline service (along with 101676). Daisy, along with the RH and the Drewry shunters all worked very intensive timetables today, carrying many passengers, with no delays whatsoever (we even managed to fit releif services in between the booked trains to cope with the demand). The "Elsecar Heritage Fire Service" also had a display, and there was an event at the Exhibition centre next door, all in all it was a excellent day.... and a successful one in monetary terms as well... raising a pleasing £390.00, (with around another £25 on top with raffle tickets).
There is another Diesel Gala currently in the pipeline, which will hopefully be sometime in the Summer. Watch this Space... "Pipelines" should be the appropriate theme for the next gala, as there should be a "BP" shunter visiting (it is moving for long-term storage to Elsecar soon) , which will be it's passenger debut.
Elsecar Railway Website is: www.elsecarrailway.cjb.net
The Elsecar Railway is a small affair, based in Elsecar, near Barnsley (S.Yorks) Today, for the first time in it's 60 year history, a Drewry shunter, which was based at Devonport Dockyard hauled a passenger service, with a GW brakevan. The railway, especially this rare shunter, brought in large crowds, and was possibly the railways busiest day - enthusiast wise definately, as usually the busiest days are the Thomas the Tank Engine days, which usually attract "normals".
I'm pleased to say that the Elsecar Railway is now "moving forward", as for many years it has been neglected by Barnsley's attrotious Labour Council, but now it is in private ownership, and things are really progressing. They have signed an agreement with "Fastline Rail" (formerley Jarvis) and now use their surplus equipment (rail disc cutters etc) and also the site is to be a test-bed for new "Fastline" equipment, so while the line is extended to Cortonwood (about 3 miles) labour and equipment will be supplied. The railway now boasts a fair number of shunters and of course, the ex-Longsight celebrity, 101685 "Daisy" (or The Green Goddess), which was the last class 101 in mainline service (along with 101676). Daisy, along with the RH and the Drewry shunters all worked very intensive timetables today, carrying many passengers, with no delays whatsoever (we even managed to fit releif services in between the booked trains to cope with the demand). The "Elsecar Heritage Fire Service" also had a display, and there was an event at the Exhibition centre next door, all in all it was a excellent day.... and a successful one in monetary terms as well... raising a pleasing £390.00, (with around another £25 on top with raffle tickets).
There is another Diesel Gala currently in the pipeline, which will hopefully be sometime in the Summer. Watch this Space... "Pipelines" should be the appropriate theme for the next gala, as there should be a "BP" shunter visiting (it is moving for long-term storage to Elsecar soon) , which will be it's passenger debut.
Elsecar Railway Website is: www.elsecarrailway.cjb.net