Published: 12th August 2015
Many who made the annual pilgrimage to Threlkeld rated the July 25-26 event as line’s finest yet. The glorious blessing of sun through the majority of the Saturday certainly helped, but you cannot beat a cracking gathering of steam motive power!
The fifth edition of the steam gala in the stunning Lake District setting of the 2ft line to the quarry carried a Penrhyn slate quarry theme to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the last locomotive to work on the system which served the great quarry at Bethesda. Threlkeld may not have been a slate quarry and is plainly not in North Wales, but could hardly have presented a more appropriate location to gather some of preservation’s finest restored narrow gauge locomotives to mark the end of Lord Penrhyn’s railway.
The event organised by Martyn Ashworth and Ian Hartland’s Threlkeld team delivered all that was promised. Resident Bagnall 0-4-0ST Sir Tom was joined by six visiting locomotives. Five were one-time Penrhyn locomotives: Avonside 0-4-0T Marchlyn (Statfold Barn), Kerr Stuart 0-4-2ST Stanhope (Moseley Railway Trust’) and Hunslet 0-4-0STs Hugh Napier (National Trust) Sybil Mary (Statfold Barn) and Lilla (Ffestiniog).
The guest fleet was rounded off by Moseley Railway Trust’s Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0WT 1238/1916 which represented Penrhyn’s Bronllwyd. Porthmadog-based Lilla was newly back in action following an overhaul completed just prior to the visit.
he steeply graded, comparatively short, line featured continuous action as passenger and demonstration freight operations alternated. Passenger services, featuring Threlkeld’s wonderfully appropriate vehicles presenting the outward appearance of wagons, were top-and-tailed at minimum, often with a second loco on the front. The temptation to run an additional final Saturday train in the afternoon sun featuring Lilla, Marchlyn and Stanhope with Sir Tom banking on the tail proved gloriously irresistible!
In the top quarry, Graham Lee’s Erie ‘A’ class steam shovel from Statfold Barn (returning after having made its post-restoration steam debut at last year’s event) was in full action loading skips, which were shunted around the fan of tracks, generally by Hugh Napier. A rail-borne Ruston steam shovel recently restored at Threlkeld was also demonstrated in the Middle Quarry area.
Ian Hartland has long aspired to extend the running line at its lower end. A recently laid turnout and around 100 yards or so of track demonstrated this project is now in progress. The extension will run across the present car parking area and is likely to reach the old weighbridge hut by next years gala, which is expected to centre on Bagnall locomotives.
Train travel in the UK should be a pleasure, not a headache. So if you’re taking a train on the UK railway, start your journey here. We’ve lots of hints, tips and advice to help you find your way around, travel smoothly and arrive in style by train.
Welcome to our #railchat page. Our #railchat discussions take place over on Twitter, with our resident expert Phil Marsh. If you would like to get involved, please do join us, and use the dedicated hashtag #railchat. See our previous discussions below:
Our rail network would be nothing without them. From Stephenson's Rocket to British Rail Class 92 and beyond, explore the facts, information and anecdotes behind the steam, diesel and electric locomotives that built the age of the train.
Latest Tweets
Facebook