Last weekend, Saturday, 6 and Sunday, 7 January, the Severn Valley Railway held its first-ever Winter Steam Gala and has declared it to have been a runaway success.
Organisers declared it to be a ‘winner' as it attracted more visitors than expected with 2,500 passengers who generated twice the revenue that had been hoped for.
Bright weather throughout the weekend and a packed timetable saw local services stopping at Eardington. Among the locomotives on duty were West Country Pacific No. 21C127 Taw Valley in wartime black, Pannier tank No. 7714 which was able to appear after earlier repairs, Manor Class No. 7812 Erlestoke Manor and Stanier Mogul No. 2968.
Unfortunately, a guest appearance by No 2253 Omaha was cancelled as it had suffered a leaky boiler plug in the final week of December and could not be repaired in time for the gala. As a replacement, British Railways Standard Class 4 No 75069 had already been prepared to operate on Sunday and stepped in to cover for Omaha on Saturday as well.
During the weekend No. 43106 ‘The Flying Pig' made its final appearance when it hauled a special train on Sunday which departed from Kidderminster at 5.30 pm. It has now been withdrawn for overhaul as its 10-year boiler ticket has now expired.
With the next few weeks on the railway being devoted to getting ready for the 2024 season, passenger services will resume for the half-term holiday next month on 10/11, 13-15 and 17/18 February. April sees the next event for steam enthusiasts with the Spring Steam Gala from Thursday, 18 to Sunday, 21 April when two visiting locomotives have already been lined up, Lambton No. 29 and Stroudley Terrier No. 72 Fenchurch, whilst there will also be a third guest locomotive which will be announced soon.
Is there a potential return date for 43106? It holds dear to me in that my late son is photographed on the footplate from some years ago.