Last weekend, Lappa Valley in Cornwall held a Grand Gala Weekend, with one of the main attractions being a locomotive that honours one of the best-known figures among Cornwall’s railway movement.

Mr Hallworth, along with another visiting locomotive, Spirit of Adventure, is normally based at the Perrygrove Railway Adventure in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. Tony Hallworth came from Wadebridge and was hugely respected for his work inspiring and mentoring generations of volunteers on railways both within and outside Cornwall.

Held on Saturday/Sunday, 13th/14th June, the gala weekend attracted locomotive owners, exhibitors, volunteers, and friends from across the railway community. Spirit of Adventure is notable as it is the largest 15-inch gauge tank engine ever built by the Exmoor Steam Railway. Joining the two visiting locomotives were Lappa Valley’s own steam locomotives Zebedee, Muffin, and Ellie.

While they were making journeys on the main 15-inch gauge railway, on the 7¼-inch gauge Lakeside Railway, another visiting locomotive, Kilgharrah, was an added attraction.

Among special events during the weekend were parallel runs, affectionately known as “train races”. On Saturday, Mr Hallworth and Spirit of Adventure took the honours, while on Sunday, Lappa Valley’s own flagship steam locomotive Zebedee teamed up with Spirit of Adventure to take the honours.

The Grand Gala lived up to its name, with double-headed trains, non-stop runs, and special formations. Extra services ran on the branch line from Newlyn Downs, whilst miniature traction engines were on display across the site, and a packed programme of activities based around the railway.

On Sunday afternoon, a spectacular Grand Finale brought the weekend to a close, with every available 15-inch gauge locomotive hauling all available carriages, to make it one of the most ambitious and memorable trains ever to run at Lappa Valley.

“Mr Hallworth coming to Lappa Valley was incredibly special. Tony Hallworth meant a great deal to so many people in the railway world, particularly here in Cornwall, and to see a locomotive named in his memory running in the county was a very moving moment. This weekend was a true homecoming, and we were honoured to play a part in that story.”

“It was also a landmark moment for Lappa Valley. To welcome operational visiting locomotives onto our 15-inch gauge Main Railway for the first time in 52 years is something we will never forget. Seeing Mr Hallworth and Spirit of Adventure running alongside our own locomotives was absolutely magical. We are so grateful to everyone who came along, supported the event, took photos, waved from the trains, cheered during the parallel runs and shared the weekend with us. Carrying a record number of passengers is not something we take for granted. It reflects the wonderful support we receive from our visitors, members, railway friends and local community.”

Ben Harding, Operations Director at Lappa Valley