The Leighton Buzzard Railway in Bedfordshire has announced a date change for its 2026 Autumn Steam Gala due to dry weather.

Usually held in September, the railway’s Steam Gala will this year be held on the weekend of the 24th and 25th of October, the first weekend of the autumn Half-Term holiday. The decision made by the railway’s Executive Committee to postpone the gala by a full month will allow more rain to fall and dampen the ground, following what has been a dry spring, succeeded by heatwave after heatwave throughout the summer.

The October gala will have the added benefit of the final trains running at dusk, adding a new perspective for passengers and photographers as they witness the steam spectacle in the fading autumn light.

The steam gala also marks the 25th anniversary of the twinning between the Leighton Buzzard Railway and the Froissy, Cappy and Dompierre Railway in France. To celebrate this anniversary, the French narrow gauge railway will be sending over one of its steam locos for the gala, which will run alongside Leighton Buzzard’s working steam fleet.

Until such times when the steam ban is lifted, the railway will be running diesel services on Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout the summer holidays.

Those wishing to visit the railway in the coming weeks will be able to take part in Pirates Weekend on Sunday 30th and Bank Holiday Monday 31st August, which will include water fights with water pistols. Bluey will also be making an appearance at the railway on Sunday 6th September.

More events are also scheduled to take place before the end of the year.