Saturday 31 October 2015

Watercress Line Autumn Steam Gala, 25th October 2015

A full set appears on Sky Drive

LMS Hughes Fowler "Crab" 13065, completed at Crewe in August 1927, and rated 5MT in BR days Normally kept at the East Lancashire Railway. This locomotive was allocated to 19E Belle Vue (Manchester) when BR was formed in 1948, and after allocations to Rose Grove and Fleetwood, it was withdrawn from 8H Birkenhead in December 1966. Sent to Barry Scrapyard, from where it was recovered to the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway before movement in 1992 to the East Lancs to complete its first restoration.
13065 arriving at Ropley from Alton and Medstead.
LNER A4 4464 Bittern (Doncaster, 1938) was on its last day in steam before overhaul, but that plan has changed. On Thursday morning, 29th October, the locomotive was seen being moved along the M27 near Fareham, as it is to substitute for 70000 Britannia on the Bluebell Railway at their 'Giants of Steam' gala. Seen here at Ropley.
The last working (of the day) for the A4 was with the crane, being moved to Ropley from Alresford.
850 Lord Nelson (Eastleigh, 1926) will also bow out soon, coming to the end of its boiler ticket.  Coming onto a train at Alresford.
LSWR Drummond T9 30120 (LSWR Nine Elms, 1899) is seen at Medstead with a train for Alton.

Further coverage: one two three four five six