Churnet Valley Steam Gala
23rd February 2008
This was my first visit to the Churnet Valley Railway, attracted by some interesting locomotives at the steam gala.
I'd hoped to travel by public transport, but the traveline website turned up no possible journeys from Bangor and when I changed the origin to Crewe the journey time was three hours - I drove to Cheddleton in less than two and a half. Webb Super D 49395 was on the "drive an engine for £10" duty. The stock on the left formed the first passenger train of the day from Cheddleton, hauled by the NRM's 4471 Green Arrow, whose boiler certificate expires in April.
The first of Gresley's V2 class, 4771 Green Arrow
The Cauldon Canal meets the line at Cheddleton and the intermediate station at Consall but takes a divergent route, then runs parallel to the line to the southern terminus at Froghall where Fowler 4F 44422 was waiting to take over for the northbound run.
Froghall station
The dmu was pressed into service because of a shortage of coaching stock.