A fantastic gala again! I went on the Friday; seemed to be less locos than the last gala I went to in 2022 (couldn’t do last year), but it was still a good show! Opted to drive to Oxenhope this time and start at that end.
Kicked off by doing 69009 to Haworth and then getting the red pen out for 50021 to Oxenhope and then back to Haworth Loop where D1015 was added to the front. Continued with this rather odd combination to Keighley where I did the customary dash for the shuttle to Ingrow West (seems to be a tradition at the KWVR to do this at least once lol), which was in the hands of D9520 (another winner) top and tailing with D32 (didn’t have D32 at any point but not required so not fussed). The shuttle was very crowded with it being only two coaches but I managed to squeeze in (I noticed one lad have a complete meltdown on the platform at Keighley because he couldn’t get on).
At Ingrow West, I took D1015 forward to Damems before doing another strange combination, 50008+69009, back to Ingrow West (the 69 wasn’t powering though).
I jumped back onto the shuttle set and did D9520 to Damems. D0226 had replaced D32 at this point, and did D0226 back to Keighley before dashing over to do 50021+50008 to Ingrow West. I had planned to do the 50s to Damems but opted for Ingrow West as I wanted to get on the next train at the back, and Damems would have made this tricky!
So, back at Ingrow West, I did D1015 again back to Keighley. I got the back coach in order to be at the front out of Keighley for the next move……..
The next move was 37075 solo, so the thrash out of Keighley and through Ingrow Tunnel just had to be sampled!!!! At Haworth Loop, winning 37250 was added to the front, and I enjoyed the only opportunity to have 37250+37075 double-headed to Oxenhope.
At Oxenhope, 37075 came off and I had 37250 solo back to Keighley, but I remained in my seat for later!!! Once back at Keighley, D1015 came on, and I did a full round trip to Oxenhope and back. The Westerns were in service way before my time, but I have to say that the noise on the climb out of Keighley, and the thrash through Ingrow Tunnel was fantastic!!!
Back at Keighley, and it was time for more 37 thrash in the form of 37250 again. This provided the entertainment all the way to Oxenhope, and I then did 37250 back out to Oakworth before transferring on to 37075 back to Oxenhope, after which I headed home!
Overall, another fantastic gala, and I was pleased to score D9520, 37250 and 50021! Was good to see some familiar faces to make the day more enjoyable, and this particular gala marked my 25th anniversary of my first visit to the line on 31st July/1st August 1999 (20902, 20903, 37604 and 37612 being my highlights back then)!
Great day out indeed, East Lancs to follow on Thursday now!!!
