FINAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR RAILFEST 2012
Published at 20:56 on Friday 1st June 2012
Tags: Railfest 2012, Cheltenham, Schools, NRM
One of the stars of the show, SR 'Schools' 4-4-0 No. 925 Cheltenham stands within the Railfest arena at the NRM on 1st June. Richard Tuplin
Railfest 2012 gets underway on 2nd June, with the final preparations now taking place. The event will see a space the size of 11 football pitches bustling with an line up of more than 50 locomotives including record-breaking historic and modern locomotives from the museum’s collection and visiting locomotives from across the UK.
As ever with such events, the expected positioning move from Crewe to York, via Lichfield and Derby, for Peppercorn Pacific No. 60163 Tornado did not exactly go as planned. It was scheduled to be the second steam movement undertaken by Devon & Cornwall Railways (DCR), with the intention of the A1 Pacific and support coach being piloted throughout by DCR Class 56 No. 56312. In the event the plan seems to have unravelled, with the Class 56 proceeding directly to York from Washwood Heath light engine, instead of being routed via Crewe to collect Tornado. In the end the movement was completed by DB Schenker, using a Class 67 to pilot Tornado via Copy Pit and the Calder Valley. Why the change took place is unclear, although a DCR spokesman told RH when asked about the issue that the company was "not in a position to comment".
Throughout Railfest, a wide variety of railway-related activities, attractions, sights, sounds and smells will add to the exciting atmosphere with the opportunity to get up close to the exhibits. One of the attractions for 2nd June, will be the unveiling of East Coast Class 91/1 No. 91110 in a new Battle of Britain Memorial Flight livery by TV personality Carol Vorderman. The locomotive will only be on display on the Saturday and Sunday however, before being returned to East Coast.
The festival will bring together over 30 record-breaking locomotives that have made their mark on rail history for being the fastest, strongest, first, last and oldest. Among the confirmed record-breaking attendees is holder of the record for the world’s fastest steam locomotive at 126mph, Mallard, the newest mainline steam locomotive in operation, Tornado, and the most powerful industrial tank engine built for use in the UK, Mardy Monster. Flying Scotsman, is also on display, during Railfest although further work will be carried out on the locomotive after the event.
Tickets can be bought by visiting nrm.org.uk/railfest2012 or on the day. Those wishing to attend the event are encouraged to buy their tickets in advance to fast-track their entry and avoid the queues. Ticket prices start at £8 for children aged 2-15 years and £13 for an adult.
Some of the locomotives currently on site for the event (as of 1st June) include:
Steam Locomotives
Furness Railway 0-4-0 No. 20
LBSCR 0-6-0T Stepney
LNWR 2-4-0 No. 790 Hardwicke
SR 4-6-0 No. 925 Cheltenham
GWR 4-4-0 No. 3717 City of Truro
LNER 4-6-2 No. 4468 Mallard
GWR 4-6-0 No. 5972 Olton Hall
LMS 4-6-2 No. 6229 Duchess of Hamilton
LMS 4-6-0 No. 45596 Bahamas
LNWR 0-6-2T No. 58926
LNER 4-6-2 No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley
Narrow Gauge
Ffestiniog Railway 0-4-0STT Palmerston
Mainline Traction
Class 20/3 No. 20312 (DRS)
Class 31/6 No. 31601 (DCR)
Class 37/4 No. 37419 (DRS)
Class 56 No. 56312 (DCR)
Class 57/3 No. 57308 (VT)
Class 57/3 No. 57309 Pride of Crewe (DRS)
Class 57/6 No. 57604 Pendennis Castle (FGW)
Class 66/7 No. 66734 Wolverhampton Wanderders (GBRf)
Class 91 No. 91110 (due to arrive overnight) (EC)
Class 92 No. 92032 (GBRf)
Network Rail Snowblower
Rail Grinder
ScotRail Class 380 No. 380104
Southeastern Class 395 No. 395019
Virgin Trains Class 221 No. 221144
Heritage Locomotives
Class 37 No. D6700
Class 41 No. 41001
Class 50 No. 50008
Class 55 No. 55002 The Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
London Underground Sarah Siddons
This list is not complete.
