The complete steam news magazine

LMS line hosts GWR 175 gala!

Stars of the show are the world famous City of Truro, reportedly the first ever steam locomotive to reach 100 mph, and a GWR auto train consisting of GWR 0-4-2T No 1450 and auto coach No 178 courtesy of Mike Little. These will run alongside the home fleet of Austerity 71515 and Bagnall 0-4-0ST No 19.

There will be a two0train operation at the gala, allowing the auto train to run between Furnace Sidings and the Whistle Inn, while City of Truro handles the trains to Blaenavon with one of the industrial locomotives. The timetable will give at least one full trip per day with the auto train and one double header with No 3717 and No 1450.

Friday the 17th will see the official opening of the railways extension to Blaenavon High level. This will take place between 10am and noon with the auto train running to Blaenavon High Level for invited guests and City of Truro on display. From 12.40pm onwards the auto train will operate the normal hourly service to Blaenavon which will be open to the public.

The gala itself will commence on the Saturday and as well as the trains running as described above there will be on display a GWR freight train, the railway’s 1910-built inspection saloon, a selection of 1930s vehicles and a steam roller. There will also be two real ale bars in operation.

 This is the first time that City of Truro has visited a heritage railway in South Wales Whilst the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway is of LNWR origin it is celebrating the anniversary of the GWR because the history of the railways of South Wales is inextricably linked to that of the GWR and it had a big impact on Blaenavon itself . The GWR reached the town directly with its branch from Pontypool to Blaenavon Low level and indirectly via the LNWR line which made an end-on connection with the GWR at Abersychan & Talywain station.

From the early 20th century this became a more visible presence as took over the passenger service from Newport and Pontypool to Brynmawr until its cessation in 1941, although the freight service remained in the hands of the LNWR/LMS.

Although the GWR finally succumbed to nationalisation in 1948 the closure of the line as a through route in the mid 1950s ensured that, with all freight trains now coming up the valley from Pontypool, they would be in the hands of pure Great Western engines. Blaenavon also had a key part to play in the Great Western empire as the Tyre Mill at Forgeside produced the steel tyres for a large number of the GWR steam locomotives including the legendary Kings.

Railway chairman Robin Cornelius said:“This is the biggest year in the railways history, the opening of the Blaenavon extension has really put the railway on the map. “ith this gala we are celebrating not only the history of the GWR but a new chapter in the history of the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway”.

Alex Hinshelwood, the railways traffic manager added, “To get one iconic locomotive is special, but to get two is something else again. City of Truro has already caught the imagination of a lot of people, the auto train is going to raise it to a new level. This is a special year for us and this gala should be one to remember.”