Eastleigh Lakeside Railway End of Season Gala + Rededication Ceremony

27/9/24
Following a change in plan due to a last minute cancellation, we decided to head over to the Eastleigh Lakeside Railway, an old favourite for us. This was for the End of Season Gala, itself a replacement for the originally intended SBCR Gala, now next year.
This would see a few favourites take their spot in the limelight as well as visiting locomotives. A big highlight for this gala, was the return of Bullock Pacific No. 1003 'Western Queen' steaming for the first time since restoration. This marked a big milestone for the railway staff and owners as a long term aim of getting all the Bullock Pacifics into the collection and steaming had now been achieved! 1001, 1002, 1003, 2011 (completing the 1000 class lineup) aswell as 2005 and 2006 now all steaming on the Eastleigh Lakeside Railway. I managed to capture the rededication ceremony, which is something I'm not usually able to, so this was rather lovely, as well as seeing Western Queen finally complete.
In other news, attempting to not overshadow the other locomotives, two visiting locomotives were present at the gala (three, if you count 181) these being Lion from the South Downs Light Railway, whocg was rather impressive and cute, as well as a rare visit away for Stapleford Railway resident, 'John.H.Gretton', a Curwen Atlantic, I absolutely loved this locomotive, it looks so quirky and unusual, especially with its rotary valve gear and colourful paint scheme, that's the one thing I do like about miniature, it's never boring.
In operation were:
Home Fleet;
(7¼)
. ELR Atlantic No. 4789 'William Baker'
. Romulus 0-4-0 'Sanjo'
(10¼)
. SR Merchant Navy No. 35004 'Cunard White Star Line'
. Bullock 1000 Class No. 1003 'Western Queen'
(Fresh from overhaul)
. ELR/RVM No. 92 'Florence'
. ELR/RVM E2 outlined 0-6-0t 'Clive'
(Only to shunt Western Queen into position)
Static Display;
. Bullock 1000 Class No. 1001 'The Monarch'
. Bullock 1000 Class No. 1002 'The Empress'
Visiting Locomotives;
. GCR Class 8 No. 181
(Owned by the Simkins Family)
. Curwen Atlantic No. 751 'John.H.Gretton'
(Visiting from Stapleford Miniature Railway)
. LMR 0-4-2 'Lion'
(Visiting from South Downs Light Railway)

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