Three visiting engines join the 24 and 25 October gala, with three Barclays in steam together for the first time. Steam is back on regular trains from today.

Three Andrew Barclay steam engines will run together on the Leighton Buzzard Railway for the first time at its Steam Gala on 24 and 25 October.

The railway announced on Saturday that Andrew Barclay No. 1919 of 1931, “Cegin”, is coming from the Statfold Barn Railway and Museum. It will run alongside the railway’s own Barclays, “Doll” and “Gertrude”. The railway calls three of them in steam together “an absolute first”. (Leighton Buzzard Railway, Steam Gala)

Cegin is the third visiting engine named in a month, and the second in four days.

Steam is back on ordinary trains

The gala news comes as steam returns to the railway’s regular service.

When we last reported on 20 September, the railway’s notice said all trains would be diesel-hauled “until further notice” because of the dry weather. That sentence has now gone from its Times and Fares page. Every operating day listed, from today to 1 November, is shown as steam. (Leighton Buzzard Railway, Times and Fares)

One part of the notice remains: “Trains will be terminating at Stonehenge Work due to track damage on Munday’s Hill.” The published timetables have not changed, and Stonehenge Works was already the turning point on both of them. The railway has not said what the damage means for passengers beyond that.

The remaining dates are:

  • Sundays 4, 11 and 18 October: red timetable, steam
  • Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October: Steam Gala, special timetable
  • Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 October: red timetable, steam, in the half-term week
  • Saturday 31 October: red timetable, steam, Halloween
  • Sunday 1 November: blue timetable, steam, Halloween

The gala line-up so far

The railway has made three announcements about visiting engines.

Announced Engine Built Coming from
9 September Decauville No. 246, “Victory” 1897 Bredgar and Wormshill Light Railway
30 September Hunslet No. 1215, S7 “WDLR 303” 1916 War Office Locomotive Trust and Apedale Valley Light Railway
3 October Andrew Barclay No. 1919, “Cegin” 1931 Statfold Barn Railway and Museum

Victory was built in France and is central to this year’s theme. The gala marks 25 years since the railway twinned with the P’tit Train de la Haute Somme, and the railway promises themed activities on that French connection.

WDLR 303 has been here before. The railway says it last visited in 2019, shortly after it returned to steam for the first time in preservation, for the railway’s 100th anniversary gala.

The railway says more announcements about guest engines and event details will follow.

Timetable and tickets

The gala runs an intensive four-train timetable:

  • Saturday 24 October: 12 departures
  • Sunday 25 October: 11 departures
  • Dusk running, which the railway describes as rare and says is happening “for the first time in many years”

Single-trip tickets are sold in advance on the railway’s website. Rovers are sold on the day from the station building at Page’s Park.

Gala ticket Adult Senior Child
Single Day Rover £26.50 £23.50 £17.50
Weekend Rover £44.00 £37.00 £28.00

Money-off vouchers, complimentary tickets and other outside promotions are not accepted on gala days. (Leighton Buzzard Railway, Special Events)

What it means for you

  • For ordinary steam trains this month, the red timetable leaves Page’s Park at 10.30, 12.30 and 14.30. A return costs £12.70 for an adult without Gift Aid, £11.30 for a senior and £9.00 for a child aged 2 to 17. Under-2s and dogs travel free.
  • For the gala, book singles online, or buy a rover on the day if you plan to ride more than once.
  • Check before you set off. The railway says all services are “subject to availability”, as it runs working museum pieces with volunteer crews.

Half term in Central Bedfordshire covers the 28 and 29 October trains. Our October half-term guide lists what else is on, and our Halloween page covers the railway’s 31 October and 1 November trains alongside other local events. For getting to Page’s Park, see our roadworks and travel page.

Sources