1968 to 2008

The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway's

40th Anniversary Steam Gala Weekend

Friday 27th, Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th June 2008

Photo - Dave Parry

Last weekend's Gala event was the focus of the KWVR's 40th anniversary celebrations, being 40 years to the day since the line was re-opened by volunteers of the K&WVRPS on 29th June 1968.

The three-day event contained a number of ceremonial and visitor attractions and was a remarkable success, despite operational difficulties on the Saturday which resulted in that day's planned steam trains to Hellifield and Settle Junction being cancelled and a diesel locomotive being subsituted on Sunday.

For a short period, the Railway suspended services early on Saturday following the derailment of a visiting diesel locomotive during shunting at Oxenhope. Vintage buses from the Aire Valley Transport Group and Keighley Bus Museum  operated from Oxenhope to connect with steam train services at Haworth until a full steam timetable resumed on the whole branch. Main line steam shuttles between Keighley and Settle Junction were cancelled due to the derailment.

Things returned to normal on Sunday with KWVR branch services operating to timetable and running to capacity. The main line steam shuttles between Keighley and Settle Junction were hugely popular and operated as far as Hellifield with a heritage Class 37 diesel to the advertised timetable. This followed mechanical problems with the visiting King Arthur Class locomotive No. 30777 Sir Lamiel which had developed during the Saturday evening excursion to Ribblehead, causing it to terminate at Skipton.

KWVR spokesman Roger France, said, "We have been greatly encouraged by the number of people telling us how much they have enjoyed the anniversary Gala. We very much appreciate their patience and support and we do apologise to anyone who was inconvenienced. We are especially grateful to the many volunteer staff who rallied round to ensure that the celebrations could continue".

One visitor e-mailed to say, "The way you sorted things out on Saturday morning was fantastic. Your quiet professionalism in the face of adversity was an example to all other railways and proves that after 40 years, the KWVR guys really are the best in the country"

Here's to the NEXT 40 years ..............

The Heritage Railway Association has issued a press statement praising the K&WVR for its professionism. They praise the "Swift and professional response ...... a triumph of organisation which showed just how far the Railway has come in 40 years".

Read the full report HERE