SOUTH DEVON WINTER STEAM GALA! ‘Henbury’ FAILS + GWR 2807 and 5526, 6412 on AUTO TRAIN & 09 Shunter!

A great Friday spent with ‪@southwalestrainspotting5090‬ at the South Devon Railway Winter Steam Gala today. The gala starred GWR 28XX class heavy freight locomotive 2807 visiting from the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway and Peckett & Sons No. 1940 ‘Henbury’ from the Bristol Harbour Railway, working alongside resident GWR Small Prairie 5526 and Pannier Tank 6412, which is nearing the end of its current boiler ticket and would be withdrawn for overhaul after the gala.

A cold and frosty start made way for crisp, clear, picturesque sunlight which brought the photographers out to relish in the perfect conditions today for the event, even if a little chilly, and the day was full of action and not without a hiccup as No. 1940 ‘Henbury’ was declared failed whilst being prepared during the morning of the event, and was shunted into the sheds at Buckfastleigh by 6412 where the locomotive received attention, with Class 09 Diesel Shunter D3721 taking the saddle tanks turns.

This caused some delays to the original advertised working timetable, but the railway did well to rectify the deficit, carrying out complex shunting manoeuvres and getting everything back on track during a brilliant first day! The gala also gave the South Devon an opportunity to run the WCRC Mk1’s, which had been hired in for use on the recent Polar Express trains in December. The final sequences show ‘Henbury’ raising steam on shed at Buckfastleigh, where it was hoped she'd be back action following repairs, though sadly it looks like she will be failed for the remainder of the event. | 03.01.2025

#Henbury #SaddleTank #2807 #GreatWestern #Railway #Class09 #diesel #SouthDevon #SouthDevonRailway #shunter #locomotives #wintersteamgala #steamengines #SouthDevonSteamGala #RailwayEngines #Railways #Britishrail #Frost #BritishRailways #Winter #Locomotives #steamincoldweather #Heritagerailway #locohaulage #trains #railwayphotography #Staverton #Totnes #Buckfastleigh