Westerns On The Battlefield Line! - 'Winter Warmer Steam Gala' - 12/01/2025

In 1485, King Richard III was killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field in Leicestershire, bringing the War Of The Roses to an end. The conflict immortalised the town of Market Bosworth as a site of worldwide interest. Over four hundred years later, the Ashby and Nuneaton Joint Railway opened a route through the town into the heart of the British Midlands. Today, this small town, together with Shackerstone to the north and Shenton to the south, still provides visitors with a trip back in time along The Battlefield Line.

Running for just under five miles, this heritage railway has meandered through the heart of rural Leicestershire for over fifty years. However, for various reasons, most enthusiasts tend to overlook the line, despite having played host to some impressive traction over the years, including Caledonian Railway 419, GWR Collett 3803 and LNER B1 61306 ‘Mayflower’ for extended periods. Therefore, enthusiasts were surprised and intrigued when the 6880 Betton Grange Society Ltd announced that their locomotive would make its long-awaited debut at The Battlefield Line’s ‘Winter Warmer Steam Gala’ in February 2024, following completion at Tyseley Locomotive Works. Ultimately, the new-build ‘Grange’ was not commissioned in time for the event and ended up debuting three months later at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. However, 6880 eventually found her way to Shackerstone go work the railway’s ‘Santa Express’ trains over Christmas, in addition to finally take the starring role of 2025 ‘Winter Warmer Steam Gala’!

Held over the weekend of 11th and 12th January, the gala would have a distinct Great Western flavour with four engines on the roster. As well as ‘Betton Grange’, GWR ‘Pannier’ 1369 paid a visit from the South Devon Railway, taking charge of local services to Market Bosworth with a very surprising cohort: ‘Fred’! Formerly based on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, the RSH ‘Austerity’ last steamed in late 1970s. Having been quietly overhauled at Tyseley, her return was unexpected and a big draw for industrial fans as she had practically fallen off the railway radar since withdrawal. The final guest would be GWR Churchward 28XX 2807 from the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. As the oldest GWR locomotive currently in operation, the opportunity to pair her up with the brand-new 81st ‘Grange’ was too good to miss out on!

I visited on the Sunday of the event. The railway were running a two-train service, one main set and a shuttle set partly consisting of a DMU. On Saturday, sub-zero temperatures caused severe delays and cancellations due to frozen points and thick fog. Conditions were clearer on Sunday and the day started off well. However, 2807 missed her midday coal and water slot, setting the timetable back by up to forty-five minutes. Despite the forecast promising sun, murky grey skies covered the county until nightfall.

The full lineup consisted of:

Visiting:
Robert Stephenson and Hawthorn ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0ST 7289 ‘Fred’ (from Tyseley Locomotive Works. First appearance following extensive long-term overhaul)
GWR Collett 68XX ‘Grange’ 4-6-0 6880 ‘Betton Grange’ (from the 6880 Betton Grange Society Ltd and Tyseley Locomotive Works)
GWR Churchward 28XX 2-8-0 2807 (from the Cotswold Steam Preservation Society Ltd and the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway)
GWR Collett 1366 0-6-0PT 1369 (from the South Devon Railway)

I hope you all enjoy the video. Despite the late running and a long journey to and from the railway, I had a great time at the Battlefield Line and highly encourage all of you to visit if you haven’t already. Keep your eyes peeled for photos of the day on our Instagram page at instagram.com/secondvalvesteam; also a great way to stay up to date! Thank you for watching and feel free to comment and subscribe!