The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, one of the very few complete branch lines in the UK has held many successful events and hauled thousands of passengers, along the picturesque five-mile branch line during 2019.
Throughout the year, the railway has held many events including their famous Winter Steam Gala, introduced their new 'Mixed Traffic' gala, annual Beer & Music Festival, Vintage Services, Santa Services plus many others.
Spring Steam Gala - 8th - 10th March 2019:
The Spring Steam Gala was held during March 2019, visiting the railway was LMS 2MT No.46521 from the Great Central Railway which ran alongside LMS 5XP No.45596 'Bahamas', making its first appearance at the Worth Valley since returning to steam. Over the 3 day event a collection of engines put on an action-packed show including passenger, vintage and freight services.
'Bahamas' Mainline Charter Services - 9th & 16th February 2019:
February 2019 saw the return of LMS 'Jubilee' No.45596 'Bahamas', owned by the Bahamas Locomotive Society, based at Ingrow West. Having undergone an extensive overhaul at Tyseley, the railway and BLS celebrated its return by hauling two mainline charter services from Oxenhope to Carlisle, via the picturesque Settle & Carlisle Railway. Coverage is included from various locations on the Settle & Carlisle Railway from both trips on the 9th and 16th February.
Diesel & Mixed Traction Gala - 3rd - 6th May 2019:
2019 saw the return of the diesels, running over the May Bank Holiday, a collection of visiting and home fleet diesel locomotives hauled services between Keighley to Oxenhope. Most notable from the event was visiting prototype HST locomotive, 41001 which has since been removed from service, to be placed on display at the National Railway Museum. Also visiting for the event was one of DRS's new flagship class 88 locomotives (88009), built as electro-diesel locomotives, capable of operating either on overhead power lines or by using an onboard diesel engine.
2019 Visiting Engines:
2019 saw the return of LMS 5MT No.45212, which returned to steam in 2016 after an extensive overhaul, now mainline registered, No.45212 is commonly seen hauling services on the national network. LMS 5MT No.45212 was based at the KWVR during the early season, including the Spring Steam Gala and unusually faced north. LMS 5MT No.45212 returned to the KWVR during the autumn and hauled the railway's annual Santa Special services.
2019 Vintage Train Services:
After many years of successful running, 2019 saw the return of the popular summer 'Vintage Train' running dates, utilising the vintage coaches restored by the Vintage Carriage Museum and the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Trust. Hauling services throughout the summer of 2019 was Taff Vale O2 No.85.
Beer & Music Festival - October 2018:
Returning for another year was the very popular Beer & Music Festival, running an intensive service over the weekend 17th - 20th October 2019, trains were heavily packed and hauled by BR 2MT No.78022 and LMS 4F No.43924.
A wide collection of running days are featured, including lineside shots, an aspect not usually available to the general public.
Steam engines featured include:
• LMS 2MT No.41241
• LMS 2MT No.46521
• LMS 4F No.43924
• LMS 5MT No.45212
• LMS 5XP No.45596 'Bahamas'
• BR 2MT No.78022
• BR 4MT No.75078
• USATC S160 No.5820
• Taff Vale O2 No.85
• LNWR 'Coal Tank' No.1054
Diesel locomotives featured include:
• Class 20 031
• Class 25 059
• Class 37 075
• Prototype HST locomotive No.41001
• Class 31 163
• Class 47 727
• Class 50 031 'Hood'
• Class 88 009
Produced by - Steaming Around Yorkshire
Running time - 140 Minutes approx (2 discs)
Format - 16:9 Widescreen UK PAL
Blu-ray and DVD
Released - January 2020