THE lure of GWR Saints, Stanier 8Fs and Bulleid Pacifics may well play a part in the success stories of many steam galas, but for the Mid-Hants Railway’s annual autumnal steam spectacle, tank engines stole the show as the line tackled the event from a slightly different angle to the norm.
As enthusiasts and visitors scrutinise spending and look for the best-value events to attend, the days of locomotives merely travelling up and down the line in turn on a set of coaches all day may become a thing of the past, paving the way for timetables that provide both the intensive service that has come to be expected of galas with an interesting and engaging
