On the weekend of Saturday, 3rd and Sunday, 4th August, the ‘Rail 200 Sizzling Summer Steam Gala‘ held by the West Lancashire Light Railway at its site at Hesketh Bank near Preston in Lancashire was declared a resounding success.

Enthusiasts and families alike were delighted by the event, which featured five locomotives in steam hauling passenger and works trains, providing a succession of different steam engines. Brake van rides were also on offer.

Locomotives from the West Lancashire Light Railway’s fleet in action were Sybil and Montalban, and these were joined by visitors Diana, Jennie, and Peter Pan.

As well as the steam locomotives, visitors could also enjoy rides behind the model steam engine Southport, which was brought to the gala by Southport Model Engineering Club.

Also providing rides was a coach from Merseyside Transport Trust, once familiar in the area, Ribble Motor Services Limited, 808 No. TRN 808V, a Leyland National 10351B/1R with a B44F+20 body built in 1979.

Other attractions at the Gala were a 100-year-old pianola, model railway and Meccano displays, performances by the Galliard Folk Dancers, real ale from Southport Brewery, and a visit by popular children’s railway author Pauline Hazelwood.

The West Lancashire Light Railway runs every Sunday and Bank Holiday until 2nd November, and every Wednesday during August. Its next special event is a Working Engines Gala on Sunday, 21st September, when most of the railway’s working collection will be in service operating a variety of industrial trains.

Earlier this year, The Sybil Locomotive Trust was runner-up and Highly Commended in the Steam Locomotive of the Year award at the Heritage Railway Association’s awards, with there being five nominations for the national award, and Sybil was the only narrow gauge entry.