23rd April 1939

Birmingham Locomotive Club
Shropshire & Montgomeryshire Railway Tour

The running dates of the BLC trips using 'Gazelle' on the S&MR have been queried. The 1951 SLS journal gives running dates of 23rd & 30th April 1939 however previously submitted information suggests they may have run in 1938, but it is unknown if one of the years is in error (in which case, which one), or could they have run on all four dates?

Loco Used 4-2-0WT 'Gazelle'
Stock Used home-made 22 seater 4-wheel carriage

Route :

Loco Route
'Gazelle' Shrewsbury Abbey – Kinnerley Junction – Llanymynech
'Gazelle' Llanymynech - Kinnerley Junction
'Gazelle' Kinnerley Junction  – Criggion
'Gazelle' Criggion - Kinnerley Junction - Shrewsbury Abbey

Notes :
(1) Passenger traffic had ceased in 1928, the line was taken over by the MOD in 1941, returned to BR in 1950, closed March 1960. This claimed to be the first ever enthusiast railtour over a private standard gauge railway in the UK. 'Gazelle' was Britains smallest standard gauge steam locomotive. Due to demand, a repeat run was made the following week (30th April?).

Source : Mark Harrington (from contemporary sources)

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