Friday 12th Sunday 14th April 2013 saw the Bodmin & Wenford Railway run their annual Spring Steam Spectacular with this year featuring up to four Great Western pannier tank locomotives in service alongside resident engine 42xx 4247. The pannier tanks were the maid of all works and could be typically seen on the Bodmin & Wenford in steam days. Each pannier at the event represented a different class with some panniers also having links with the railway in steam days and preservation for example 1369 was based at Wadebridge shed in the 1960s and over 50 years since a 16xx class pannier tank has visited Cornwall with St Blazey having allocated a few over the years.

Locomotive in service :
|BR(W) 15xx Class 060PT No 1501 (Courtesy of the Severn Valley Railway)
|GWR 16xx Class 060PT No 1638 (Courtesy of the Kent & East Sussex Railway)
|GWR '1366' Class 060PT No 1369 (Courtesy of the South Devon Railway)
|GWR 64xx Class 060PT No 6435
|GWR 42xx Class 280T No 4247

Although the weather was appalling even at the best of times it was still a good event with the panniers putting on some good performances along the steep gradients of the railway, a good event for any Great Western fan! I tried my best to keep the rain of the lens but you can't have it all I'm afraid!

Shots in the video are
6435 arrives into Bodmin General with the goods train from Boscarne Junction
1638 & 4247 arrive into Bodmin General with a service from Bodmin Parkway
1501 tackles the steep gradient at Crabtree Lane on the Boscarne Line
4247 passes through Colesloggett Halt with the goods train
1638 & 1369 pass Crabtree Lane with a service to Bodmin General
6435 & 1501 coast downhill at Charlies Gate with a service to Bodmin Parkway
1501 & 6435 tackle the steep climb at Charlies Gate with the return to Bodmin General
1369 rounds the Curve into Bodmin General with the goods train
1369 & 1638 arrive into Boscarne Junction
1369 runs round the train at Boscarne Junction
1369 departs Boscarne Junction with the final service to Bodmin General while 1638 banks