Miniature Giants of Steam Gala
Schedule
Sat Jun 13 2026 at 09:00 am to 04:45 pm
UTC+01:00Location
Lakeside Country Park, Wide Lane, SO50 5PE Eastleigh, United Kingdom | Southampton, EN
Advertisement
It's Gala time! Taking place on the weekend of June 13th & 14th; we will be playing host to our first ever Miniature Giants of Steam Gala. Where big name locomotives come in miniature form.
The weekend will see an intensive service running throughout, using our railway’s capacity to the max, with special trains, headers and guest locomotives. These include resident A4 Pacific 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley, returning from its loan at the South Downs Light Railway to join in the weekend fun.
Running from our Home Fleet will be:
No. 1001 The Monarch
No. 1002 The Empress
No. 2005 Silver Jubilee
No. 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley
Guest locomotives will be:
Chapelon Nord 231E Compound No.3.1192 (Courtesy of the Simkins Family)
No.6220 "Coronation" (Courtesy of the South Downs Light Railway)
8 ¼ no. 815 “Carolyn” (Courtesy of the Bankside Miniature Railway) Carolyn will be running demonstration trains in the yard.
Special trains included at this event:
Saturday:
- On Saturday morning, we kick things off with our Lakes Express, departing Parkway at 09:30. This train will be hauled by 1001 The Monarch, conducting a 2 ½ mile non-stop run of the railway.
- Saturday’s Lunchtime Limited will depart at 12:15 hauled by Nord 3.1192. This train will run non-stop for two full circuits of the railway, an express train squeezing in between the regular trains.
- Sunset Lakes Express, another non-stop 2 ½ mile trip of the railway. This will be hauled by 2005 Silver Jubilee and 1002 The Empress. Departing Parkway at 16:30.
Sunday:
- We kick off this day with our Para-Lakes Express. Where we have two trains conducting not only their own Lakes Express circuits but at times will be racing each other across the park! One Train will be hauled by 6220 Coronation, the other Double Headed by 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley, and 1001 The Monarch. These trains will be departing Parkway at approximately 09:20 & 09:30.
- At 13:00 we will be running our Upton Memorial Lunchtime Limited. In tribute to the late great founder of the Eastleigh Lakeside Railway, Clive Upton. This train will perform two non-stop full circuits of the railway, double headed by 1001 The Monarch & 1002 The Empress.
- We bring down the curtain on the weekend with a multi header train entitled “Pacific Power” where as many of the engines from across the weekend will be taking part in a final non-stop run of the railway, bringing our gala to a close.
The best way to make the most of this weekend is to a purchase a day rover ticket, giving you UNLIMITED RIDES for the entire day of your visit! To access the special trains, you will need either a return ticket or a day rover. Single tickets will not be permitted on these trains. Included free with every child day rover ticket will also be a gala challenge sheet.
Fare prices can be found on the link below:
https://www.elmr.co.uk/prices
T&C’s apply. No booking required. Locomotives are subject to mechanical availability.
Advertisement
Where is it happening?
Lakeside Country Park, Wide Lane, SO50 5PE Eastleigh, United Kingdom, Lakeside Country Park, Wide Lane, Southampton, SO50 5, United KingdomEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
