The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway held their three day Autumn steam gala starting on Friday 12th October 2012 and, unlike the NYMR gala a couple of weeks before, they actually had a couple of interesting visitors!
Having reached Keighley late on the Friday morning I took myself off to Oakworth where it was very windy and, worse, I couldn't find any really satisfactory shelter so ended up for my first recording at the top of the embankment on the north side of the line not far from the station.
The first train I could record was hauled by the railways own BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4T 80002 which is heard bringing 6 coaches up the gradient from Damems Loop.

Next came one of the two visitors and a train I was keen to get a good recording of but the spot I'd picked was a little too busy with other spectators, some who, although I'd spoken to them and explained what I was doing seemed to have a different idea as to what 'quiet' means. In view of this I moved on to a spot nearer to Damems Loop which while nosier due to the wind in the surrounding trees was far less popular with photographers. In fact the only photographer who came anywhere near my spot was exceedingly co-operative; if only they could all be like that!
This next train was hauled by Worth Valley resident, L&YR 0-6-0 957 but piloted by visiting L&YR A Class 0-6-0 1300 normally resident on the East Lancs Railway; a proper L&Y double header.
The train consisted of five coaches from the Vintage Carriages Trust including 3 L&Y vehicles and the pair of 0-6-0s sound to be having no difficulty at all with the load on the 1 in 60 gradient.

I've always had a soft spot for the railway's ex LMS 4F 0-6-0 43924 and that was on the next train up from Keighley.
By this time trains were running a little late and as the Keighley bound train had already reached the loop, the 4F can pass through without stopping. Once again, the load was 6 coaches.

The next train was the Express calling only at Haworth and this was hauled by the other visitor, ex LMS Class 4 2-6-0 43106.
It's been a few years since I last saw this engine and I recall it was quite a noisy performer. Unfortunately, shortly before the train arrived there had been a brief shower and as 43106 leaves the loop the loco has a little difficulty with adhesion but once past the loco sounds fine climbing through Oakworth and off into Mytholmes Tunnel.

By this time I was cold and somewhat hungry so I caught the next train, hauled by 43106, down to Keighley but before setting off in search of food, I made another recording of the A Class 1300 piloting 43924 departing with a six coach train.

On the following day I concentrated my efforts on Keighley and started at G.N. Straight where, as the sun wouldn't reach there until later, I expected fewer other spectators to be about - I was only partially right about that.
My first recording was of 957 passing not having to work particularly hard with just three coaches.

Next came the LNWR Coal Tank now carrying its LMS number, 7799 with a two coach shuttle train going to Ingrow.
The loco’s haulage capabilities don’t sound to be being tested to capacity and it is making very easy work of the light load.

Spectator numbers then started to increase and I had to move but I stayed on G. N. Straight for the next train which was double headed by 43106 with 41241 as pilot.
As you can hear, easy work once again.

After that I moved down nearer to the station where my next recording was of 80002 which, as usual, doesn't disappoint for noise as it departs with its 6 coach train.

Like previous Worth Valley Galas there was no shortage of entertainment particularly at Keighley but, if I had to criticise I'd say there was a little too much double heading, particularly involving the visiting locos. Indeed, aside from a downhill run from Ingrow to Keighley, the A Class was always double headed. Likewise 43106; aside from two runs with a fish and chip train on Saturday evening only did one unassisted uphill run each day.
43106 was on the next train running to Damems and back and was piloted by 43924 with the addition of 41241 attached at the rear but, as banking passenger trains is not permitted, the Ivatt tank was simply there to bring the train back to Keighley.

The two L&YR 0-6-0s were on the next train and, although I've already said that I don't particularly like recording double headers, at least in this case it is an appropriate pairing and, thanks to the locos having differing wheel diameters, the exhaust beats don't synchronise as take their 5 coach train away from the station.

The next departure from Keighley was the demonstration freight of about a dozen waggons and was headed by 43106 with 41241 providing rear end assistance.
Once the pair have passed, 43924 which was standing in the headshunt sets off back towards the station ready for its next working.

My last two recordings were of single headed trains.
First was 43924 with a 6 coach train and the 4F sounds fine, as usual.

My last recording before heading home was hauled by 43106 but, before it could depart, the freight train had to be propelled out of the station into the headshunt. Now I, like the assembled throng of photographers assumed that we knew just how far down the headshunt the waggons would be parked and while they had all congregated close to the buffer stops assuming they'd have a clear view from there, I had chosen a spot where I expected my view to be blocked by the waggons. We were all wrong.
No doubt the photographers were as surprised as I was when 41241 pushed the waggons right past my spot and all the way down to the buffers leaving me with the clear view!
With the waggons parked, 41241 is uncoupled ready to return to the station while 43106 departs with its 6 coach train and once it has passed, 41241 rolls quietly back towards the station.
A nice recording to finish off the day