TRAINS of yesteryear took centre stage to help Keighley and Worth Valley Railway start its 50th anniversary celebrations in style.

T&A Camera Club member Neil Terry, of Neil Terry Photography, captured these stunning images of some of the engines in action.

The three-day Spring Steam Gala, which closed yesterday, attracted 2,000 visitors and saw a number of engines take to the tracks.

These included three guest locomotives, Britannia, Oliver Cromwell, built in 1951 from the West Somerset Railway, and, from the East Lancashire Railway, a Black 5, remaining on the railway before venturing out onto the mainline again.

Two of these locomotives at the Spring Gala hauled the very last passenger service operated by British Railways.

The ‘15 Guinea Special’ rail tour ran on August 11, 1968, and both Oliver Cromwell and Black 5 hauled legs of the journey. British Railways imposed a steam ban the following day.

Kieran Pilsworth, gala organiser, said: “It’s been a fantastic event.

“Lots of effort and dedication from our dedicated volunteers helped pull out all of the stops this year.”