Rodney to return to action at Swanage Railway gala
A CLASS 50 that has not hauled a train for more than 20 years is planned to return to traffic at the Swanage Railway’s gala in late April.
No. 50021 Rodney, which is now owned by Paul Spracklen, has been overhauled at Eastleigh and is due to attend with his other loco No. 50026 Indomitable. No. 50021 last ran at the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway, but suffered
Diesel Galas
March 21/22: Spa Valley Railway March 27-29: Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway
April 3-5: Mid-Norfolk Railway
April 10-13: Didcot Railway Centre (Railcar Gala)
April 18/19: Epping Ongar Railway April 24-26: Ecclesbourne Valley
Railway
April 24-26: Swanage Railway
April 25/26: Ribble Railway
May 2/3: Great Central Railway May 14-17: Severn Valley Railway May 23/24: Heritage Shunters Trust an ETH generator failure in 1999. ‘Peak’ No. D4 (44004) Great Gable, which returned to service in 2019, and
No. 37190 are also to appear at Swanage beforemoving on to the Severn Valley Railway the following month. A Class 44 has been on the Swanage Railway’s wish list for some time, being one of the few types of loco never to have appeared on the line.
June 4-6: North Yorkshire Moors
Railway
June 4-7: West Somerset Railway June 6/7: Swindon & Cricklade Railway June 12-14: Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway June 26-28: Keighley & Worth Valley
Railway
July 2-4: East Lancashire Railway July 11/12: Chasewater Railway July 24-26: Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway
August 7-9: Ecclesbourne Valley
Railway August 7-9: Spa Valley Railway August 8/9: Caledonian Railway
The Diesel Traction Group’s ‘Warship’ No. D821 Greyhound is the first confirmed visitor for the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway’s diesel event in June.
Although it will be the loco’s first appearance on the line, it is no stranger to Yorkshire having been based at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway between 1981 and 1991 (and
August 22/23: Heritage Shunters
Trust
September 5/6: Ribble Railway
September 11-13: Dean Forest Railway September 12/13: Epping Ongar
Railway
September 18/19: East Lancashire
Railway
September 19/20: GCR(N), Ruddington September 26/27: Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway
September 26/27: Llangollen Railway October 1-4: Severn Valley Railway October 9-11: Nene Valley Railway October 9-11: South Devon Railway returning there for a visit in 2013).
The Waterman Railway Heritage Trust’s No. D7659 (25309) will be visiting the North Norfolk Railway for its mixed traffic gala in June. The ‘Rat’ has recently been restored to working order after more than 20 years out of traffic.
Also appearing at the event will be a loco from the DRS stable.
October 16-18: Spa Valley Railway November 7/8: East Lancashire
Railway (DMU)
Mixed Traction galas (steam & diesel)
April 4-5: Chasewater Railway (Pits to Power Stations)
April 4/5: Nene Valley Railway
April 25/26: Embsay & Bolton Abbey
Railway
June 12-14: North Norfolk Railway June 27/28: Wensleydale Railway (Forces event)
August 1/2: Llangollen Railway (1960s)