DIESEL DAYS AND GALAS

As we have written about quite a lot this year, it has been difficult to make any plans for diesel running, in fact, running of any sort, due to the restrictions caused by the current coronavirus pandemic. Since September the situation has become even more uncertain due to the local nature of lockdowns and the differing rules country by country. At one stage the East Lancashire Railway was trying to run under both Tier 2 and Tier 3 restrictions. The Tier 3 applied to Lancashire and this encompassed the northern end of the line from Ramsbottom to Rawtenstall. Trains still ran to Rawtenstall but no boarding or alighting was allowed and Irwell Vale station was shut. This situation didn’t last long before the remainder of the line was also under Tier 3 restrictions. Then the English national lockdown made those restrictions a moot point anyway, as all running was cancelled.

The new lockdown put paid to the Great Central Railway’s First Hurrah gala on November 7/8, which was to have featured a diesel each day. At the time of writing (mid-November) the lockdown was due to be lifted on December 2, which might enable some Santa Specials to run and also some diesel running.

Assuming a lockdown extension is not imposed, 40106 is booked to work trains at the Severn Valley

Railway on December 26 and 31, and January 3. The first will see the 40 working solo, while the 31st and 3rd will see it working top and tail with another yet to be announced diesel. Also running at Christmas is the Spa Valley, which is open daily from December 28 through to January 3 with a top and tail steam and diesel service, the diesel leading from Tunbridge Wells to Eridge. Due to the ongoing uncertainty, the Llangollen Railway has decided to cancel all its Christmas trains and refund all bookings.