DIESEL DAYS AND GALAS
As this column was being compiled in early February, the good news was that the COVID-19 vaccination rollout was continuing apace. So, with any luck, we should be seeing a return to some form of normality sooner rather than later, hopefully allowing our heritage railways to reopen. The infection rates were also continuing to fall, so it was looking as if railways may even be able to reopen by Easter, COVID-19 protocols permitting. Unlike last year when many railways took the long view and closed for the year, or only had a limited running season, most are now taking a much more upbeat view and, as we’ve reported previously, have begun to plan events for this year.
Of course, whether or not we’ll see any big galas with lots of hired-in engines remains to be seen. It’s a big expensive outlay that could all go to waste at a moment’s notice if another lockdown is announced. At least with home fleet locos the railways’ financial exposure is limited.
Currently lined up this year are the events listed below, and while the programme later on in the year stands a good chance of going ahead, the early season ones will always be at risk of not running. March 20/21 Spa Valley running day (D8188)
May 13-16 Severn Valley
June 10-13 West Somerset
June 26/27 Mid-Hants
July 1-3 East Lancs
July 16-18 Bluebell (provisional) Sept 3-5 Chinnor (to feature 31128) Sept 17/18 East Lancs
Sept 30-Oct 3 Severn Valley
Oct 17 Bala Lake
Nov 13/14 East Lancs DMU
The Severn Valley Railway is advertising that for its steam gala you book the same seats for all day but you will get each loco on your train throughout the day, so there will be no need to leap on and off to get a different engine for haulage.
In anticipation of being able to stage its event the Severn Valley Railway have released the initial details for its May 13-16 Diesel Gala. Rather than swopping and changing motive power across trains there will be four rakes of coaches in use, each one dedicated to a specific traction type. Travellers will need to reserve a seat for the whole day, no rover tickets and no leaping off and on different trains. Trains will run non-stop between Bridgnorth and Kidderminster apart from one stop at Highly to visit the Engine House if required.
The outline trains are detailed below, with the first departure and last arrival times shown. There will also be optional journeys available with Class 14 D9551 and Class 17 D8568, the latter making its first appearances in BR blue.
Train One: Class 50s ( 50007, 50035 and 50049) Kidderminster, d0825, a1830pm, Engine House break 0906-1025.
Train Two: Hydraulics (TBA) Kidderminster, d0915, a1925, Engine House break 1335-1500. Train Three: Sulzers (TBA) Kidderminster, d1005, a2000, Engine House break 1050-1215 Train Four: EEs (TBA) Bridgnorth, d0905, a1935, Engine House Break 1525-1650.
Tickets are £30 per person for Thursday and Sunday and £35 for Friday and Saturday, with bookings available per seat, per table (two or four people) or for a compartment of six.