DIESEL DAYS AND GALAS

■ The Severn Valley Railway has announced the two guests for its May 13-16 Diesel bash with 47773 courtesy of Vintage Trains and a Class 20 from Michael Owen.

■ With ongoing engineering work at the Minehead end of the line not due to be completed until the end of June, the West Somerset Railway’s diesel gala has been removed from this year’s list of events. However, from July regular diesel running starts, due to the unavailability of the railway’s DMU for the season. Running on the blue timetable, the diagram will be a 60-mile day starting and ending at Minehead (1045 and 1720) with an intermediate shuttle from Bishops Lydeard to Williton. The majority of workings will be covered by the 33s D6566 and D6575, although Class 14 D9526 and Hymek D7018 will also work on occasion.

■ The Mid-Hants Railway is still intending to hold its diesel gala over June 25-27, although no further details were available at the time of writing.

■ The Severn Valley Railway has announced the loco allocations for its 2021 Pioneer trains. They were due to kick off with 40106 on April 23 and 25 and to run on various dates in May and June as detailed here: May 7 Class 42 D821, May 8 Class 52 D1015, May 9 Class 50, May 12 various, June 6 Class 42 D821, June 11/13 Class 50, June 18 Class 17 D8568 and Class 14 D9551 and June 20 Class 52 D1015.