Heritage diesel fleets help Santa season

TRADITIONALLY, HERITAGE railway operations in December on the run up to Christmas is all about Santa Special services, or similar Christmas-themed events.

While steam locomotives are at the forefront of these operations, many railways also use diesel locomotives from their fleets to top-and-tail with steam engines. The start of December saw D9529 operating at the Nene Valley Railway, 33035 in use at the Wensleydale Railway, D182 and 47401

North Eastern at the Midland Railway – Butterley, 47306 at the Bodmin and Wenford Railway, and D8 Penyghent in use on Peak Rail supporting the first services operated on the railway by Pete Waterman’s newly-overhauled EX-GWR 2-6-2 steam locomotive 5553. The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway generally does not use diesel traction on its pre-christmas services, but due to work taking place to the south of Winchcombe station, 47105 and 47376 Freightliner 1995 have been in use alongside the steam locomotives. As reported on page 23, the Stratford 47 Group’s D1933

Aldeburgh Festival has also seen intensive use on the Mid-norfolk Railway on festive services.

The East Lancashire Railway uses its diesel fleet alongside steam on its Santa Special services, with these festive services running between Bury and Rawtenstall, and a DMU shuttle service operating between Bury and Heywood, where the large car park at Heywood is promoted as parkand-ride. Diesel locomotives expected to be used throughout the month were 33109

Captain Bill Smith RNR, 45108, D1501 and 50015 Valiant.