Main spring diesel event season commences

WITH THE main spring diesel event calendar now under way, some of the biggest events of the year are due to take place in May, including the eagerly awaited Swanage Railway and Severn Valley Railway diesel events.

The four main diesel events are spread out throughout the month, with no clashes. The first weekend sees the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway operate a mixed traction event, which is expected to feature the recently-arrived Class 20 D8110 and 37294 working trains alongside some of the railway’s operational steam locomotives.

The Swanage Railway’s annual diesel event returns from April 12-14, with a preview day taking place on April 11. Working alongside resident Class 33s D6515 Lt Jenny Lewis RN and 33111 will be visiting traction, including sole-surviving Class 17 D8568, Class 40 D345, 45108, 47830 and, subject to completion of repairs, 50021 Rodney. The railway has stated that should 50021 – which has not worked a passenger train since 1999 – be unavailable, then 50026 Indomitable will attend in its place.

From May 18 to 21, the Severn Valley Railway’s spring diesel festival is taking place to celebrate 50 years of diesel preservation.

An extensive line-up of visiting main line diesel traction is promised at the SVR, joining the operational resident diesel fleet which will include the return of overhauled 33108, and the Diesel Traction Group’s Class 17 D8568 is also expected to feature, hot on the heels of its appearance at Swanage the previous week. Further announcements on visiting locomotives were expected as this issue of Railways Illustrated closed for press.

Completing the calendar for May is the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway diesel event from May 26-28, which is expected to feature the return to service of 26038 Tom Clift following completion of its engine and bodywork overhaul. Also expected to be in service will be 37025 Inverness TMD, 37403 Isle of Mull and 47643. No announcement of any visiting locomotive had been made as this issue was being prepared.

June is shaping up to be a month of headline diesel events, too; more details of these will be contained in the next issue.