Main 2024 heritage diesel gala season gets off to a strong start
WITH THE majority of our heritage railways reopening at Easter following closedowns over the winter period, heritage diesel enthusiasts can welcome the return of gala events, with five heritage lines hosting enthusiast events during April. Firstly, the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway is teaming up with its Peak Rail neighbour for the two Derbyshire heritage lines to host a joint Twin Peaks diesel gala on April 11-13. On the Wirksworth to Duffield EVR line, it is expected that Class 14 D9537, 31601 Devon Diesel Society,
Class 47 D1942, 73001 and a DMU will be service, while over the hill at Peak Rail, Class 25 D7659, Class 44 D8 Penyghent and Class 47 D1501 will be joined by the railway’s newly re-commissioned two-car Class 108 DMU. Also at Peak Rail, the Heritage Shunters Trust and LMS Carriage Association sheds will be open for visitors, as well as a large real ale tent situated at Rowsley South.
Tickets for Twin Peaks allow entry into both railways, and a heritage bus service will be in service to move visitors between the lines, with travel on it included. Further details and bookings can be found at either www.e-v-r. com/twinpeaks/ or https://peakrail. co.uk/twin-peaks-gala/
The Kent & East Sussex Railway is holding its first diesel gala event for several years on April 12-14, with home-based Class 03 D2023, Class 14 D9504 and 20087 being joined by visiting locomotives Class 17 D8568, from the Diesel Traction Group, and the Heavy Tractor Group’s 37714 Cardiff Canton. The Class 20 moved to the line a few months ago and the diesel gala will be the first time that it has hauled passenger services along the KESR route between Tenterden and Bodiam. D9504 returned to service last year following an extensive overhaul and has not worked a passenger train for more than four years. The Friday evening of the event also features a ‘beerex’ train along the route, as well as a live band playing at Tenterden before the train departs. More information can be found at https://kesr. org.uk/diesel-weekend/
The East Lancashire Railway is hosting the Great Western Society’s 4-6-0 Castle steam locomotive 4079 Pendennis Castle during April and the opportunity is being taken to operate a mixed traction event with a Western Region theme on April 13/14, to include ELR resident diesel locomotives Class 14 D9531, Class 35 Hymek D7076, Class 42 Warship 832 Onslaught, 45108 and 50015 Valiant.
Trains will operate to an intensive timetable, with an evening tripleheaded diesel-hydraulic service on the Saturday featuring D9531, D7076
and 832. During the day, the visiting steam locomotive will doublehead with the Warship, while on the Sunday it will be paired with the Hymek. Normal non-gala fares apply for this event and more information can be found at www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/events-activities/ western-region-weekend/
The final diesel event of the month takes place on the Great Central Railway between Loughborough Central and Leicester North on April 26-28. It is expected that resident diesel locomotives Class 33 D6535, Class 37s D6700 and 37714 Cardiff Canton,
and Class 45s D123 Leicestershire and Derbyshire Yeomanry and 50017 Royal Oak will be joined by visiting locomotives 31108, from A1A Locomotives, and the Deltic Preservation Society’s 55009 Alycidon (currently running as long-scrapped 55013 The Black Watch). Additionally, it is also expected that the GCR’S recently-delivered Class 153 railbuses 153308 and 153371 will be in service, and also Derby Lightweight railcar M79900 Iris, still visiting the GCR from the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway. Full details can be found at https://tickets.gcrailway.co.uk/events/66561