Didcot gears up for gala
MAJOR celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of the Great Western Society (GWS) are to be spread across two separate gala weekends at the society’s Didcot Railway Centre base, as ongoing Covid-19 restrictions continue to limit capacity at the 21-acre Oxfordshire site.
The Diamond Jubilee Gala – Part 1 will take place on Saturday, July 31 and Sunday, August
1 and is set to feature five or six locomotives in action and working passenger trains on the centre’s two demonstration lines.
Variety
The line-up will include Lambton Colliery No. 29, which is visiting for the summer from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Recently restored GWR 0-4-0ST No. 1340 Trojan will also be in action, along with ‘Saint’ No. 2999 Lady of Legend. Furthermore, two of the centre’s diesels will play their part in the celebrations, with Class 14 No. D9516 and ‘Gronk’ No. 08604 Phantom, which is normally confined to shunting duties, taking a turn on passenger workings.
As the RM closed for press, the GWS was hoping to finalise arrangements for the Churnet Valley Railway’s S160 No. 6040 to join the celebration. It is threequarters-of-a-century since American 2-8-0s were allocated to Didcot as part of the US lendlease programme during the Second World War.
“Most things are in place but the process to approve transport across Network Rail metals from Didcot West Yard to the centre takes a little time,” explained Graham Hukins, head of visitor experience and marketing. “We’re keen to have No. 6040 here as the class is one of the few that were based at Didcot in GWR days that has not made an appearance in the preservation era.”
Attractions
In addition to passenger trains, the event will feature goods workings, demonstrations of the 70ft turntable in action, a chance to see locos taking coal from the Grade II Listed 1932 coal stage and dramatic action as a coal truck is propelled up the steep incline to the coal stage – all sights that were once commonplace at the steam depot and all of which can be delivered without further relaxing of Covid-19 regulations.
Graham added: “We’re planning ‘Part 2’ of the celebrations to round off the season in October, which will give us time to see the shape of the new normal and look at how we can showcase vehicles such as the GWS’ first carriage, Auto Trailer No. 231 and GWR diesel Railcar No. 22.”
Tickets are limited and must be booked in advance at DidcotRailwayCentre.org.uk where readers can also find full details and updates on the event – or telephone 01235 817200.