Summer Diesel Gala 2023 at the KWV railway, a mixed bag of workings on the lineside as well as in the sheds. the lineup includes:-
47712, an iconic passenger locomotive from the 1980s has been restored and repainted into the historic colour scheme with which it was most associated. Class 47/7 No. 47712, which once carried the name, Lady Diana Spencer, is now back in the attractive Chris Green-inspired ScotRail livery it wore while working the intensive Edinburgh-Glasgow push-pull services.
The loco, complete with its ScotRail Push/Pull set, will operate on the Worth Valley. 47712 appears courtesy of Crewe Diesel Preservation Group & Locomotive Services Limited.
DRS 37401 ‘Mary Queen of Scots’ will join us as “Guest”. Direct Rail Services have a long tradition of supporting KWVR Diesel Galas.
37401 spent time at Bo’ness under the care of the SRPS, where 37403 now resides, so it’s fitting that she should make a visit when sister her locomotive is also here. 37401 appears courtesy of DRS
37 403, This locomotive was delivered new to Landore depot, Swansea. It was renumbered 37307 in 1974 and was selected in 1984 as one of twenty-five locomotives converted to work passenger trains in Scotland. Refurbishment for this role required the replacement of the main generator with an alternator and providing electric train heating (ETH). Thus modified as a class 37/4, the locomotive was renumbered 37403 and transferred to Glasgow Eastfield depot. From Eastfield, 37403 worked the West Highland and Oban lines and was appropriately named Isle of Mull in January 1986.
37403 appears courtesy of SRPS
The HST class 43 is one of the world’s most iconic trains. Built between 1975 and 1982, they have since been found all over the country.
The British Rail Class 43 (HST) is the TOPS classification used for Intercity 125 High-Speed Train power cars built by British Rail for use on express passenger services. The Class 43 is officially the world’s fastest diesel locomotive, with an absolute maximum top speed of 148mph and a regular service speed of 125mph. The class are widely regarded as one of the most iconic and influential locomotive designs and was a tremendous success for British Rail.
RailAdventure will support the Diesel Gala with a pair of RailAdventure HST Power Cars, 43468 & 43480.
D9520 was completed at Swindon Works on 11th November 1964 and initially allocated to Cardiff Canton. In January 1967, it was transferred to Hull with other members of the Class for work in the North East Region but was with­drawn from BR service there in April 1968.
Purchased by Stewart& Lloyds Minerals Ltd. the loco arrived, in company with D9523 at Glendon Quarries near Kettering on 16th December 1968, where it became No. 24 (Plant No. 8311/24) and was used to haul wagons of iron­stone from the quarries to the exchange sidings, from where BR then hauled the trains to Corby Iron and Steel Works.
For the first time in over 30 years, D9520 appears courtesy of the Mid-Norfolk Railway.
Class 20 Type 1 diesel-electric diesel locomotives were produced and introduced in 1957; examples of the class, 63 years after the first manufacture, can still be seen across the network, usually working as pairs.
The engine spent time at several sheds in England; Nottingham, Stratford (London), York, Gateshead, lmmingham, Tinsley (Sheffield), lmmingham and Toton.20 031 first came out of service at Toton Depot in September 1989 only to be returned to traffic in November 1989 before being finally withdrawn in 1990.
A private consortium of KWVR members purchased the engine for use on the Worth Valley branch, and the engine arrived at Haworth in August 1992. Since its arrival 20 031 has been usefully employed, hauling early morning services and assisting the Civil Department in their duties.
During its ‘national service’ life, 37 075 was allocated to nine different locations, but as some were visited on more than one occasion, the total number of moves was 13. And that nomadic life continued into preservation, with Haworth being its fifth location.
Arriving on the KWVR in 2012, 37 075 was purchased by a consortium of KWVR volunteers and moved to Haworth. The largest Diesel Locomotive on the railway also found fame on the small screen, masquerading as Class 40 D326, in the BBC drama ‘The Great Train Robbery.
In 2014 D0226 had its greatest passenger triumph when it was one of the two diesel locomotives used to haul the downhill leg of the intensive two-train operation that brought spectators to the Worth Valley during the Tour de France in July of that year.
In 54 years of operation on the KWVR, D0226 has sported many varied and striking liveries but currently sports one appropriate to its life on the national network. However, whatever the colour scheme, D0226 is arguably the most reliable and useful engine on the 5-mile branch line.
Filmed by Allan Roach.