The 2015 Diesel Gala is this Friday - Sunday

An attractive line up of locomotives is on offer, as well as the GWR's own unique and popular collection of heritage diesels (all now at least 50 years of age), this year we are fortunate to welcome another Western Region diesel hydraulic locomotive – class 35 'Hymek' no.D7076 from the East Lancashire Railway, resplendent in BR blue livery. Thanks are due to the Bury Hydraulic Group for the hire of the locomotive and also to the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group (http://www.depg.org) on the West Somerset Railway for providing crews for the weekend. The locomotive will be a carrying a 'Cheltenham Spa Express' headboard on several trains each day.

The loco list is:
English Electric Type 1 class 20 no. D8137
British Railways Type 2 class 24 no.5081
Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Co. Type 2 class 26 no. D5343
Beyer Peacock Type 3 class 35 'Hymek' no.D7076
English Electric Type 3 class 37 no. 37215
British Railways Type 4 class 45 no. 45149
Brush Type 4 class 47 no. 47376
British Railways Class 73 electro-diesel no.E6036

On Saturday, on evening train will operate at 19:15 from Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse, calling at Winchcombe, with a heritage bus connecting direct to the national rail station in Cheltenham from Racecourse The train returns at 20:00 from Cheltenham Racecourse via Laverton and arrives back into Toddington at 21:10. This service will be hauled by D7076.

The class 35 Hymek D7076 arrives at Toddington on Wednesday 22nd July and departs back to the ELR on Tuesday 28th July.

Available at the stations

Winchcombe: Carriage & Wagon open day (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), the Coffee Pot cafe, Fish and Chip van, model railway (TPO in bay platform – north end of platform 2))

Gotherington: good location for photographs and change of trains. (Please note that the private house and garden will not be open this year)

Cheltenham Racecourse: Driver for a Tenner, a heritage bus link to the main line station and a Coffee Bar on the platform providing refreshments. (Please note, the Hymek won't participate in Driver For a Tenner but will be available for cab visits.)

Toddington: The Flag and Whistle will be open as usual for hot and cold food including takeaways such as bacon baps. Additional capacity for takeaway food has been provided for the event. A beer tent managed by Goffs will be located adjacent to the exhibition coach on the paved area by the station entrance.

The diesel shed will house a number of exhibits including two 'main line' diesel locomotives and a DMU car under overhaul:
Class 37 no. D6948 now wearing its final coat of green livery and approaching the end of a 5 year overhaul and retro-conversion back to as-built 1964 condition.
Class 47 no. 47105 (1693) in the middle of a major overhaul.
Class 122 'bubble car' no.W55003 undergoing major bodywork repairs.

Also available at Toddington
 Model railways (in the shed)
 Trade and sales stands (in the shed and in the car park)
 North Gloucestershire Narrow Gauge Railway (3 steam engines running)
 Permanent way display
 Signal and Telegraph display
 Locomotives in car park (DES and the class 04 shunter)
 Access to yard viewing area