The Final Countdown!

Keep the keyboard infused intro to Europe's biggest hit on pause but, unless you have been living under a rock for the last few weeks, it won't have escaped your notice that we are only 4 days out from our 2025 Diesel Gala. Hopefully, you already have your pre-booked tickets taking advantage of the discount deal for buying in advance. 

Following in the footsteps of our Steam Gala, Sunday will be 'Kids Travel Free' day (Terms and Conditions: - Up to 3 children 5 – 15 yrs travel free with a fare paying adult), so what better excuse is there to bring the whole family to enjoy the sounds of our heritage diesel fleet thundering through the amazing scenery of the Cotswolds. To travel on train services, you will need a ticket and, on the day, you will receive a colour wristband. Please ensure this is easy for our TTIs to spot on the trains. 

This year is shaping up to be the biggest Diesel Gala in a fair few years and our Gala Committee deserve a huge shout out for getting the 'i's' dotted and 't's' crossed with all the contracts, risk assessments and crewing arrangements. 

There are still a few areas where we need help so, if you are a GWSR member and work permit holder and can spare a few hours, or a day, to help out (you don't even need to be a member of the Diesel Department) then please drop a line to our HoD, Dave Stanton (diesels@GWSR.com) or Gala Head, Alex Raybould (diesel.gala2@GWSR.com). Your help would be greatly appreciated to fill the last few slots. 

So, it seems to have taken a while to confirm everything however we weren't expecting the last minute offer of our second Gala guest. But, it was worth it! Here's what we have going on!

Firstly, our visitors. Announced back in April, we have Class 37 pioneer, D6700 (37119, 37350) which has already touched down at Toddington for its flying visit. Courtesy of the National Railway Museum and the Heavy Tractor Group, D6700 will renew its acquaintances with two old shedmates - 37215 and D6948. All three were based at Cardiff Canton during the late 1980s and 1990s and were based in the FPEK Petroleum pool and all three would work together on numerous occasions. 

19/09/89 - D6700 and 37215 head west through Cardiff Central on an empty petroleum working for Robeston. (John Bagshaw)

 

 D6700 was released from Vulcan Foundry on 02 December 1960 - a whole 3 years before our own 37215 - and was allocated, as were the first six EE Type 3s. The loco would remain on the Eastern Region, based at a variety of sheds including Immingham, Gateshead and Tinsley, before it's venture west and to Cardiff Canton in 1988. It would head back east (to Immingham) in 1993 before being formally withdrawn and heading straight into the national collection at the NRM in 2004. After withdrawal it would go on to visit a number of preserved lines including the NYMR, Swanage and SVR before moving permanently to the GCR and the custodianship of the Heavy Tractor Group in 2022.

Renumbered to 37119 in 1974 under the TOPS Classification Scheme (the system couldn't recognise 37000). The loco would be fitted with twin fuel tanks, CP7 bogies and be renumbered to 37350 in 1988. It would also gain the BR Green livery seen above before receiving the new Trainload Petroleum Sector livery when at Cardiff Canton. During its time at Cardiff, as well as the traffic of its sponsoring sector, D6700 would see regular work on the Cardiff - Weymouth 'Holidaymaker' services that ran during the summers of the late 1980s and early 1990s. 

Sadly, D6700 will not be hanging around as it will be heading to Derby straight from its gala appearance to take part in the Rail 200 event at Litchurch Lane.  

 

Our second visitor returns to the GWR for the first time in 30 years, having once been based at Toddington. EE Type 4/Class 50, 50021 'Rodney' appears courtesy of Paul Spracklen and its owning group. 

1994 - Newly restored 50021 'Rodney' sits at Toddington with a service for Far Stanley - the limits of the line at that time. (Martin Loader)

50021 arrived at the fledgling GWR in 1993 and was the first mainline diesel loco to be restored at Toddington. The loco would be a regular operator on the line which, at the time, only ran between Toddington and Far Stanley, before moving north to the SRPS at Bo'ness. The '50' would then head back south to Tyseley where it would slowly be forgotten. That was until purchase by Paul Spracklen and the 50021 Owners Group where a comprehensive overhaul was completed at Eastleigh. Since completion, the loco has made a huge number of appearances at Galas around the UK and it was always on the cards to get it back to where it all began 30 years before. It was a surprise to do it this year!!

'Dave'. as it is affectionately known (if you know your 'Only Fools and Horses') rolled out of Vulcan Foundry as D421 in May 1968 and was allocated to the LM region at Crewe Diesel. After electrification of the remainder of the WCML, 50021 - as it was renumbered under TOPS - would migrate south to Plymouth Laira in 1975, followed by Old Oak in 1983 and, finally back to Laira in 1988. It would receive its 'Rodney' nameplates in 1978, named after the WW2 battleship - all 50 locos would receive names from Warships. Withdrawal came in 1989 following engine failure before preservation beckoned from Stratford TMD in 1992. It seems incredibly apt that it should finally get back to us 30 Years after it left Toddingotn.     

With D6700 making a quick exit, it is a great pleasure to announce that 50021 will be staying for a number of weeks beyond the gala and will be making a number of timetabled appearances over August and September. It will also be the first visit of 50021 to both Broadway and Cheltenham Racecourse.  

On top of our visitors, we will also see the return of one of our ever popular 'small sulzers'.....26043!! With its overhaul pretty much complete, the McRat will return to service on Saturday in its new 1980s paint scheme. It will operate with 'Peak' 45149 over the Saturday and Sunday for insurance purposes. 

26043 outshopped in BR Blue 1980s style! (Alex Raybould)

As you can see from Alex's fantastic photo above, 26043 now sports BR Blue as it would have worn circa 1985/6, complete wilh DCE flash under the scondman's window and Haymarket TMD castle marker (not Broadway Tower as one of our Steam colleagues thought it was!)....although by this point it was based at Inverness! We can't wait to see it back in action!!  

The Saturday will see our usual evening 'BEEREX' service, leaving Toddington at 1900. This year will see D6700, 37215 and D6948 operate together reminding us of days gone where 3 x 37s would operate on South Wales iron ore services. This will be the first Class 37 triple header on the GWSR since the mid 2000s. 

2007 - 37215, 37219 and 37324 head through Dixton...the last time we saw 3x37s on the GWSR. (Martin Loader)

If you are not riding the trains, as in previous years, all stations will be open access so you can mooch around, even if you don't want to travel. At Toddington, as usual, our Diesel Shed will be open with a variety of sales stands. We will also have our Class 122 bubble car, W55003 and Class 24, 5081 on static display. Both are nearing the end of respective overhauls but are not yet ready for the Gala. 

Outside at Toddington, we will have a beer tent provided by Hawkstone as well as having our own Cotswold Halt open and available for food and drink. The Narrow Gauge will operate on the Saturday and Sunday (additional fee). In the yard at Toddington, a first for the Gala, as we will be offering a limited number of Cab Rides on our Class 04, D2280 (additional fee - cash only and age/height restrictions apply). We will also have a donation bucket out as we raise money to start the work to transform our coaching set 4 into BR Blue/Grey livery. 

D2280 will be available for cab rides over all three days of the Gala. 

At Winchcombe, our Carriage and Wagon sheds will be open for tours as well as model railway exhibits inside our Tim Mitchell building and in our Model Railway carriage. Also, at Winchcombe, another first will see our Class 03, D2182 and our Queen Mary brakevan providing rides within station limits at Winchcombe. Again, as with the cab rides at Toddington, there will be an additional fee - cash only, limited number of spaces available and restrictions on age/height.. 

A loco not often in the limelight....D2182 will finally get 5 minutes in the sun during the Gala!

Brian and Savita will also be throwing open the gates at Gotherington for the first time in many years allowing customers the chance to get a closer look at the exterior of the old station building, Brian's railwayana collection and, to ride on the Wickham or Pump trolley on the short length of track in the garden, which covers the old goods yard at Gotherington. It will also give an additional vantage point to watch our services cross. There will also be drinks and refreshments on hand.     

And.............

If that wasn't all, we will be having our second, evening photoshoot on Thursday evening featuring all the locos out in Toddington yard. Starting at 1900 on Thursday evening the event is TICKET ONLY, pre-purchased from the GWSR website here..... https://www.gwsr.com/events/toddington-night-shoot 

No tickets will be sold on the night.  

Cost is £50, you must be 18+ and have your own safety boots. As this will take place in a live railway yard, a safety briefing will be completed on arrival. NO PPE, NO TICKET - NO PHOTOSHOOT. 

From last years' event, 47105 and 45149, along with the Class 20s and 5081, evoke memories of BR sheds in the 1980s. (Jack Boskett)

Hopefully we will see lots of you over the weekend!