Diesel Gala

Latest Visitor Announcement (07/07/2026):

We are delight to announce a bonus extra visitor to the gala will be 66613, courtesty of Heavy Haul Rail.

Built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division London, Ontario (Canada), she arrived in the UK in 2003.

Nicknamed the “Shed” due to the sloped angle of the driver’s cab roof, class 66’s have additionally been referred to as a “Ying-Ying” because of the distinctive, repetitive mechanical squeak its two-stroke engine makes when idling or moving at low speeds.

Currently still operating in its Freightliner livery until rebranding to Heavy Haul.

One of just six designed with lower gearing for heavier freight services, the locomotive has previously only worked one passenger train – between Carcroft Jn and Doncaster in 2006 after a class 91 failed.

She will be operating on Friday and on display on Saturday and Sunday.

Latest Visitor Annoucement (30/06/2026):

We are delighted to announce that our final visitor will be Class 33 no. 33108, courtesy of our friends at 33/1 Preservation Company.

Originally built as standard (KA) Class 33 locomotives for the Southern Region by the Birmingham Carriage & Wagon Company in Smethwick from 1959.

Just prior to the 1967 Bournemouth electrification, 19 of the type were modified to operate in push & pull mode with Southern Region multiple unit stock and became externally different when fitted with high level air pipes and jumper cables.

The electrification of the Waterloo to Bournemouth line, which culminated in the end of Steam on the Southern Region on 9th July 1967, saw a need to work trains efficiently between Bournemouth and Weymouth, without making passengers change trains. The solution was to propel one or two 4TC units from Waterloo to Bournemouth by a high powered 4REP unit (3000 hp). The REP would push the un-powered TC stock to Bournemouth, where a 33/1 would attach to the Country end and REP detached from the other, with the TC stock continuing onto Weymouth, creating a seamless solution for the passengers.

Class 33 no. 33108 was delivered new to Hither Green Depot in September 1960 as a standard KA locomotive and numbered as D6521. 1963 saw the locomotive move to Eastleigh depot where she would remain for the rest of her British Rail career. 1967 saw conversion to a KB type push – pull fitted loco, and the introduction of the TOPS system saw the loco renumbered to 33108. Withdrawn from Eastleigh on 24th May 1993 and purchased by the 33/1 Preservation Company in January 1997.

Latest Visitors Announcement (24/06/2026):

Stealing the spotlight is a true headline maker: Class 60 no. 60099 Ben More Assynt, making history as the first Class 60 ever to operate at The Watercress Line, and the first time Class 60 no. 60099 has ever run on any heritage railway, courtesy of DCRail.

Built between 1989 and 1993 as part of a powerful fleet designed for heavy freight, Class 60s are among the most formidable diesel locomotives in the UK.

No. 60099 is powered by a Mirrlees Blackstone 8-cylinder engine producing around 3,100 hp, built specifically to haul demanding loads with reliability and strength. Today, locomotives like 60099 typically move vast quantities of aggregates for construction projects – from housing developments to major infrastructure such as HS2.

Her appearance at the gala offers a rare chance to see (and hear) this modern freight giant tackle a heritage line.

Joining her is a fellow heavy hitter from DCRail, Class 56 no. 56103, another powerful freight workhorse as she approaches her 50th anniversary.

Built between 1976 and 1984, 135 Class 56 locomotives were produced for heavy freight on the British Rail system. The first 30 were built in Romania, and the remainder being built by British Rail Engineering Ltd., split between Doncaster and Crewe works.

The locomotives were fitted with a Ruston Paxman V16 engine rated at 3200 hp and this was the final
development of the 16SVT engine previously fitted in the Class 50’s and Class 40’s before that.

Both the Class 60 and Class 56 will be running on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th only, making those days a must for enthusiasts.

The event also features the standout visiting stars already announced:

Class 423 4VEP 3417 Gordon Pettit:

We are absolutely delighted to announce that our first visitor for the gala has been confirmed as Class 423 4VEP 3417 Gordon Pettit, courtesy of our friends at the Southern Electric Traction Group and the Bluebell Railway.

The 4VEP units were a fleet of 194 high density express passenger electric units drawing power from the 750-volt DC third rail. Once an everyday sight on the Southern Region of British Rail operating between 1967 and 2005, 3417 is now the only complete 4VEP left and is being lovingly restored thanks to the Southern Electric Traction Group with the support of the Bluebell Railway.

Built partly at York and Derby works this unit entered service as 7717 on 8th July 1967 (the day before steam traction finished on the Southern Region) and was based at Bournemouth.

The unit was later renumbered to 3417 in the 1990’s and in 2004 the unit was repainted by South West Trains into a version of the original BR Blue as built livery and named Gordon Pettit after the much-respected last General Manager of the Southern Region. 3417 then became a bit of a celebrity and brought down the curtain on regular mainline slam door operation on the Southern region in May 2005.

Saved for preservation by the Southern Electric Traction Group initially stored at Wimbledon Park Depot, the unit moved for a time to East Grinstead and subsequently to Strawberry Hill Depot near Twickenham (SW London).