The South Devon Railway are pleased to anounce another classic two-day event featuring heritage diesel traction from the 50’s & 60’s transforming the normal sleepy branch line worked by Great Western Railway steam locomotives into one featuring a wide variety of classic diesel locomotive types from bygone eras.

Featured locomotives will be:
• Class 04 D2246, Class 20’s 20110 and 20118, Class 25's D7612 & D7535
• Class 31 31108, Class 37 D6737, Class 47 47237, Class 122 55000, Class 127 D.M.U

All diesel service on Saturday (limited steam on Sunday)
• Saturday night “Beerex”
• Intensive train service on both days * Gala debut of “bubblecar” 55000
• Shunter haulage with D2246 over the full line * D.M.U drags * Engineers Train
• Goods train * On train Real Ale bars * Sales Stands * 32 page colour Souvenir Event Guide
• Debut of Class 37 D6737 in green livery * Visiting Class 47 courtesy of Advenza Freight
• Visiting Class 33 33 202 courtesy of Cotswold Rail
• Last gala appearance of 31 108 prior to leaving the line * 1,3 and 4 car DMU’s
• Day and Weekend Rover Tickets * 33 002 “Seaking” on display at Buckfastleigh
• Double-headed 20’s in multiple * Class 50 D402 on display at Buckfastleigh

This event has been organised on behalf of the South Devon Railway by The Devon Diesel Society & South Devon Diesel Traction

The working timetables are now available to download from the DDS web site.

Although often referred to as “modern image”, the diesel heritage of the country goes back many years. All of the locomotives expected to appear during the weekend date from either the 1950’s or 60’s. Indeed three of the locomotives are representatives of some of the pilot scheme designs ordered by British Railways in the 1950’s to replace steam traction.

The English Electric Company delivered the first pilot scheme locomotive, No. D8000 to British Railways in June 1957. The design proved to be so successful that after the initial batch of 20 locomotives, further builds took the total number to 228. During the South Devon Railway diesel gala, two of these, 20 110 and 20 118 “Saltburn by the Sea” will be in action. Built as a single cab design the two Class 20’s will work separate diagrams however 20 110 and 20 118 will also work in multiple. This allows both locomotives to be controlled from one cab and was a feature often employed in the class’s later years.

The second design dating from the 1950’s is that of the Class 31. Although modified from the original design, this was another success with 225 examples eventually being built. The Class also has it origins in 1957 when the first 20 members were introduced. In later years members of the Class 31 fleet could often be found working in the South West and were regular performers on both local passenger trains and freight workings. Whilst a few examples have visited Buckfastleigh during the early 1980’s when they were used to haul the annual visiting weedkilling train. Thanks to the generosity of the owning group A1A Locomotives Ltd No.31 108 has provided enthusiasts with the chance to enjoy a ride over the South Devon line behind this type. This is the last gala weekend for 31 108 on at the railway before moving on to another railway.

Two further mainline diesel types appearing will be Class 25 No. D7612 and the ever popular Class 37 D6737 Loch Treig now in BR Green. Class 33 33 202 from Cotswold Advenza will make a welcome return to the branch, though last time it was a brief visit to be repainted by the Devon Diesel Society at Staverton last summer. It returns with the blessing of Cotswold Rail along with their 47, 47 237. The 33 is not as yet recertified for mainline running, but is once again operational.

Whilst the bigger locomotives always attract a lot of interest, one locomotive that will be running on the Saturday is the Devon Diesel Society’s small Class 04 0-6-0 diesel mechanical shunter No. D2246. During the day the little green engine, which dates from 1956, will make a rare appearance working a couple of passenger trains over the full length of the line.

Being a branch line it is appropriate for a diesel multiple unit, or D.M.U as they were more commonly known, make an appearance. On the Saturday the resident Class 127 two-car set will make one round trip from Totnes to Buckfastleigh and back. Although of similar body design to many units that operated in the West Country, the S.D.R based Class 127 actually spent its life working the busy commuter lines out of London St Pancras.

The full line up of motive power now stands at 9 ex BR locos (D2246, 20110, 20118, D7612, 31108, 33202, D6737, 47237) plus the railcar(55000) and DMU (Class 127).

Services on the Saturday will be all diesel worked, however on the Sunday there will also be a couple of round trips featuring a diesel double heading with a steam locomotive.

On both days, in addition to the regular passenger services, there will be early morning and evening runs for both a typical diesel era freight and diesel era ballast train. During the day these trains will be stabled at both Totnes and Buckfastleigh and locomotives resting between trips will be stabled against the trains to provide visitors with the chance to photograph them.

At Buckfastleigh other locomotives on display include South Devon Diesel Traction’s Class 33, 33 002 "Seaking". This locomotive is nearing the end of a thorough major restoration to working order and will be displayed outside. In the main sheds the Devon Diesel Society’s Class 50, No.D402 will also be viewable. This particular locomotive is in the early stages of a major restoration programme. When complete the loco will appear in as near as built condition as possible.

This is the first year Class 122 “Bubblecar” No.55000 will participate in one of our diesel galas. The unit has come to the end of a long term restoration project and entered traffic earlier this year.

On view at Buckfastleigh is the Class 09 shunter No.D3666 / 09 002. This loco is the subject of a major fund raising campaign to return it to full working order. The engine and most of the above frame components are complete and in working order which just leaves the wheelsets/axleboxes/traction motors etc to complete.

Several trains will feature an on train bar serving many different real ales. All profits from the bar will go towards the ongoing restoration of D402 and the Devon Diesel Society’s other projects.

The South Devon Railway's Refreshment Rooms at Buckfastleigh will be serving a wide variety of hot meals, including a daily special, cold snacks, drinks and other beverages, some trains will also feature an on train buffet car serving lighter refreshments. The Rare Breeds Centre adjacent to Totnes Station also has a buffet serving a good selection of food.

The Devon Diesel Society, who are organising the event on behalf of the railway in conjunction with South Devon Diesel Traction, will also have a special event guide on sale. This will give full details of all the locomotives appearing, plus details of where to get good line side photo’s, details of other running days etc. These will be on sale from the on train bar.

Both one and two day rover tickets will be available to enable visitors to make the best of what’s on offer.

Finally for those visitors who also enjoy modelling the diesel (and other) eras, don’t forget to visit Expressway Models at Buckfastleigh, where in addition to all the latest products, also has an extensive stock of second hand locomotives and rolling stock.