On June 13th & 14th, the scenic South Devon Railway will be carrying on its landmark 40th anniversary year with a more unusual event. Instead of the normal steam hauled services it is planned to operate no fewer than five former mainline diesel locomotives, together with two types of diesel multiple unit.

During the 40 years that the line between Buckfastleigh and Totnes has been operated as a heritage railway, there have been many changes on the national rail system. Most of the diesel locomotives that were hauling trains over the British Railways network in 1969, the year the Buckfastleigh to Totnes line re-opened, have now been withdrawn and replaced by the modern high-speed units. Many of these older locomotives, some of which are over 50 years old, are now considered to be part of the nations railway heritage and several have been preserved and returned to working order on the South Devon Railway.

The summer diesel gala will provide visitors the chance to see and ride behind heritage diesel locomotives that represent the 1960's, 1970's, 1980's and early 1990's.

Representing the early 1960's will be the Devon Diesel Society's English Electric Type 3 No. D6737. Prior to arrival on the South Devon Railway in 2004, this locomotive last operated in France hauling construction trains in connection with the building of the new high-speed rail network. Before its foreign adventures the locomotive ran throughout Great Britain and included trips to West Country. Since arriving on the line the volunteers from the owning group have undertaken a lot of work and have returned the locomotive to the condition it would have been when built in 1962. D6737 carries the early British Railways green livery.

Also appearing in early British Railways green livery will be the 3-car Class 127 Diesel Multiple Unit. More commonly known as D.M.U's, there were many different types introduced in the 1950's and 1960's. In the West Country many such units were used to replace steam power on the many branch lines. A feature that proved popular, and remains so today is the view obtained from inside the seating saloon of the driving cab and the line ahead. Although of a similar body style to some of the units that operated in the West Country, the Class 127 was actually built for working commuter services over the old Midland mainline between London St.Pancras and Bedford.

By the mid-1960's concerns had been raised about the visibility of the "new" diesel locomotives, there approach to gangs of platelayers working on the line not being as audible as a steam locomotive. To try and combat this problem yellow warning panels were applied to the leading ends of all diesel locomotives. Class 25, No. D7612 represents this stage of development and now carries the very attractive British Railways two-tone green livery, complete with half yellow warning panels at each end. Built in 1966, D7612 represents a type of loco that was once an everyday sight in the South West, the class being used on many local passenger trains, and freight workings.

By the 1970's British Railways had become British Rail and a corporate image had been adopted. Diesel locomotives were all painted into the "house" livery of rail blue with full yellow ends. A new computerised numbering system was also commissioned and many diesel locomotives received new identities. Class 20, 20 110 will represent this era during the gala. 20 110 was the first mainline diesel to be based on the South Devon Railway, arriving at Buckfastleigh in 1991.

During the late 1980's and early 1990's the mainline railway network underwent many changes. First came sectorisation when services were split up and operated by different sectors of British Rail. This was later followed by the privatisation of the railway system. This particular period saw the corporate blue livery replaced by numerous other schemes, with each new operator trying to establish its own identity.

The second Class 20 to appear at the gala, 20 118 "Saltburn-by-the-Sea" has been restored into the grey livery chosen by Railfreight. This grey is offset with full yellow cabs, and red sole bar, together with large double arrow markings. Like sister locomotive 20 110, 20 118 dates from 1962 and represents one of the earliest designs that dates back to the British Railways Modernisation Plan of the early 1950's. Whilst the two Class 20's will operate solo on the Saturday, during the Sunday both will work together and using the special equipment fitted to both locomotives, will be driven in multiple and under the control of just one driver.

The final diesel locomotive to appear over the weekend event will be South Devon Diesel Traction’s newly restored Class 33. Named "Sea King" 33 002 arrived on the South Devon Railway in 2004 and has been the subject of a major rebuild. Over a five year period the locomotives 8-cylinder engine has been completely stripped down and rebuilt, electrical machines and systems rebuilt and checked out, and the bodywork has undergone major repair work followed by repainting into the "Dutch" livery carried by locomotives allocated to the Engineers Fleet in the late 1980's early 1990's. The livery, which consists of a yellow upper and grey lower body, was given the nickname "Dutch livery" by enthusiasts, as it was the same as carried by the locomotives owned by Nederlandse Spoorwegen the operator of the Dutch railway network. Although 33 002 has made a few test runs along the line, and has also recently been displayed at Eastliegh depot open day, the summer diesel gala will see the locomotive haul its first passenger trains in many years.

The diesel line-up will be completed by a second D.M.U. Class 122 No.55000 is a single car unit that is affectionately known as the "Bubblecar" 55000 has strong connections with the West Country and was used in the 1960's on such lines as those to Brixham and Kingsbridge, After a period up north the unit returned south again and in the 1990's became one of only two single car units to be painted into the then new Regional Railways livery. Like the Class 127 D.M.U passengers are afforded a view of the driving cab and line ahead. No.55000 will be in use on the Saturday.

Although most services are diesel worked during the course of the two-day event, on the Sunday two round trips will be operated by steam power. These services will be worked locomotive 5526 and the popular "Auto Train"

The "Auto" name comes from the way in which the driver operates the loco's controls automatically from the end cab of the leading coach via a clever system of rods and cables rather than by him being on the engine. The auto train was in many ways the forerunner to the D.M.U's.

A few of the 55xx Class of 2-6-2 "small prairies" also worked auto services and South Devon Railway based No.5526 has auto gear fitted so the SDR can provide the sights and sounds of a genuine auto train at work.

At Buckfastleigh visitors will be able to view other locomotives. The Devon Diesel Society's small Class 04 diesel shunter, No. D2246 which dates from 1956 will be on display, restored in British Railways green. As an aide to staff working in the various shunting yards and depots, in the 1960's yellow and black chevrons were added to the ends of shunting locomotives. These made them more visible and helped improve safety. D2246 has been completed with this modification.

Also at Buckfastleigh, the Devon Diesel Society's latest restoration project can be viewed. Class 50 No.D402 was built in 1967 and represents the final form of express passenger diesel locomotive built for use by British Rail. D402 is part way through a major restoration programme. External repairs are nearing completion and attention will then turn to the massive 16 cylinder engine.

"During the weekend there will plenty for visitors to enjoy" said Devon Diesel Society Chairman and gala co-ordinator Andy Matthews.

"Many of our diesel locomotives are now around 50 years old and as such are worthy of being preserved. In addition to being historically important in being able to show the development of railways, our diesel fleet is also very useful for hauling out of season works trains and undertaking shunting moves at times when it would not be economic to use a steam locomotive".

"Over the last few years we have gained a reputation for putting on some great events at the South Devon Railway and we expect to see many familiar faces again during the gala".

The South Devon Railway's comprehensive collection of steam locomotives will also be on view throughout the weekend. From the workshop viewing gallery visitors will be able to see the latest progress on the overhaul of sole surviving Great Western railway 2251 class No.3205.

The miniature railway will also be operating and providing a frequent service from the new station adjacent to the main car park.

The main museum will be open throughout the event and features a variety of interesting objects, together with the last remaining locomotive that ran on Brunel's famous Broad Gauge system, the 0-4-0 vertical boilered "Tiny" that is part of the National Railway Museum Collection and on loan to the S.D.R.

Refreshments will be available at both Buckfastleigh, from the main refreshment rooms, and at Totnes, from the Rare Breeds Centre, whilst the main train services will also feature an on train buffet serving a range of lighter refreshments, snacks and other souvenirs. On the Saturday, between 12.00 and 20.20, it is also hoped to offer a limited range of hot food on selected services.

All services, except those formed of either of the D.M.U's on Saturday, or the steam hauled auto train on the Sunday, will feature on-train real ale bars. A variety of draught and bottled ales will be available.

Further souvenirs, together with an extensive range of model railway items and equipment, can also be purchased from Expressway Models at Buckfastleigh.

There will be a special timetable in use both days. On the Saturday the first trains depart from Buckfastleigh at 09.00, and from Totnes at 09.02 and run at roughly 40 minute intervals thereafter. There is also an earlybird special from Totnes on the Saturday morning. This departs at 08.22 and allows visitors arriving via the mainline, to get to Buckfastleigh for the start of the main service. Saturday evening will also see extra trains running on into the evening. These will feature an on-train real ale bar and will feature haulage by newly restored 33 002.

On the Sunday trains start from Buckfastleigh at 09.05, and from Totnes at 09.42. Services again operate at roughly 40-minute intervals until just after 17.00.