Watercress Line Diesel Gala 2023

 14/7/23

That time of year again.

This years timetables:

 

Alton departures for today;

Visiting loco info from www.watercressline.co.uk

Visiting locomotives

We are absolutely delighted to announce that our first visitor for the Diesel Gala has been confirmed as Class 33/0 D6515 (33012) “Lt. Jenny Lewis RN”, courtesy of our friends in the 71A Locomotive Group, based at the Swanage Railway.

Built in July 1960 by the Birmingham Carriage & Wagon Company in Smethwick, D6515 was delivered new to Hither Green depot on the South Eastern section of the Southern Region. D6515 latterly numbered as 33012 also spent time allocated to Eastleigh and Stewarts Lane depots.

We are delighted to announce our second visitor as Class 14 9551, courtesy of our friends in the SVR Class 14 Company Ltd, based at the Severn Valley Railway. This locomotive visited the Watercress Line a few years ago, and has recently been repainted into its original British Railways two – tone green livery.

The D95XX’s, later know as Class 14’s, were built at Swindon between 1964 and 1965 and designed for short goods train workings between stations and yards. With their 650hp Paxman engines they could operate loco goods trains at up to 40 mph. The locomotives were given the nickname “Teddy Bears”, after a comment by Swindon Works foreman George Cole “We’ve built the Great Bear, now we’re going to build a Teddy Bear!”

Unfortunately, by the time they had been designed and constructed the changing railways were going away from local goods trains, and the work they were intended for just disappeared. As a result the 56 strong class were all withdrawn from British Rail service between 1968 & 1970. The locomotives were then snapped up by the British Steel Corporation and the National Coal Board who used them in industrial service for many more years than they achieved for British Rail.

Built in September 1965 at Swindon Works, D9551 was delivered new to Cardiff Canton depot on the Western Region. D9551 was moved to Hull Dairycoates shed in January 1967, and then subsequently withdrawn from BR service in April 1968 (less than 2 years and 7 months old)! Following withdrawal, D9551 found employment with the British Steel Corporation at Gretton Brook and later Corby until final withdrawal and preservation in 1981.

 

We are delighted to annouced our third and final visitor as Freightliner 66502 “Basford Hall Centenary 2001”, courtesy of our friends & colleagues at Freightliner. This Diesel Gala will see the first recorded passenger workings for this locomotive!

 

My photos start at Alton.

Next Ropley

Alresford

And finally back  at Alton.

A damp but nonetheless enjoyable day out.