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The lorry in front is taking a diesel to the Great Central Railway!
Posted on 08/09/09
newsdesk
The lorry in front is taking a diesel to the Great Central Railway!
Two massive heritage diesel engines have touched down on the awardwinning Leicestershire line for a three day celebration of 'modern'traction.
A Deltic locomotive - number D9019 'Royal Highland Fusilier' - the famoustype which hauled express trains from London to Edinburgh in the latesixties and seventies is the first guest. The second is class 50 007,ready to leave enthusiasts shaken and stirred as it's a type of enginewhich has never been to the GCR before.
Together they are the stars of a thirteen strong locomotive line up. It'sthe biggest diesel gala the Great Central Railway has staged for manyyears.
"We've really pulled out the stops for this gala" said GCR president BillFord. "Last year we gave the steam enthusiasts a number of treats withhigh profile visiting engines. This weekend fans of heritage diesels get theirturn! Not only have we got the two visitors, our entire home fleet will bein action as well. Over three days the engines will clock up almost onethousand miles between them! There should be something for everyonewith engines of almost every type and size."
The full locomotive line up includes; class 20 D8098, class 25 D5185,class 27 D5401, class 31 D5830, class 33 D6535 (which will be working withthe recently restored GCR 4 BIG unit in push pull mode), class 37 314,class 45 D123, class 47 D1705, class 47 714, class 50 007 and class 55D9019.
Two smaller shunting engines, newly arrived class 03 D2158 and class 10D4067 will join forces to operate shunter shuttles.
On Friday and Saturday night late trains will serve fish, chips and realale on board allowing passengers to ride into the evening. The gala isexpected to bring a few thousand visitors to the county as they sample theLoughborough based GCR's famously intensive double track timetables.
"These diesels are vintage machines now" concluded Bill. "They are overforty years old, in fact some are approaching their half century. Theycast a spell over a whole generation just as steam does. In most casesthey've disappeared from the national network."
The two visiting engines will leave the railway promptly after the gala ontheir way to other engagements. Enthusiasts are urged to catch the bigstars at the Great Central Railway three day diesel gala - for one longweekend only!