59. SVR Diesel Gala-02.10.15

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2015 > 59. SVR Diesel Gala-02.10.15

On a glorious autumn day, I took a trip to the Severn Valley Railway's twice-yearly diesel gala. After the clearance of early morning fog for the second day of October is was unseasonally warm enabling me to spend a very pleasant few hours sitting on the grass just watching the trains pass by and in fact dozing off at one point!. The SVR put on their usual show of varied motive power and operated a pretty intensive timetable. There is a number of audio recordings taken on the day on my YouTube site.

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Images 1-22 of 22 displayed.

12099 & 13201, 10.10 Bewdley-Kidderminster, Birchen Coppice SO810741
Taken from the lofty heights of Birchen Coppice, a housing area to the far south of Kidderminster, the first diesel gala service train of the day is seen on its approach to Foley Park tunnel. The 10.19 Bewdley to Kidderminster shuttle is being hauled by veteran shunters 12099 and 13201. Both these locomotives are Severn Valley residents with the former being the oldest of the two dating from 1952. In the background emerging from the autumnal mists, the West Midlands Safari Park can be seen free from visitor cars as it has yet to open for the day.
Keywords: 12099 13201 10.10 Bewdley-Kidderminster Birchen Coppice SO810741 Class 08 Class 11

D1015, 10.40 Kidderminster-Bridgnorth, Droppingwells Farm Lane SO804744
Looking superb in its maroon paintwork D1015 'Western Champion' passes near to Droppingwells Farm Lane leading the 10.40 Kidderminster to Bridgnorth service. This Class 52 is a resident of the Severn Valley Railway being in the care of the Diesel Traction Group who have their base at Kidderminster. At the present time, D1015 is mainline registered and sees occasional use on railtours and traction moves around the country.
Keywords: D1015 10.40 Kidderminster-Bridgnorth Droppingwells Farm Lane SO804744 Western Champion

M50933 & M56208, 09.35 Bridgnorth-Kidderminster, Droppingwells Farm Lane SO804744
The DMU Group West Midlands are custodians of a number of DMU vehicles and are wholly based at the Severn Valley Railway. Two of their Class 108 vehicles are seen in the early morning sunshine passing through the rather enigmatically named Devil's Spittleful nature reserve. The reserve is an area of special scientific interest that is popular within the area and one through which the SVR runs. The two-car combination of M50933 and M56208 are working the 09.35 Bridgnorth to Kidderminster shuttle service.
Keywords: M50933 M56208 09.35 Bridgnorth-Kidderminster Droppingwells Farm Lane SO804744 Class 108 DMU DMU Group West Midlands

D8568, 11.05 Kidderminster-Bewdley, Droppingwells Farm Lane SO804744
The only preserved example of the ill-fated Type 1 (later to be designated Class 17) Clayton D8568 passes over Droppingwells Farm Lane leading the 11.05 Kidderminster to Bewdley gala service. D8568 entered traffic in January 1964 spending its whole life in Scotland initially based at Haymarket (64B) and lately at Polmadie (64A). It survived into preservation by virtue of it being sold into industrial use where it was later purchased for the princely sum of £1000 in 1983 to start its preserved life on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
Keywords: D8568 11.05 Kidderminster-Bewdley Droppingwells Farm Lane SO804744

D1062, 10.30 Bridgnorth-Kidderminster, Bewdley South Junction SO799749
Taken from a superb vantage point but one, unfortunately, blighted by the storage of track panels, sees D1062 'Western Courier' getting away from Bewdley with the 10.30 Bridgnorth to Kidderminster train. This location is known as Bewdley South Junction and marks the spot where the former Stourport-on-Severn route diverged to the left (in this view). The driver of D1062 was driving extremely cautiously on the approach but just prior to the shutter being pressed opened up the twin Maybachs and roared past the spot with a blow of the horn.

There is an audio recording of this event on my youtube channel, see.... https://youtu.be/aR5Zsev3R-U
Keywords: D1062 10.30 Bridgnorth-Kidderminster Bewdley South Junction SO799749 Western Courier The Devonion

M56208 & M50933, 11.40 Kidderminster-Bewdley, West Midlands Safari Park SO799748
On a very pleasant and warm morning, the SVR's diesel gala is in full swing on its opening Friday. Patronage seemed healthy with the trains I observed passing being well loaded with enthusiasts eager to take in some heritage haulage. This spot is adjacent to the West Midlands Safari Park, the security fences of which can be seen to the left of this photograph. The 11.40 Kidderminster to Bewdley shuttle is being worked by a Class 108 DMU made up of M56208 and M50933. The DMU Group West Midlands, who own the units, is based on the SVR and has a very informative website giving plenty of information about their stock and operations, see.... https://www.svr-dmu.org.uk/
Keywords: M56208 M50933 11.40 Kidderminster-Bewdley West Midlands Safari Park SO799748 Class 108 DMU

D8568, 11.53 Bewdley-Kidderminster, West Midlands Safari Park SO799748
Making a heck of a racket Clayton number D9568 gets its train away from Bewdley leading the 11.53 to Kidderminster. This is the only remaining example of the one hundred and seventeen examples built that is widely regarded as the worst production locomotives of the modernisation plan for so many reasons not least being that they were constructed for work on the railways that had already virtually disappeared, namely short pick up mixed freight operations. The first examples were withdrawn in 1968 when some examples were just four years old! This example soldiered on until 1971 when it started a new career at a number of industrial sites.

There is an audio recording of this event on my youtube channel, see.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl8qQHne73s
Keywords: D8568 11.53 Bewdley-Kidderminster West Midlands Safari Park SO799748 Clayton Class 17 SVR Severn valey Railway diesel gala

D7076, 12.11 Kidderminster-Bridgnorth, West Midlands Safari Park SO799748
Looking superb in its BR blue livery Heymek D7076 leads the 12.11 Kidderminster to Bridgnorth service on the approach to Bewdley passing the West Midlands Safari Park. It's shame that the stock does not match the era of the locomotive but during such an intensive diesel gala such as this one operated by the SVR there simply is not enough of it! D7076 was withdrawn in 1973 and is now in the custodianship the East Lancashire Railway based at their Bury facility. Despite its fantastic external appearance, it is due for an extensive overhaul with particular attention to be paid to the bogies.

There is an audio recording of this event on my youtube channel, see..... https://youtu.be/fQQK2sa-cj0
Keywords: D7076 12.11 Kidderminster-Bridgnorth West Midlands Safari Park SO799748 Hymek Beyer Peacock

50035, 11.18 Bewdley-Kidderminster, West Midlands Safari Park SO799748
Looking authentic in its pre-overhauled but named condition except for the inauthentic roof colour and headcode panel, 50035 'Ark Royal' storms away from Bewdley with the 11.18 to Kidderminster hauling a rake of the SVR's Mk. 1 stock as part of the autumn 2015 diesel gala. As can be seen from the 'window leaners' this locomotive proved particularly popular with the gathered enthusiasts. I took a picture of 50035 in this livery back on my summer bike tour of the West Country in the summer of 1979 but it was not in quite such good condition then, see..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/26623459804/x50035-12-30-london-paddington-paignton

There is an audio recording of this event on my youtube channel, see.... https://youtu.be/AC9HMnH2I40
Keywords: 50035 11.18 Bewdley-Kidderminster West Midlands Safari Park SO799748 Ark Royal Hoover

D1062, 12.37 Kidderminster-Bewdley, West Midlands Safari Park SO799748
D1062 'Western Courier' leads the 12.37 Kidderminster to Bewdley service past the West Midlands Safari Park on a lovely early autumn afternoon. In fact, the weather was so nice that I had laid on the grass at this quiet spot and had fallen asleep in the sun to be woken from my slumber by the horn of D1062 as it approached! As a young enthusiast, I witnessed the Western's first day of public operation in preservation on 29.04.78 on the Torbay and South Devon Railway, see...... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/25351482004/d1062-16-00-paignton-kingswear-kingswear
Keywords: D1062 12.37 Kidderminster-Bewdley West Midlands Safari Park SO799748 Western Courier SVR Severn Valley Railway Western Locomotive Association WLA

55019, 12.59 Kidderminster-Bridgnorth, West Midlands Safari Park SO799748
55019 'Royal Highland Fusilier' leads the 12.59 Kidderminster to Bridgnorth Severn Valley Railway diesel gala service on the approach to Bewdley station past the West Midlands Wildlife Park. The bulk of the Deltic looks a little faded and, as is common practice on such occasions, was running on just one engine. Still, 1,650 bhp is ample enough to haul a rake of Mk. I stock at a maximum of twenty-five miles per hour! As a life member of the DPS, see..... https://www.thedps.co.uk/ I am always pleased to see one of 'our' locomotives out providing entertainment for enthusiasts.
Keywords: 55019 12.59 Kidderminster-Bridgnorth West Midlands Safari Park SO799748 Deltic Royal Highland Fusilier DPS Deltic Preservation society

D9531, 12.06 Bewdley-Kidderminster, West Midlands Safari Park SO799748
D9531 'Ernest' is one of a number of former Class 14s that are in preservation, in fact, nineteen of the original fifty-six that were built still exist around the country. This example is owned and operated by the East Lancashire Railway Diesel Group and is seen hauling the 12.06 Bewdley to Kidderminster passing the West Midlands Safari Park on a superb early autumn afternoon.

There is an audio recording of this event on my youtube channel, see.... https://youtu.be/O07yv7RGchc
Keywords: D9531 12.06 Bewdley-Kidderminster West Midlands Safari Park SO799748

D1062, 13.32 Bewdley-Kidderminster, West Midlands Safari Park SO799748
Wearing a reproduction 'The Devonian' headboard D1062 'Western Courier' accelerates away from Bewdley with the 13.32 shuttle to Kidderminster hauling an authentic rake of GWR stock. The Severn Valley Railway holds a number of galas throughout the year with the three-day autumn diesel gala being extremely popular with enthusiasts as witnessed by the packed leading coach in this photograph!

There is an audio recording of this event on my youtube channel, see.... https://youtu.be/AUXuEyj6a3o
Keywords: D1062 13.32 Bewdley-Kidderminster West Midlands Safari Park SO79974 Western Courier The Devonian WESTERN LOCOMOTIVE ASSOCIATION WLA

D8568, 13.47 Kidderminster-Bridgnorth, West Midlands Safari Park SO799748
The only remaining Clayton (designated by BR as a Class 17 even though they never carried TOPS numbers) D8568 approaches Bewdley with the 13.47 Kidderminster to Bridgnorth diesel gala service. Whilst the concept of the design was sound and the forward a rearward vision was excellent the locomotives came too late and were notoriously unreliable in service. Notice the recess on the lower cab side for the automated tablet exchange mechanism that was used on the Scottish Region for which these Claytons were built.
Keywords: D8568 13.47 Kidderminster-Bridgnorth West Midlands Safari Park SO799748

D1015, 13.54 Bewdley-Kidderminster, West Midlands Safari Park SO799748
D1015 'Western Champion' under power gets the 13.54 Bewdley to Kidderminster away past the West Midlands Safari Park with a characteristic plume of exhaust from the twin Maybach MD655 engines. The locomotive is operated by the DTG (Diesel Traction Group) who have an excellent and very informative web site relating to the locomotive at http://www.westernchampion.co.uk/loco-d1015.php This contains some fascinating information about the inauspicious end to this locomotive's BR career during December 1976 following a very minor derailment at Castle Cary of all places! Following this event it ended up at Swindon works where I photographed it in slightly worse condition than it is seen here, see....... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/29376551004/x1-d1015-awaiting-restoration-swindon

There is an audio recording of this event on my youtube channel, see https://youtu.be/M4fgHIjyqP4
Keywords: D1015 13.54 Bewdley-Kidderminster West Midlands Safari Park SO799748 SVR Severn Valley Railway Diesel Gala Western Champion DTG

D7076, 14.30 Bridgnorth-Kidderminster, Bewdley station
With the 'third-man' leaning out of the door stretching out in readiness to pass the token to the signalman the driver brings D7076 into Bewdley station. The superbly well preserved Class 35 (even though in common with all Hydraulics they never carried a TOPS number) is leading the afternoon 14.30 Bridgnorth to Kidderminster. Notice the appropriately named Great Western pub in the background situated on Kidderminster Road that passes under the railway on an impressive viaduct that the train is currently crossing.
Keywords: D7076 14.30 Bridgnorth-Kidderminster Bewdley station Hymek

Build plate & data sticker, D7076, 14.30 Bridgnorth-Kidderminster, Bewdley station
In common with the best GWR and Western Region traditions, Hymeks had individual cast numbers applied to their cab sides rather than vinyl letters. Standing at Bewdley station the D7076's number is seen complete with the loco's. build plate and data panel. The build plate shows construction in 1963 but the information on the ELRDG's excellent website states that D7076 entered service in 1962. After withdrawal in 1973 the Hymek was moved to Derby's Railway Technical Centre to be used as a load bank and other such research.
Keywords: Build plate data sticker D7076, 14.30 Bridgnorth-Kidderminster Bewdley station Hymek DTG Diesel Traction Group

D1062, 15.23 Kidderminster-Bridgnorth Bewdley station
The crew receives the RA from the guard in order to get the 15.23 Kidderminster to Bridgnorth away from Bewdley. Soon, the driver will notch up the controller in the cab of D1062 'Western Courier' and get the train away. Notice the superb centre pivot wooden lower quadrant signal, the same as is still in network use a short distance away at Droitwich station.
Keywords: D1062 15.23 Kidderminster-Bridgnorth, Bewdley station

D1062, 15.23 Kidderminster-Bridgnorth, Bewdley station
In beautiful late afternoon lighting that only goes to reinforce my assertion that this is quite the best time of year to take railway photographs, D1062 'Western Courier' gets away from Bewdley station leading the 15.23 Kidderminster to Bridgnorth with the crew exchanging the token with the signalman. Whilst the enthusiasts aim their cameras at the Western a Class 108 DMU waits empty in the shade on platform one to proceed the short distance up the line following the Bridgnorth service as the first part of a run-round manoeuvre.
Keywords: D1062 15.23 Kidderminster-Bridgnorth Bewdley station Class 108 DMU Western Courier

M50933 & M56208, ECS for 15.56 Bridgnorth-Kidderminster, Bridgnorth station
Having run round and changed from the down to the up line just out of sight round the corner, resident Cass 108 DMU made up of M50933 and M56208 returns to Bewdley station to work the 15.56 service to Kidderminster. In my early spotting days, my companions and I cursed DMUs seeing them as a necessary evil but some forty years later they are a firm favourite on the preservation scene. With the exception of Hastings Diesels' Class 207 that is mainline registered and sees regular charter use, I wonder if any of the other numerous classes will ever operate charters away from heritage lines; I suspect not!
Keywords: M50933 M56208 ECS 15.56 Bridgnorth-Kidderminster Bridgnorth station Class 108 DMU

M56208 & M50933, 15.56 Bewdley-Kidderminster, Bewdley station
Just one thing spoils this image of a resplendent Class 108 DMU standing in a period-perfect Bewdley station and that is the BR era high-intensity light on M56208! Along with M50933 (leading), the duo will soon work the 15.56 to Kidderminster towards the end of the first day of the SVR's autumn diesel gala. Notice the GWR lower quadrant backing signal at the 'wrong' end of platform one complete with a route describer to assist drivers as to where the signalman is sending their train.
Keywords: M56208 M50933 15.56 Bewdley-Kidderminster Bewdley station

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