The Epping Ongar Railway has announced that it will have guest locomotives at both its steam and diesel galas later this year.
At the steam gala, to be held from 23rd to 25th June, Western Region 0-6-0 pannier tank No. 9466 will be visiting the railway from the West Somerset Railway courtesy of Jonathan Jones Pratt. It will operate services alongside Epping Ongar Railway's own steam locomotives, including Great Western Hall Class No. 4953 Pitchford Hall and prairie tank No. 5521, which will be painted in London Transport livery as No. L150.
The diesel gala from 22nd to 24th September will see recently overhauled Class 25 diesel locomotive No. D7659 visit the railway from Peak Rail, courtesy of its owners, the Waterman Locomotive Trust. During the gala, D7659, which was originally numbered 25309, will operate services with the railway's own class 25 No. D7523, which was formerly numbered 25173.
D7659 was built in 1966 and until its withdrawal from British Rail service, it worked mostly on the London Midland region allocated to Cricklewood depot in London. After withdrawal, it had been out of service for over 23 years until it started running again in late 2021.
at Weybourne on the North Norfolk Railway. // Credit: Jason Cross
D7523 has been undergoing a comprehensive overhaul away from the Epping Ongar Railway but is expected to return in time for the gala, where it be working its first services for nearly ten years. The railway's other fleet of locomotives, including 03170, 08114, 20001, 31438, 37029, and 47635, are also expected to be in service during the diesel gala.
The railway hopes to announce that other visiting locomotives will be in operation at the galas, with details to be announced closer to the events. An intensive timetable will operate during the galas, with services running into the evening on Saturday. Tickets for both galas will soon be on sale on the railway's website at www.eorailway.co.uk
Marco Carrara, member of the Railway's Management Committee and diesel gala organiser said of the visit of D7659 “We are delighted that D7659 is able to join the line-up for our diesel gala. With the return to traffic of D7523, it will be the first time two class 25 locomotives have appeared at the Railway at the same time, and it will reunite the locomotives that double-headed a service out of St Pancras station in August 1980”.
Tony Goulding, Rolling Stock Manager, said about the visit of 9466 ”We are thrilled that 9466 is able to make a visit for the steam gala. It is a rare opportunity for it to be put through its paces on our challenging gradients.”
