The Epping Ongar Railway in south west Essex will hold its largest diesel event to date between Friday 22 and Sunday 24 September.
The Autumn Diesel Gala will see nine locomotives in action, including three visitors:
- Class 25, D7659 (25309), whose visit was announced in March, appearing courtesy of owner the Waterman Locomotive Trust;
- Class 14, D9516, usually based at Didcot Railway Centre; and
- Class 20, 20227, ‘Sherlock Holmes', courtesy of the Class 20 Locomotive Society.
The visiting locomotives will work an intensive three-train service, alongside Epping Ongar Railway's resident locos, 20001, 31438, 37029 and 47635.
Also appearing will be shunting locomotives, Class 03 D2170, and Class 08, 08114. These are mainly use for shunting and maintenance trains, so the gala provides a rare opportunity for passengers to travel behind them.
After the event, Class 31 locomotive, 31438, will be taken out of service for essential maintenance, so this will be the last chance for the public to see it for some time.
‘Sherlock Holmes' last visited the Railway in 2021. It carries London Transport maroon livery, which is appropriate for its visit to the Epping Ongar Railway, which which operates over a former section of London Underground's Central line.
Epping Ongar's resident 20001 is a sister locomotive of 20227, and the Railway is planning for the two locos to work in multiple throughout the gala.
Class 14 locomotive D9516, which was owned by British Rail for just three years before going to Corby to work at the now-closed steelworks, will be making its first visit away from Didcot Railway Centre in nearly a decade.
A fleet of vintage London buses will also run during the gala, providing connections between all the Railway's train services and Epping London Underground station. Some buses will provide connections to Shenfield station.
Tickets for the gala are on sale now, with prices frozen at 2022 levels.
Marco Carrara, diesel gala organiser, said: “We're delighted to have managed to continue our tradition of providing a varied range of diesel traction for our diesel event. We're grateful to the owners of the visiting locomotives for allowing them to join the event. It's the first time we have operated this number of locomotives at one event and will provide a real showcase of diesel power as they work hard hauling trains over our challenging gradients which are some of the steepest in preservation.”
