On Monday 27 May (Spring Bank Holiday), the Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway Society (LBNGRS) will host its first ‘Diesel Gala with a Hint of Steam!'
The Society will be showcasing its collection of two-foot gauge heritage diesel locomotives, one of the largest in the UK.
On the day, nine diesel locomotives will haul a variety of passenger and freight trains along the line, which the Society describes as having “challenging gradients”, and which is one of Britain's few double-tracked narrow-gauge lines.
The trains will include double- and triple-headed consists.
The Railway is based at Page's Parkin Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire, with its line running to Stonehenge Works, which is next to the sand quarries which the original industrial railway served.
The Railway, which is an accredited museum, has equipment from that era, and a significant collection of Great War vintage narrow-gauge equipment.
Nine passenger trains will depart over the course of the day, and there will also be six freight departures and locomotive positioning moves. At least seven internal combustion locomotives will perform demonstration trains.
The ‘hint of steam' will come from Kerr Stuart 0-4-0 Wren-class ‘Peter Pan' of 1922. Expertly restored by Graham Morris, Peter Pan will haul passenger trains, possibly double-headed with another small engine to be confirmed!
The Society will publish a full timetable in the next few weeks, which enthusiasts will be able to find on its website.
At the event itself, visitors will receive a souvenir timetable, included with their ticket.
Visitors will be able to buy a second journey at half price when they bring their first ticket back to the booking office.
LBNGRS will provide guidance on the best locations for taking photographs, as it expects that visitors will want to capture the sight of train arrangements that not used before, including some locomotives which have not run on the Railway's mainline for over a decade.
