The Epping Ongar Railway (EOR) has announced that class 73 electro-diesel locomotive E6040 (73133) will attend its diesel gala next month.

The gala takes place on Friday 25, Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 April, at the heritage line that runs along a disused stretch of London Underground’s Central line.

BR Class 73 No. 73133 ‘The Bluebell Railway’ is based at the Bluebell Railway in Sussex, and its visit to the Epping Ongar Railway will be its first trip away from home.

Two years ago, it was renamed The Bluebell Railway as it completed its refurbishment at Eastleigh Works.

The locomotive will be only the second class 73 to visit the EOR. Its visit has been arranged with help from the 73133 Supporters Group.

Class 73 locomotives were built for the Southern Region’s third-rail system. They have a 1,600 hp electric engine, and also incorporate a 600 hp diesel engine. This means that they can be used in sidings and other non-electrified areas as well as on electrified mainline.

Locomotive 73133 was one of a batch of forty-three Class 73s ordered by British Railways from English Electric’s Vulcan Foundry at Newton-le-Willows in St Helen’s, Merseyside. The order followed the successful running of six prototypes built during 1961-62.

73133 escaped being scrapped in 2004. It returned to main-line operation in 2013, and was used for shunting at Bournemouth Depot and then at Eastleigh Works.

A member of the Bluebell Railway’s locomotive department bought the loco in December 2022 and paid for its refurbishment before bringing it to the Sussex heritage line.

Also visiting the gala will be 50021 “Rodney” and class 14 D9529. The Railway’s own locomotives include 47635 and 20227.

73133’s visit brings the number of locomotives due to appear at the Epping Ongar Railway’s Spring Diesel Gala to seven.