Barrow Hill goes main line Further to the story in T138, details of the main line trips from Barrow Hill Roundhouse Railway Centre have been confirmed for Saturday, July 8 and Sunday, July 9. The trips, run in association with FM Rail, are one of the attractions for this year¹s diesel gala over that weekend. On the Saturday there will be four trips hauled by classes 37 & 45 (two each) from Barrow Hill Roundhouse Halt to Deepcar on the former Woodhead line via the ŒOld Road¹, Darnall and Sheffield Victoria. The following day there will be two trips worked by classes 37 & 45 (one each) on a circular tour via Toton Yard & Derby. The ticket prices for these trips include entry to the gala and all trains will work Œtop & tail¹ with a FM Rail Class 47. Advanced booking is essential for these trips. See the advert on page 16 of the July issue for further details and a booking form (photocopies acceptable)or telephone 01246 472450 or visit the website: www.barrowhill.org.uk Class 26 arrives for East Lancs gala The first visiting loco for the East Lancashire Railway's summer Diesel Event has already arrived. Class 26 No.26 024 has arrived at Bury from the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway for the Diesel Event from July 5 to Sunday, 9th. Further guest locos are to be announced with operational locos from the ELR's home fleet also in action. Further scheduled diesel events a the ELR a September 1-3 plus an English Electric theme day on November 11. For details visit the ELR Diesel Group Website: www.burydiesel.freeserve.co.uk 'Deltic' and Class 40 for Bo'ness autumn Diesel Gala The Scottish Railway Preservation Society Diesel Group will achieve a first with the visit of a Deltic and a Class 40 to Bo'ness to their autumn Diesel Gala on September 30 and October 1. Class 55 No.55 022 Royal Scots Grey and Class 40 No.40 145 will be the guest locomotives at the Gala, neither of which has previously visited the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway. Other locomotives scheduled to appear at the Gala are D8020, 25 235, 26 024, 27 001 and 47 643. Trains will run from Bo'ness station every 50 minutes from 09:30 until 17:00 and a real ale bar will be included aboard all trains. There will be two Beerex trains on the Saturday evening. There will be a regular free connecting bus service from and to Linlithgow railway station and one free bus each day from and to Edinburgh. Day Rover tickets are priced at £15. More details from www.srpsdiesel.com and www.srps.org.uk Double-headed 'Grids' at nene Valley Gala The Nene Valley Railway are featuring double-headed Class 56s at their Diesel Gala, October 6-8. Visiting Loadhaul-liveried 56 003 will join Wansford-based 56 057 for six rounds trips on eight-coach trains on the Friday. Another visiting loco to the event, 03 112 (D2112), will work on shuttles and 'drags'.On the Saturday and Sunday there will be an intensive service with four trains. Featured locos (subject to availability) will be: D2112, D9516, D9520, D9523, 31 271, 40 106, 56 003, 56 057, the Class 117 and a GBRf Class 66. It is planned to work the 'Grids' in multi on the Saturday evening beer train with two round trips.Day Rover tickets are priced £13, two-day Rovers at £22, and three-day Rovers at £30. Purchase of two and three-day tickets includes free admission on the beer train; otherwise £5 for Day Rover ticket holders.For further details visit the website: www.nvr.org.uk/timetable/dgala.php 37 152 to debut at Peak Rail Diesel Weekend Class 37 fans are in for a treat on the weekend of September 23 and 24, when 37 152 makes its passenger debut in preservation at Peak Rail's Diesel Weekend. The locomotive, which has been based on the railway since the beginning of this year, is owned by John Ball and following months of attention the locomotive is now ready to haul trains once more. The locomotive still carries InterCity main line livery, which is the colour scheme it was carrying at the time it was withdrawn by EWS in 1999. A repaint into BR green is planned for the future, so catch the locomotive in this colour style while you can! In use over the weekend on service trains will be D9525, 31 270, 37 152 and D8 Penyghent, along with the Class 02, D2854 and class 03, 03 099 belonging to the Heritage Shunters Trust. The Class 01, D2953, will be hauling brake van trains at Rowsley South, and the Renown Repulse Restoration Group are hopeful that the cosmetic restoration of 50 029 Renown will be completed in time for the event. The collection of locomotives belonging to the Heritage Shunters Trust will also be available for viewing at Rowsley South.The event should also see the launch of the Peak Rail Add-On for the Microsoft Train Simulator, which has been produced by a team of volunteers from the railway to a high standard.The proceeds from the sale of the Train Simulator will go towards the Rowsley Engine Shed Appeal. Unfortunately, due to operational reasons, the planned afternoon and evening services on Friday. September 22 have had to be cancelled, but an enhanced service will operate over the weekend. A timetable and loco roster for this event will be available shortly and can be accessed via the railways website at www.peakrail.co.uk Autumn diesels on the Great Central The Great Central Railway's Autumn Diesel Gala, September 15-17, looks set to build on the success of their traction events held earlier this year.General Manager Robert Crew said: 'We should have two Class 20s, two Class 25s plus 37 265 with a rare passenger duty. The National Railway Museum's D6535 is now working in proper push-pull mode with our resident 4-CIG unit. It should be a terrific event with almost a thousand miles up for grabs over the three days with an intensive timetable.' Completing the loco line-up are D5830, D4067, D123, and D1705. A two-car Class 101 DMU will also be running. For further details please visit their webiste: www.gcrailway.co.uk Other September Gala events: September 9 & 10 - Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway (www.gwsr.com) September 15-17 - The Battlefield Line (www.Battlefield-Line-Railway.co.uk) September 16 & 17 - Bodmin & Wenford Railway (www.bodminandwenfordrailway.co.uk) September 23 & 24 - The Mid-Norfolk Railway (www.mnr.org.uk) Dartmoor diesels Dartmoor Railway, based at Okehampton Station, Devon, has announced its first Diesel Gala Weekend for October 14 & 15. It is hoped to have visiting main line and preserved locos but will feature the home fleet. At present the fleet includes a Class 08, 31, 47, 73, a Dutch 600 class and two 37s. Visit their website: www.dartmoorrailway.co.uk Modern Railway Society of Ireland railtour Tour: 'C3KXpress' (featuring 323 miles on one of NIR's new railcars including much mileage over routes they do not normally operate). Organisers: Modern Railway Society of Ireland. Date: Saturday, October 21 2006. Route: Belfast Central - Antrim (via Crumlin) - Belfast Yorkgate (via Bleach Green) - Larne Harbour - Belfast Central - Dublin Connolly - Belfast Central. Fares: Adult £30, Concession £20. Details from: David Thompson tel. 028 9267 7039 or e-mail mrsi@beeb.net Ilford & West Essex Model Railway Exhibition Following the success of their 75th Anniversary Celebration event last year, Ilford & West Essex Model Railway Club are holding their 51st Annual Exhibition at St Edwards School, London Road, Romford on Saturday, September 31 and Sunday, October 1. The event runs from 10 am to 4pm on both days. This year there will be 19 different track layouts featured, covering all the most popular scales and visitors will be able to enjoy the range of skills from the basic enthusiast to the experienced model maker. More details on the forthcoming exhibition and information about the club are available at www.iwemrc.org.uk - or by emailing Tony Spencer at tony.spencer@iwemrc.org.uk or calling 07730 420383.   [News] [Showcase] [Heritage] [Arriving] [Reader Offers] [Traction Diary] [British Railway Modelling] [Back Issues] [Contacts] [Site Map] [Back] [email us]