THE 50th anniversary of the first ex-BR main line fleet diesel loco to be preserved is being commemorated by the Severn Valley Railway’s Autumn Diesel Bash –The Magnificent Seven and BRWestern Region on September 27 – October 1.
The first main line diesel loco preserved privately was‘Warship’ Class 42 diesel-hydraulic No. D821 Greyhound, in early 1973. The event to mark this historic occasion is hoped to feature the largest line-up of hydraulic locos in preservation, excepting the East Lancashire Railway’s‘Teddy Bear’50th anniversary gala in July 2014 with 10 Class 14s.
However, the seven hydraulic locos have lost two key participants with the withdrawal from the line-up of West Somerset Railway-based Class 35‘Hymeks’, Nos. D7017 and D7018.The Diesel & Electric Preservation Group (DEPG), which owns two locos, was unsure both would be available in time, then an incident with No. D7018 at Williton on August 4 required both locos to be pulled from all future engagements until the matter has been investigated and resolved as a matter of safety.
The rest of this major event continues as planned, with hydraulics in operation being ’Warships’Nos. D821 Greyhound and 832 Onslaught from the East Lancashire Railway, Class 52s Nos. D1015 Western Champion and D1062 Western Courier, and Class 35‘Hymek’No. D7076 from the ELR.