A CELEBRATION of historic diesel locomotives will take place on the West Somerset Railway (WSR) next month as it stages a weekend special event.
The WSR’s diesel festival from June 8 to 10 will star 62-year-old Deltic locomotive No 55009, one of a class of engines designed for high-speed running with express passenger trains.
They were operated mainly on the East Coast mainline, between London (King’s Cross), Newcastle, and Edinburgh.
When they were first introduced they had quite a lot to live up to because they replaced the A4 streamlined Pacific steam locomotives.
But over the years the diesel electric Deltic locomotives made a real name for themselves, running reliably at high speeds.
Built by English Electric in 1961, 55009 was based in Finsbury Park depot, in North London, and following East Coast tradition it was named after the racehorse Alycidon.
The characteristic ‘Deltic roar’ will be heard in West Somerset across the WSR’s three-day festival as 55009 will work two round trips per day, offering a first chance in 2023 to travel behind it.
The locomotive is normally based on Barrow Hill, near Sheffield, and can occasionally be seen on rail tours on the mainline.
It will be one of several visiting diesels for the festival, another being Class 50 locomotive no. 50008 Thunderer, built in 1968 by English Electric and originally seen heading express passenger trains on the West Coast mainline between Crewe and Glasgow.
Following West Coast electrification, most Class 50 locomotives, including 50008, moved to the Great Western mainline and subsequently to the line from London (Waterloo) to Exeter.
Although withdrawn from regular mainline service in 1992, 50008 is still active on the mainline occasionally today and can be seen on a variety of rail tours and other work.
Class 25 diesel locomotive No D7659 completes the visiting trio, being loaned by Peak Rail, in Derbyshire.
D7659 came back into service during the latter part of 2021 for the first time in more than 23 years following a comprehensive restoration which effectively saw the 1966 loco rebuilt.
As the final locomotive built by Beyer Peacock, at Gorton Works, in Manchester, D7659 saw slightly more than 20 years’ work with British Railways, mostly in the Midlands and North West, but also in Wales and Scotland.
A third visitor will be Class 33 No 33002, the oldest surviving ‘Crompton’ in preservation and currently residing at the South Devon Railway, running between Buckfastleigh and Totnes.
The locomotive was built at Smethwick in 1959 to be utilised for British Railways on the Southern region where it could be found on various passenger and freight workings.
It was restored to working order in 2008 by the South Devon Diesel Traction group and for the festival will join the two WSR resident Class 33 locomotives, D6566 and D6575.
Class 14 No. D9551 will be making a welcome return to the West Somerset Railway in memory of Diesel and Electric Preservation Group (DEPG) member and volunteer Simon Purvis who died recently after a short illness.
D9551 entered service in September, 1965, following the design of BR(W) and was based in Cardiff Canton.
Following a move to Hull Dairycoates in 1967, the locomotive was withdrawn from service in 1968 after just two years and seven months in service.
In 1981, the locomotive was purchased for preservation by ‘Railway Power Services’, a group formed from a consortium of West Somerset Railway and DEPG members.
It arrived on the WSR from BSC Corby and entered service on June 7, 1981.
While D9551 was based at the WSR it was used on works trains and passenger services, particularly ‘Quantock Belle’ dining trains.
Nowadays, the locomotive is in the ownership of SVR Class 14 Company Ltd and can be seen running on the Severn Valley Railway.
During the festival, the Class 14s will be carrying a wreath and special headboard in memory of Simon, who was well respected both within the DEPG and throughout the heritage railway sector for his vast and detailed knowledge of the Class 14s.
The visiting locomotives will be working alongside the various residents which are maintained by the DEPG, which is based in Williton.
DEPG’s works and depot in Williton will be open for visitors during the festival, and there will also be a variety of display and shop stands maintained by various preservation groups.
Advanced tickets for the festival can be obtained at https://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/events/detail/summer-diesel-festival or by calling 01643 704996.