Driver for a Fiver at the Diesel Gala

If you thrill to the sound of English Electric or Sulzer diesel engines hard at work then the GWR is the place to be this weekend (April 4th -6th). The GWR is running its first diesel gala of the year and, for the first time, visitors can have a go at the controls of one of these powerful machines for just a fiver.

Class 73 Electro-Diesel no 73129 will be based at Cheltenham Racecourse station on Saturday and Sunday for visitors to try their hand under supervision, running up and down within the spacious station limits. The cost is only £5 for ticket holders for the event and afterwards they'll receive a certificate to mark their achievement.*

The GWR has one of the finest collections of heritage diesel locomotives in the country and there will be opportunities to ride behind all operational resident locomotives, as well as two visitors: Sulzer class 27 on loan from the Dean Forest Railway (a perfect compliment for the railway's own 'baby Sulzer' class 24.  A Class 08 diesel shunter - temporarily on loan to the GWR for running-in before export to Libya - will make two trips a day with a local train between Toddington and Winchcombe. Each day there will be a freight train running to Cheltenham for the photographers, offering some new photographic opportunities for a freight service.

Fares for the weekend - which are for unlimited travel - are £14 for adults, £12 for senior citizens and £10 for children.  A family ticket (for up to two adults and three children) costs £34.00.

You can download an illustrated timetable for the Gala here.  The GWR has also issued a press release.

*Minimum age 16 years. There is some climbing on to and off the locomotive from track level so a reasonable level of fitness is required. The driver may refuse potential participants for health and safety reasons. Every participant will receive a certificate.

Locomotives in operation over the weekend

Visiting Class 08: 08881 
Resident Class 20: D8137
Resident Class 24: 24081
Visiting Class 27: 27066
Resident Class 37s: 37215 and 37324
Resident Class 47s: 47105 and 47376*
Resident Class 73: 73129

(all locomotives subject to availability)
*Just overhauled - subject to completion of recent work.

Thanks to Mike Pember for the photo of 08881.