The weekend just gone (25 – 27 July) saw our annual Diesel Gala at the GWSR and this years’ event promised to be the best yet…..and, it didn’t fail! We were blessed with wonderful weather on Friday and Saturday with it a little less hot on Sunday, However, all three days saw great crowds of young and old, enthusiast and family attend. Alongside our home fleet, which saw the added return of 26043 to the fleet after overhaul, we had pioneer Class 37, D6700 (37119/37350) and Class 50, 50021 ‘Rodney’ in attendance as guest visitors.
50021 was returning to the GWSR for the first time in 30 years, having been originally restored and based at Toddington after withdrawal from BR traffic. The loco was passing as it headed between the Chinnor and Princes Risborough and Dean Forest Railways and both the Gala Committee and owning group took the advantage to make a slight detour to the GWSR – a great decision.
However, from a EE Type 3 perspective, all eyes were on the visit of D6700 – reuniting it with former Canton FPEK stablemates D6948 and 37215 and giving the first opportunity in preservation to ride behind a pair of BR Green Class 37s with the different headcode builds. Courtesy of the NRM and the Heavy Tractor Group, the GCR resident enabled us to run a triple header for the first time since 2007 when, as in Harry Limming’s photo above, the ‘Beerex’ on Saturday evening was hauled by all three ‘Growlers’. I have never seen the ‘Beerex’ so busy since I started volunteering in 2013 and the assembled throng were not to be disappointed!!! D6700 has now left the GWSR and will be heading to Derby for ‘The Great Gathering’ before heading back ‘home’ to Loughborough.
As well as the loco running, Thursday night saw us hold the second evening photoshoot at Toddington MPD with a line-up of all 10 Gala locos. All three Class 37s were placed in a line and, for good measure, D6700 and D6948 were set together on roads 10 and 11. We even had a couple who had come all the way from Australia for the photoshoot and the weekend…just because of the 3 x Class 37 offering!
As for numbers, things are still being finalised but it looks like 2025 will be a record-breaker, beating the previous 2019 record for revenue, profit and passenger numbers. As for the Group, our stand is also looking at a record amount of money made. This has been helped by a new influx of some items – such as miniature nameplates – that have bolstered the branded offerings we have. Hopefully, these will soon be offered via our webshop as well as being available (with some new items never done before) at the Class 37 at 65 event at the SVR in October.
Finally, a reminder that our locos are out in August, albeit only on a handful of turns. However, one date to look out for is the 31 Aug when both locos will be out as a pair on the PINK timetable.
For now though, it is time for a well deserved rest for all our crew and volunteers. If you would like to volunteer for the group, particularly if you are willing to help out with the sales stand at events and galas, then please contact us via email.
