North Norfolk Railway Summer Diesel Gala

From the North Norfolk Railway website "After a break, 2011 sees the return of a diesel gala to the North Norfolk Railway. This event will see a number of different diesel locomotives in traffic operating to an intensive timetable."

The locomotive line up is :
Class 25, 25057 - subject to completion of repairs
Class 37, D6737
Class 47, 47367
Class 20, 20118, Saltburn-by-the-Sea
Class 37, on hire from Direct Rail Services
Leyland Experimental Vehicle LEV1
Class 101 DMU 51228 + 56062

 

Are any demonstration freights planned for the weekend?

 

Freight trains on diesel galas are a no no...... It would be a bit of an own goal by the NNR if they did.

 

"Three rakes of MK1 passenger stock will be in operation, alongside the DMU and LEV" No mention of freight whereas the steam gala has "Will be announced closer to the event, but is likely to include the Quad-Art coaches, and a demonstration goods train". Assume that means no.

 

Own goal? Is this the idea that most diesel enthusiasts don't care what is behind the loco as long as they can hang out of it? I know several other railways have suggested this when organising diesel galas.

A shame, but who am I to argue with the proven formula? I would love to see the 20 or green 37 on a short freight but I must be in the minority. I know freights don't make any money but if you can't run them at a gala when can you? I guess the answer to that question is on August Red Timetable Sundays!

 

Regardless whether a demonstration goods train runs or not, it'll make a change considering there hasn't been one in a while.

 

Absolutely, I'm really looking forward to the event and will definitely be attending. Now that the signalling is in at Holt there'll be quite a service running! I hope plenty of others will also show up and prove diesel galas are worth doing again on the NNR.

 

I know, even though I'm more of a 'steam person' it's nice to have a change once in a while with a Diesel Gala at a predominantly steam railway.

 

I won't if the 20 is sat on a freight!

 

If the steam gala diagram is used as a starting point everything swaps around so the 20 wont be stuck on a freight all day even if the freight set is out

 

Not driving for 3.5 hours each way for a round trip or two on 20118.Unfortunately otherwise commited to events elsewhere on it's two full running dates so far advertised.
Put the 47 on a freight all day-no issue.

There is a very good reason why hardly any diesel galas don't feature freight trains-fare paying passengers don't appreciate them(take up valuable mileage from passengers paths).Please don't try and reinvent the wheel.I take it you haven't been to Swanage,GCR and MNR diesel galas in the last fortnight.

 

No. At no point have I said I know what is happening. All I have done is bring together 2 pieces of publicly accessible information. Of course I will try and sell 'my' railway. I'm not 'trying to reinvent the wheel'. Maybe next time I won't bother trying to be helpful.

 

You'd be surprised how many people have been asking me about the diesel gala if the loco's will be changing around during the day.

 

Before this gets too personal, I feel I need to make a few comments. As the organiser for this (and our other gala events) I want to put an end to any speculation.

I thought long and hard regarding a goods train. As Will says, the timetable is based on our steam gala service, so there is paths for goods. However, I also remember the negative comments aimed at the railway when goods were run during past diesel galas. Therefore to give as much milage as possible from the loco's I have decided NOT to include a goods this time. As much as there are some of you who like to photgraph as well as ride, the comment is true that a goods trip is wasted milage for the loco, and reduces the value from your ticket. The locos will cycle through the timetable during the day, with the 101 and LEV1 also out. I have tried to keep things interesting and varied, but can confirm that the quads are not booked out at this time.

I am not sure as yet as to the loco selected to visit from our friends at DRS, when I know this, I will let you know. As for the service, trains start from each end at - Holt 08.30 (20118) and Sheringham 08.26 (47367) with departures roughly 25-35 mins from each end. I will get a timetable onto the website within the next couple of weeks. I am on duty on the Sunday, and would welcome any constructive comments about the event.

Next year is the 50th anniversary of the end of steam in East Anglia, and we are planning already for the diesel gala (as well as the steam ones) to mark this milestone. A number of guest locos are being looked into, but nothing is definate unless you see it from myself.

I look forward to, hopefully, seeing you in a few weeks time.

 

Cheers for the update, and thanks for letting 'us' know before the speculation got too much out of hand.

 

Any chance of having 31206 at next years event

 

Yes, D5631 (31206) should appear later this summer in BR Green. Currently having serious tin surgery in Weybourne works.



Steve A

 

i thought 31206 is at Rushden

 

Sorry, senior moment, of course, ours is 31207 (D5631) D'oh!!!

Steve

 

Only 17 days to go....