Dean Forest Railway diesel gala - 4/5/6 September 2015

The Dean Forest Railway are hosting a diesel gala over the weekend of 4/5/6 September. We are delighted to announce that the loco lineup will include visiting Class 14 D9537 from the East Lancashire Railway. More details closer to the event.

Please look on the DFR Facebook page or DFR website as time progresses.

Thanks.

 

Does say Class 31 D5518 from the Avon Valley will be visiting too. Timetable to include passenger, freight, brake van rides and DMU workings, food and beer available too.

 

That's the plan but 31 still to be confirmed.

 

***UPDATE***

We still await final confirmation but this is the proposed lineup:

- Visiting from East Lancashire Railway Class 14 D9537
- Visiting from Avon Valley Railway Class 31 31101
- Home Locos Class 14's D9521, D9555, Class 08 08769*, Plus Hunslets 'Salty' and 'Don Corbet'
- Home DMU sets

More details to follow, but expect Passenger and freight working, brake van rides, photographic opportunities, evening services, food and beer!

More news when it happens....
Thanks.

*Edited

 

Unfortunately the DFR are unable to bring 31101 to the gala. A full lineup and timetable will be available soon.

 

The plans are coming together nicely with the timetables and final details awaiting approval. The, still important, beer and food situation is below;

Food:

• Newly opened Café at Norchard serving drinks, hot and cold food including breakfast bacon (or sausage) rolls and lunchtime curry/rice.
• Local Dean Forest products including products from the Pie House at Cinderhill Farm (as seen on TV) such as;
• The Foggy (Forest Oggy, where Oggy is another term for pasty)
• Forest Ridgeback wild boar sausage roll
• The Original Cinderhill Farm Sausage Roll of Exceeding Enormity (made with real meat joints; low in fat).
• Highly decorated, exquisitely tasty, luxury gourmet pies.
• Buffet on the main service train and both DMUs
Website: www.cinderhillfarm.com/#piehouse

Beers:

All beers courtesy of the Bespoke Brewing Company, Mitcheldean, and on sale in the bar within the café area at Norchard.
• Kohatu – A 100% New Zealand Hop single variety ale. 4.2% IPA - lovely.
• Saved by the Bell – 3.8% hoppy Forest of Dean bitter
• Raging Ale – Bespoke’s exclusive ale with Phil Vickery and a rugby lovers ale. 3.5% so OK for the drivers too!
• Going Off Half-Cocked – Our 4.6% Pale Ale and one for the food lovers.
• Money for Old Rope – 4.8% Stout. Awarded bottle beer of Britain in the stout category.
• Over a Barrel – 5% Strong and rich dark ale.
Also the following ciders:
• McCrindles 2013 Perry
• McCrindles 2014 Medium-Dry vintage cider
• Abrahalls - Thundering Molly – Medium and a session cider!

Bottled versions of the above will also be on sale in the on-train buffets.

Website: www.bespokebrewery.co.uk

More news soon....

Thanks,
Nick

 

Further update to the gala lineup;

Synopsis

Standard two train timetable on Friday utilising D9537 and the DMU, the following days include an intensive timetable with rideable freight workings and mixed locomotive allocations each day (where possible – different day, different duty).
The DMUs, Class 08 and Class 14s in action Saturday and Sunday with Industrials doing driver for £10 (Parkend) and Brakevan rides (Norchard) between trains.

Gala Highlights

• Full gala timetable on Saturday and Sunday, a standard B timetable on Friday with exclusive use of D9537 plus DMU.
• The Class 14’s will head the hauled stock all day on Sat/Sun in single, double and triple headed formation.
• DMU’s will run in conjunction in various formations.
• The Class 08 will operate a shuttle between Lydney Junction and Norchard Low Level with the newly-restored Hawksworth saloon.
• A rideable demonstration freight will operate in the morning, with a rideable freight service in the afternoon from Lydney Junction to Parkend and return to Norchard. (Supplementary fare & indemnity form)
• Brake van rides at Norchard with a Hunslet. (Included in ticket)
• “Driver for a Tenner” at Parkend with a Hunslet. (Supplementary fare)
• Buffet on the main service train and both DMUs
• Bar on the DMU and at Norchard (in Café premises)

Traction:

Friday D9537, 2 Car DMU
Sat/Sun D3937, 5622 (Hunslet), 6688 (Hunslet), D9521, D9537, D9555, 2 & 3 Car DMU

Fares:

Friday:
£11 Adult
£10 Senior
£5 Child (Age 5-16)
£30 Family (2 adults and 2 children)

Saturday or Sunday
£13 Adult
£12 Senior
£6 Child (Age 5-16)
£36 Family (2 adults and 2 children)

ONLINE BOOKING AVAILABLE SOON - MULTIPLE DAY DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE
http://www.deanforestrailway.co.uk/events/detail/diesel-gala

Timetables will be available on the website and as ever, all subject to final confirmation and availability...!

Thanks!
Nick (on behalf of the gala team)

 

Thanks for the update Nick. I would strongly advise the gala team to consider Friday either running an extra DMU service to Lydney Junction to connect with the 1644 XC to Cardiff & 1658 ATW to Cheltenham services or an extra DMU to connect with / continue the last service from Parkend so that people can transfer over to the 1717 ATW service to Maesteg / 1725 XC to Nottingham. Otherwise people are going to either leave early or have to walk back if they need to go by train (which could put them off going at all), or they will drive and not have so much beer!

 

Hi, thanks for your valid points. I have raised this with the team to see what can be done for the Friday running.

Cheers

Nick

 

Timetables!

Here are the timetables for Sat and Sun services, Friday is still a "work in progress"

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153538324846506&set=o.185136461528517&type=1

Nick

 

Here's a version that might be easier to read...



']https://farm1.staticflickr.com/530/20310086060_9db1fc8e97_z.jpg[/img][/URL]

To anticipate queries about connecting trains - the times for Lydney (Network Rail) are NOT shown.
So what do Gloucester & Newport mean...

For DFR trains arriving at Lydney Junction the times shown are the arrival at the destination from Lydney
For DFR trains departing Lydney Junction the times shown are the arrival at Lydney from the destination.

Example: The 08:00 from Newport arrives at Lydney at 09:56, this is also the 09:56 from Lydney and arrives at Gloucester at 10:19.

Hope this helps?

Nick

 

0927 you mean Nick or is 08769 doing that run?!

Complicated if you ask me, why not just put the Lydney time in as well?!

 

I'll pass your comments to the person who devised it! I just post what I'm given.....!

Nick

 

It can get too complicated Josh if you add the Lydney times (too many Lydney stations and too many times).

As Lydney (LYD) is a through station, its easier to think that the latest train that you need to be on is the 08.00 from Newport (NWP) or the 08.58 from Gloucester (GCR) in order to arrive at Lydney with enough time walk to Lydney Junction to catch the 3 Car DMU service to Parkend at 10.00?

We could alternatively not include the connection times - but this doesn't help anyone unfortunately.

 

We are on the case Josh!

 

Online booking:

Online booking is now open for the gala, please follow the link below to buy online and secure a multi-day discounted ticket.

https://deanforestrailway.digitickets.co.uk/category/4107

Thanks,

Nick

 

Food Update:

In addition to the locally made Pasties (or Foggies to give them their Forest name) and Wild Boar sausage rolls etc, our Catering Manager has decided to offer the following curries at the gala, Chicken Jalfrezi and a medium Vegetable curry - both with rice. All available from the café at Norchard Low Level.

Bon appetit......!

Nick

 

Friday gala timetable below. Following a request, this now includes later trains to Lydney Jct to facilitate mainline connections.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5659/20749434931_9f5dd17d72_c.jpg[/img

Online bookings now available including multi-day discounts.

Thanks

Nick

 

D9537 has left the East Lancs destined for Lydney. A significant event in that this is the first time it has been away "on tour".

Also, if anyone is interested, some friends are bringing their heritage bus to the gala and would be happy to pick anyone up from Newport Railway station if desired? Bus will be outside both Sat and Sun around 0900/0915. Please let me know and I'll put you in touch.

Thanks
Nick

 

D9537 arrived safely and is now residing at Norchard Yard.

Driver for a Tenner ("subject to final confirmation" ) will operate out of Parkend at 0942, 1142, 1342 and 1542. The 0942 actually runs before arrival of the first passenger service but if you are driving to the railway, a stop at Parkend might allow you to beat the crowds. The ride is about 1 mile towards Whitecroft south from Parkend through a heavily forested section of the line.

The Norchard café will be opening at 0830 Sat/Sun. The standard menu can be found on this page http://www.deanforestrailway.co.uk/cafe by clicking the "current menu" link Bacon/sausage rolls will be available including daily specials such as the Chicken Jalfrezi and Vegetable curries (but perhaps not for breakfast...).

The Rideable freight can be paid for by means of a bucket collection in aid of the Ballast Fund, this will support the remodelling of Whitecroft Station and the reinstallation of the passing loop. Needless to say it is on a first come-first served with limited places.

Brakevan rides at Norchard are of course included in the price of your ticket.

Thanks,
Nick