WSR Diesel Gala - Friday 9th- Sunday 11th June 2017

News from the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group

The Diesel and Electric Preservation Group have issued an update on the WSR's Diesel Gala in June 2017:

The WSR have confirmed that we can have 'diesel only' days on Friday 9 June and Saturday 10 June this year, with a single steam diagram on the Sunday of the event. This means that we will need a minimum of six diesel locos, four of which the DEPG will supply - Hymek no D7017, Crompton Class 33 no D6575, Class 47 no D1661 and Western no D1010. Thus we have to find two visiting locomotives and the DEPG was authorised to proceed to make enquiries around possible heritage diesel locomotives. Modern mainline locomotives do not fit the bill this year following feedback and the theme of the event. It will be a difficult challenge though as a budget of just £8k has been set at present to cover transport and hire fees. The search is on, we hope to provide an update shortly. Our aim is to still have Hymek no D7018 appear at the June gala double headed with sister locomotive D7017, at this stage though we are not prepared to formally advertise her attendance at the gala and then let down all our hydraulic enthusiasts.

23 February 2017
Details kindly provided by the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group

 

Pair of 20s from Somerset and Dorset would be great.

 

The subject of visiting locomotives for a WSR Diesel gala has always been a hotly discussed issue. With the assistance of Nat Pres it should be possible to have a simple and very unreliable vote on what might be popular.

Interested posters can suggest a single locomotive or class of locomotive to see how many 'likes' are received.

I will start the ball rolling with:-

18000 (as a static exhibit)

I'm not holding my breath for a flood of votes.

Andy.

 

Better asking those with a greater interest and knowledge on Wnxx.
There again what's the point when one loco owner with a relatively little used loco says he offered free use of his loco for mileage accumulation last year and WSR turned him down ,he may have even paid the transport cost.

 

Is it too late to have a word with a magazine about sponsorship?

 

i just wonder what the budget for the steam gala is??

 

im really struggling to see the point of that going to anywhere that is a diesel RUNNING event

 

I've no ideas for the figures for other galas, but I have heard that the figures for all galas this year are reduced because a lot of money has been spent on infrastructure works over the last 18 months.

 

well there you are they should be looking at the pres loco's that dont go out and about much, not just going for the gala to gala convoys that run, you have to have a USP to bring peeps in, what about the PBR 31 or the 47 off lamport or 31206 from wherever it is or 73130, these are locos that dont travel much

 

Quite often there are locos that don't travel very much for a number of reasons, eg. the owner doesn't want them running round the country on lorries, they are too expensive to hire, they aren't reliable enough or the home railway can't spare them. I've no idea if any of these reasons apply to the locos you've quoted.

 

good point but it doesnt cost much to pick up the phone and ask does it

 

For all we know, they may already have done that!

 

they might have, but i would be surprised if they have, they certainly haven't done that before. as i say if they prove me wrong i will be the first the say well done but history of galas at the WSR doesn't lend much optimism to me

 

I think my idea of a 50 visiting would draw a lot of people in. It's their 50th anniversary this year too so fits in with that celebration. Can't remember the last time worked on a heritage line in the South West, apart from 042 at Bodmin but that's so far down. Maybe if they could hire that and send the Hymek or something down there for their gala? Could save on hire fees possibly.

If not a 50, some locomotive that is going to capture the imagination. A GBRF 66 or a Hanson 59 won't do that.

 

pretty sure the last pres 50 (007) that went to a gala burst somewhere on the Sunday and led to proper chaos this together with the well known 50049 fall out may explain why they (WSR) seam less than keen.although it would fit in with the area as you say

 

What was the Great 50 Fallout?

 

Seems to be a same visiting locos for a lot of this years galas. 50026, 47192 And pair of 20s. I wouldn't complain at all those to visiting WSR.

 

It appears in order to sample some of the interesting ' beer' you will be asked for a small charge, plus the cost of the pint/ half pint.
How much is a small charge?
Errrrrrrr?


http://www.wsr.org.uk/news.htm#1084

 

Hmmm! Can't see this being a winner.

 

Is usually the case, you tend to have a convoy that goes on tour about this time of year.