Four-day gala will mark 50 years of diesel preservation

Exciting line-up of visiting locomotives to perform alongside popular members of the home fleet at Severn Valley Railway event.

THE Severn Valley Railway’s Spring diesel festival is to celebrate half a century of main line diesels in preservation – and brings together an unrivalled collection of heritage guest and home fleet locomotives, as well as many examples of modern traction from the main line.

The first two visiting locos announced for the May 18-21 diesel gala already ensures it will be a super, not-to-bemissed event. First was Ed Stevenson’s Class 58 No. 58023

Peterborough Depot making the inaugural appearance of a preserved member of the main line freight class in preservation

(RM March p7).

The other heritage railway

‘first’ is Class 47/7 No. 47712 Lady Diana Spencer, complete with a set of five former Great Anglia Mk.3 coaches and driving motor brake second (DBSO) No. 9707, all in ScotRail livery. This train is a re-creation of the GlasgowEdinburgh push-pull shuttles of the 1980s, with one of the original Class 47 conversions

(RM March p5). No. 47712 is courtesy of owners the Crewe Diesel Preservation Group, on long-term hire to LSL.

A Colas Class 56 has since been added to the visitor’s list with further guests from heritage railways and main line operators to be secured.

Home fleet locos due to be in operation for the SVR event are expected to be Class 14 No. D9551, Class 17 No. D8568, Class 20 No. 20048, Class 31

No. 31466, Class 33 No. 33108 in new livery, Class 40 No. 40106 Atlantic Conveyor, Class 42

No. D821 Greyhound in new livery, Class 50s, and Class 52s Nos. D1015 Western Champion

and D1062 Western Courier.

Visit svr.co.uk/all-events/ for further details and to book tickets.

Meanwhile, the railway continues to be the home of six Class 50s. In early February, the status of each ‘Hoover’

No. 50007 Hercules was operational and ready for main line use in GBRf livery. It continues to carry the identity of No. 50034 Furious on one side. No. 50031 Hood was non-operational with power unit issues to be addressed in 2023-25.

The repainting of No. 50033 Glorious has been completed, with other issues being addressed as time permits – although the loco remains non-operational.

No. 50035 Ark Royal was available for use on the SVR. On March 4, Ark Royal underwent a ‘B-type’ exam, which involved lifting the loco to access a traction motor requiring attention. A replacement blower was also fitted to the loco’s No. 2 end.

No. 50044 Exeter was operational and ready for occasional main line use in BR Blue, while No. 50049 Defiance was operational and ready for main line use in GBRf livery.

Well-wishers can support the on-going preservation of these locomotives by purchasing shares. Application forms are available online at www. class50alliance.co.uk/downloads. htm. Donations can be made at www.fiftyfund.org.uk

ALL THREE PICTURES: KENNY FELSTEAD Above left: In addition to the ‘firsts’ among the visiting locos and stock, two SVR resident locos make their gala debut following workshop attention and repaints. ‘Warship’ No. D821 Greyhound returned to BR blue, is seen in Kidderminster Diesel Depot having missed last year’s events. This was the first main line diesel preserved by a private group when moved to Didcot on May 24, 1972. Above right: Class 33 ‘Crompton’ No. 33108 (D6521) will be running in its new departmental yellow and grey. Left: Looking superb in the sunshine, Class 50 No. 50033 Glorious poses outside SVR Kidderminster Diesel Depot following a repaint, although it is not currently fully operational. This is just one of six English Electric Type 4 ‘Hoovers’ in the care of the Fifty Fund/Class 50 Alliance based at Kidderminster.