Spa Valley Rly DIESEL GALA

SPA VALLEY RAILWAY DIESEL GALAS

updated 14/12/11

SVR Diesel Gala 2011 - this was held on Fri.5th to Sun.7th August, with 37254, 33063 & E6047. For the first time, 33063 featured the Railfreight General sectorisation decals (red &yellow), having had a part-repaint in the spring.
Here are a few sample links to video clips and photos on the net, in no particular order of merit or recommendation. Merely doing a quick search for what's out there....

VIDEO
63 dep Groombridge to Eridge 63 at Eridge station 63 dep Groombridge for High Rocks

PHOTOS
63 at Eridge (1) 63 at Eridge (2)

**The SELG are not responsible for the content of external sites and links **

SUMMER DIESEL GALA : 30th July - 1st Aug. 2010 Unfortunately, our website went down (webserver problems) on the lead up to the gala and for a few weeks after, so we were unable to inform you directly of details. Hopefully, you may have found our temporary page which re-directed you to the 37354 group.

By no means exhaustive, here are a few links to websites etc. which record some of the to-ings and fro-ings over that weekend. The SELG are not responsible for content on external websites. Items listed are in no order of merit or preference.

Preserved Diesels Youtube 31/7 (1) Youtube 31/7 (2) Youtube 31/7 (3)

ED+37254 30/7 (HD) 33063 30/7 (HD) 33063 Brakevan ride 30/7 (HD)

33063 cabview, A26 bridge to High Rocks 30/7 (HD)

PREVIOUS GALAS

SUMMER DIESEL GALA : 7th - 9th August/09

Our mid-summer Diesel Gala was completed successfully. The weather on Saturday & Sunday was very good which contributed to the event overall. Our visitors certainly appeared to enjoy themselves.

Plenty of 'thrash' was had! Find below, a selection of the webmaster's photos plus a number of 'other' links to Youtube, Flickr and Fotopic sites (in no particular order or preference) that have been located today, 11th August. It is, as one would expect, far from exhaustive, but they do provide a flavour of the 3 days of diesel running with 20110, 37254, 73140, 33063, 'Thumper' 207017 (1317) and class 12, 15224.

Youtube videos

Thumper cabride Highlights 8/8/09 Highlights 9/8/09 20110 in the loco yard 37254 7/8/09 Thumper departs TWW 20110 at High Rocks

Photos

J.Foulger (Flickr) J.Piesing (Fotopic) www.preserved-diesels.co.uk

** The S.E.L.G. is not responsible for the content of external internet sites **

	A Sunday morning view in the shed yard; 37254 sits behind 33063 and 20110. Class 12 15224 is on the left with 'out of service' 33065. (photo B.Thomas)
	20110's front end catches the morning sun as it awaits its first turn of duty on Sunday 9th Aug.. The cab-side indent for the tablet catcher mechanism is evident. (photo B.Thomas)
	The last outward train (17:20 ex-TWW) has arrived at Groombridge with 73140 leading 33063 and 37254. 20110 is at the far end waiting to make the last run on the gala. No assistance would be rendered at any point by these 3 at the back. Just 260-ish tons of dead weight! (photo B.Thomas)
	The last run of the Gala: as viewed from the cab of 33063 on the last couple of hundred yards of the climb to High Rocks from Pokehill Farm crossing, 20110 thrashes away in 'notch 8', tugging on the 400 tons slung behind it. (photo B.Thomas)

SPRING DIESEL WEEKEND : 25th - 26th April/09

37254 and 73140 featured along with sole surviving Class 12, 15224, Drewry 2591 'Southerham' and probably uniquely, Type 07 Plasser and Theurer tamper no. 73250 (on brake van rides).

In no particular order or preference here are a selection of Youtube clips..there are more out there to be sure (the S.E.L.G. are not responsible for any content of the video clips on this page)

Clip 1 Clip 2 Clip 3 Clip 4 Clip 5 Clip 6 Clip 7

AUTUMN DIESEL GALA : 18th - 19th OCT/08

Here are a couple of video clip as found on YOUTUBE. In no particualr order of commendation or credit (pages open in new browser).....

33063 33063 37254 Mixed bag

not forgeting the batch of photos on Preserved Diesels.

SUMMER DIESEL GALA : 1st - 3rd AUGUST/08
The Summer Gala went very well; Meridian News filmed from there (Fri.1st) for their 6pm transmission while the only real hicup was early Saturday afternoon when 37254 failed just within site of Tunbridge Wells West. As it was not possible to control the brake from 37254, the loco and train had to be recovered back to TWW, otherwise the train could have been propelled to High Rocks and/or Groombridge. However, after a bit of close attention on the shed for an hour or two, the fault was cleared and 254 had no further problems.

If 37254's falter was a lowlight, a highlight was that of the multiple working between 37254 and 33063 on Sunday afternoon. Both being of Blue Star configuration, the 'jumper' worked just fine and was enjoyed by many of those who were 'in the know'.

Again, here's a selection of YOUTUBE video CLIPS (in no particular order) we've found of the Summer Gala (1-3 Aug), as filed by some of the visitors (pages open in new browser).....

1st Aug. 37254 1st Aug. 33063, 37254 1st Aug. 33065 37254
1st Aug. 33065, 37254 1st Aug. 33063 1st Aug.33063, 37254
LINESIDE

2nd Aug. High Rocks 33063, 37254

Tim Farmer's 'Preserved-Diesels' website page of the event is HERE

** The S.E.L.G. is not responsible for the content of external internet sites **

And here's a further selection of visitors video CLIPS (again on YOUTUBE, in no particular order) of the Spring Gala 2008 held in the April (pages open in new browser).....

26th April(clip 1) 27th April (clip 1) 27th April (clip 2) 27th April (clip 3)
Behind 37254 Diesel Gala Behind a clagging 33065

	37254 pictured running round during the test runs of 28th March 2008, 33063 providing insurance. (photo - D.Staines). CLICK HERE to see the Spa Valley Rly's news page on the arrival and test running of 37254.[Opens in new browser window].
	37254 with 33063 for support, approaching High Rocks during test runs on 28/3/08 (photo - D.Staines)

33063 & 33065 at The West, during the Summer Diesel Gala of August 2006 (Photo - D.Robinson)

33065 powers away from High Rocks, Aug. 2007 (Photo - J.Nye/Spa Valley Rly. website)

E6047 (73140) maneouvring in Groombridge loop Aug. 2007 (Photo - J.Nye/Spa Valley Rly. website)

DIESEL GALA WEBPAGE PROVIDED BY
THE SOUTH EAST LOCOMOTIVE GROUP

South East Loco Group | Spa Valley Railway | 37254 Homepage