I was very pleased to see that the Severn Valley Railway were holding a Diesel Gala and it would start on a Thursday, my day off! I'd seen this several weeks before hand and suggested this to Peter and he was able to get the day off too.
It was an early start as I left Plymouth at 0430 to pick Peter up from Newton Abbot at 0500. It was cold too! We had plenty of time as the first train wasn't until 0925 off Kidderminster but we didn't want to take any chances and miss the first train.
We made it in plenty of time so we headed into town and got breakfast from Wetherspoons, The Penny Black.
Neither of us had done the line before so the plan I'd made would enable us to get the whole line and all but one loco on the gala. That one loco was D821 but we had fortunately both had haulage off of it before at the West Somerset Railway (in 2010 if I remember correctly).
So the first train was D8059 which we took all the way to Bridgnorth. I was recently here (but only had a wonder round) so took Peter down to where D1013 was hiding and we photted all that was here on the depot. We then returned behind D1062 (also had before at the WSR!). Was supposed to be behind this to Bewdley where the rest of the day would see us catching a mixture of shuttles and full services to get haulage off every thing! It became apparent very soon that things were wrong! We were held for ages whilst waiting for an up train to Bridgnorth. It was running 20 late and wasn't 33108 like it should have been! Great! Plan foiled already! 33108 wouldn't start apparently (flat battery). So we stayed on the train to Kidderminster. The plan was now out the window because nothing was running on time and they had changed locos round from running what was planned. Coupled to that was the fact 50026 was missing (not a problem for me as I had it at Swanage earlier in the year but Peter needed it!) and the 31. It did appear that 37906 was running though instead. It was now a matter of trying to get what we needed when we could. We did try to establish what was where and try and tie it to the plan as the 08s needed to be done whatever!
After arriving at Kiddy we then caught D8188 back to Bewdley. Then it was the shuttle back with 37906 leading. We then worked out we needed to be at Bewdley to meet 50031 so it was off behind D8059 once more. 50031 duly turned up and back to Kiddy! They then attached 50135 to 031 and it was a double header to Bewdley.
Now time for some 1st Gen DMU action! Back at Kiddy we met Dave who had arrived for the 08s (well 08;72 in particular!). A short while later 56311 turned up with 50026 and 31601 from the mainline. So the 50 and 31 would be here for tomorrow then!!!!
After a long wait we finally saw the 08s heading into the station. Once the stock arrived they backed onto it and we were soon off.
At Bewdley I was going to catch 33108 back to Kiddy. Then the DMU back to Bewdley for the 45 on the last train to Kiddy. But it was all a bit tight and didn't want to risk missing the connections for two reasons. The 45 would be my first haulage from a Peak and secondly the car was at Kiddy and I didn't fancy being stuck at Bewdley! Peter had had 33108 before and was heading into Bewdley to visit some Cask Marque pubs. I noticed that the 33 was to run back to Bewdley and then double head with the 45! I decided to do this as it was less risky and people assured me the 33 would be back so I would still get both!
So into Bewdley I went and visited the pubs with Peter. It was real ale week and couple of halfs would be fine.
Afterwards it was home time. We called into Stourport-on-Severn for dinner at the Spoons before I headed home via Exeter (to drop Dave off) and Newton (for Peter). A great day! The line complete, a load of new locos for haulage and plenty of new spots (well nearly all the steam was new!).
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