• Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

Watercress Line Diesel Gala - 10th - 12th July 2026

fgwrich

fgwrich

Established Member
Joined
15 Apr 2009
Messages
10,611
Location
Hampshire
Leaving it somewhat late, a DC Rail pair has joined the lineup.

Latest Visitors Announcement (24/06/2026):

Stealing the spotlight is a true headline maker: Class 60 no. 60099 Ben More Assynt, making history as the first Class 60 ever to operate at The Watercress Line, and the first time Class 60 no. 60099 has ever run on any heritage railway, courtesy of DCRail.

Built between 1989 and 1993 as part of a powerful fleet designed for heavy freight, Class 60s are among the most formidable diesel locomotives in the UK.

No. 60099 is powered by a Mirrlees Blackstone 8-cylinder engine producing around 3,100 hp, built specifically to haul demanding loads with reliability and strength. Today, locomotives like 60099 typically move vast quantities of aggregates for construction projects – from housing developments to major infrastructure such as HS2.

Her appearance at the gala offers a rare chance to see (and hear) this modern freight giant tackle a heritage line.

Joining her is a fellow heavy hitter from DCRail, Class 56 no. 56103, another powerful freight workhorse as she approaches her 50th anniversary.

Built between 1976 and 1984, 135 Class 56 locomotives were produced for heavy freight on the British Rail system. The first 30 were built in Romania, and the remainder being built by British Rail Engineering Ltd., split between Doncaster and Crewe works.

The locomotives were fitted with a Ruston Paxman V16 engine rated at 3200 hp and this was the final
development of the 16SVT engine previously fitted in the Class 50’s and Class 40’s before that.

Both the Class 60 and Class 56 will be running onSaturday 11th and Sunday 12th only, making those days a must for enthusiasts.
Click to expand...

 
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

BR Traction

BR Traction

Member
Joined
9 Apr 2026
Messages
59
Location
South Yorkshire
I may be completely wrong, but I thought 60001 has been to the Watercress Line on a Pathfinder railtours excursion with 50031+50049. The train started at Sheffield with the class 60 going on at London Victoria station. I can not remember when this was, but I would guess 2002, 2003 or sometime around there. Sorry to be a bit vague on precise details.
 
GB&K Joint

GB&K Joint

Member
Joined
9 Aug 2020
Messages
23
Location
UK
BR Traction said:
I may be completely wrong, but I thought 60001 has been to the Watercress Line on a Pathfinder railtours excursion with 50031+50049. The train started at Sheffield with the class 60 going on at London Victoria station. I can not remember when this was, but I would guess 2002, 2003 or sometime around there. Sorry to be a bit vague on precise details.
Click to expand...
You are right, the "The Alton Observer" which ran on 9th October 2004.
Referenced here https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/00s/041009pt.htm and here, photos under the Rail Tours heading https://features.rcts.org.uk/the-societys-locomotives/60001-2/
 
BR Traction

BR Traction

Member
Joined
9 Apr 2026
Messages
59
Location
South Yorkshire
Thank you for your reply. With such little information to go on, even the year was wrong, that is incredible how you have managed to find that railtour. It is a joy and a privilege to be able to be a very small part of this forum. The shear amount of information and knowledge is quite remarkable amongst all its members. Thank you to you all.
 
A

Ailsa_Craig

Member
Joined
11 Dec 2023
Messages
48
Location
Southampton
BR Traction said:
Thank you for your reply. With such little information to go on, even the year was wrong, that is incredible how you have managed to find that railtour. It is a joy and a privilege to be able to be a very small part of this forum. The shear amount of information and knowledge is quite remarkable amongst all its members. Thank you to you all.
Click to expand...
I was toying with the idea of going, but the thought of a Tug slugging up the Alps is a clincher
 
J

Jack2015

Member
Joined
18 Dec 2016
Messages
63
Location
South Coast
The Friday looks a bit flat if 50027 isn't running and a wobbling 31210 is the only loco visitor on the day. That leaves a depleted home fleet to run the day. The weekend looks better with the 60 and 56 but for those who have planned the Friday visit it looks a bit disappointing
 
fgwrich

fgwrich

Established Member
Joined
15 Apr 2009
Messages
10,611
Location
Hampshire
Final loco announcement (and of course something to work with 3417) is 33108 ahead of its Southern Region holiday at the Bluebell.

VISITING LOCOMOTIVES​

Latest Visitor Annoucement (30/06/2026):
We are delighted to announce that our final visitor will be Class 33 no. 33108, courtesy of our friends at 33/1 Preservation Company.
Originally built as standard (KA) Class 33 locomotives for the Southern Region by the Birmingham Carriage & Wagon Company in Smethwick from 1959.
Just prior to the 1967 Bournemouth electrification, 19 of the type were modified to operate in push & pull mode with Southern Region multiple unit stock and became externally different when fitted with high level air pipes and jumper cables.
The electrification of the Waterloo to Bournemouth line, which culminated in the end of Steam on the Southern Region on 9th July 1967, saw a need to work trains efficiently between Bournemouth and Weymouth, without making passengers change trains. The solution was to propel one or two 4TC units from Waterloo to Bournemouth by a high powered 4REP unit (3000 hp). The REP would push the un-powered TC stock to Bournemouth, where a 33/1 would attach to the Country end and REP detached from the other, with the TC stock continuing onto Weymouth, creating a seamless solution for the passengers.
Class 33 no. 33108 was delivered new to Hither Green Depot in September 1960 as a standard KA locomotive and numbered as D6521. 1963 saw the locomotive move to Eastleigh depot where she would remain for the rest of her British Rail career. 1967 saw conversion to a KB type push – pull fitted loco, and the introduction of the TOPS system saw the loco renumbered to 33108. Withdrawn from Eastleigh on 24th May 1993 and purchased by the 33/1 Preservation Company in January 1997.
Click to expand...
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2521.jpeg
    IMG_2521.jpeg
    525.6 KB · Views: 21
UP13

UP13

Member
Joined
27 Jul 2018
Messages
509
fgwrich said:
Final loco announcement (and of course something to work with 3417) is 33108 ahead of its Southern Region holiday at the Bluebell.
Click to expand...
That answers the question of what will propel 3417.
 
F

Forty29

Member
Joined
10 Dec 2021
Messages
761
Location
Bicester
Announced yesterday evening 66613 visiting Friday only? 56 and 60 working Saturday and Sunday.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

However
Forty29 said:
Announced yesterday evening 66613 visiting Friday only? 56 and 60 working Saturday and Sunday.
Click to expand...
However not on their website yet.
 
N

norbitonflyer

Established Member
Joined
24 Mar 2020
Messages
5,660
Location
SW London
Sun Chariot

Sun Chariot

Established Member
Joined
16 Mar 2009
Messages
6,528
Location
2 miles and 50 years away from the Longmoor Milita
F

Forty29

Member
Joined
10 Dec 2021
Messages
761
Location
Bicester
Just a theory but perhaps the unit can't be driven from the cab on the main line so the routing allows for the locomotive to be at the front. I see the class 66 still not confirmed by the Mid Hant's Railway to operate could it be the loco taking the 4VEP from Strawberry Hill?
Just surmising.
 
PP57601

PP57601

Member
Joined
3 Jun 2019
Messages
78
Website still states ‘Home Fleet’ 12082 is operating, yet it doesn’t seem to appear in the timetable/loco roster section anywhere ?????

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

norbitonflyer said:
I see they are advertising their class 11 as running. Does that mean it will be in passenger service?
Click to expand...
The loco roster doesn’t show it anywhere?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

norbitonflyer said:
Do they publish a timetable?
Click to expand...
Yes. It’s on their website (check the diesel gala page).
 
Last edited:
UP13

UP13

Member
Joined
27 Jul 2018
Messages
509
norbitonflyer said:
Very, errm...... interesting. Seems a very contrived way of avoiding having to reverse anywhere. Which seems odd, given that it will be working push-pull over the weekend, presumably with the same diesel loco that will be needed to for, at least, the Shepherds Bush to Basingstoke leg.
Click to expand...

Forty29 said:
Just a theory but perhaps the unit can't be driven from the cab on the main line so the routing allows for the locomotive to be at the front. I see the class 66 still not confirmed by the Mid Hant's Railway to operate could it be the loco taking the 4VEP from Strawberry Hill?
Just surmising.
Click to expand...

I would have thought that the simplest way to get to Alton without reversing would be to Strawberry Hill to Balham via Clapham then loop round via Tooting and Wimbledon then straight on to Alton.

It will work push-pull with 33108, which isn't mainline certified anyway.
 
PP57601

PP57601

Member
Joined
3 Jun 2019
Messages
78
So not only did the organisers state 60099 was the first of the class to run on the route (it isn’t) they also claim the FL66 only works on Friday, yet according to the online loco roster/timetable, it’s working all three days.
 
F

Forty29

Member
Joined
10 Dec 2021
Messages
761
Location
Bicester
Must be an error MHR website saying on display only Saturday and Sunday but working Friday. Haven't looked at roster yet
 
43096

43096

On Moderation
Joined
23 Nov 2015
Messages
18,735
PP57601 said:
So not only did the organisers state 60099 was the first of the class to run on the route (it isn’t) they also claim the FL66 only works on Friday, yet according to the online loco roster/timetable, it’s working all three days.
Click to expand...
But they have managed to get it right that 66613 is a Heavy Haul loco, not Freightliner.
 
fgwrich

fgwrich

Established Member
Joined
15 Apr 2009
Messages
10,611
Location
Hampshire
At least one loco has arrived though, 33108 is being unloaded at Alresford as we speak. If I were at the MHR though I’d be keeping West Coast or HeavyHaul on standby for that VEP!
 
Sun Chariot

Sun Chariot

Established Member
Joined
16 Mar 2009
Messages
6,528
Location
2 miles and 50 years away from the Longmoor Milita
Last edited:
E

ExRes

Established Member
Joined
16 Dec 2012
Messages
8,289
Location
Back in Sussex
0617 0O31 on its way from Burton OT Wetmore to Strawberry Hill CSD this morning, meanwhile Saturdays 0544 0A87 Willesden to Alton is in place for 60099 & 56103
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Top