C&WR and Didcot 08 Day 31st July

[autotank]

Quite a significant day in South Oxfordshire on 31st July as we team up with Didcot Railway Centre for a 08 day! This is the first time we've teamed up with our larger neighbours down the road - hopefully it won't be the last either!

Didcot Railway Centre and nearby Cholsey and Wallingford Railway have got together to offer diesel locomotive enthusiasts the opportunity to ride behind four 08 diesel shunting locomotives in one day, on Sunday 31 July, for the first time in South Oxfordshire.

Better known for using steam traction, the use of a diesel locomotive on passenger trains is something of a first for Didcot Railway Centre. This is also the first time that Didcot has hosted a joint event with the Cholsey & Wallingford Railway

In celebration of this link, there will be admission discounts at each venue, on production of the admission ticket from the first. First Great Western runs trains from Cholsey to Didcot (normal First Great Western fares apply), with trains from Didcot to Cholsey departing at 21 minutes past the hour and trains from Cholsey to Didcot departing at approximately 6 minutes past the hour.

As always with preserved locomotives, the usual clause of ‘subject to availability’ applies. At Didcot Railway Centre the diesel locomotive is expected to be in action on the branch line between 10:30–12:00 and on the main demonstration line between 13:00–14:30 and 16:00–17:00. The GWR diesel railcar will also be in operation (and for the steam fans 5322 and Fire Fly will also be hauling trains).

Built by British Railways between the years 1952 – 1962, the 08 class of diesel shunters was the largest single class of diesel locomotive ever built in the UK, numbering 1193 in total. Two of the three 08 locomotives at the Cholsey & Wallingford Railway also saw industrial service after being retired from British Railways, both going on to work for Guinness of Park Royal, London, in 1985, for a further 12 years, before entering preservation.

 

[yummy125]

Cool, I may attend this day out as enjoy the 08 action, The Spa Valley did a triple or quad header shunter fest a few years ago.

 

[autotank]

Looking forward to this event tomorrow - just been down to charge the 08's at Wallingford so they'll start in the morning! We've got lots of West Berkshire Brewery Beer to sell on the train and a thrid coach is available for us to use if we get busy!

Fares are confirmed at a bargain £6 for Adult rover - 10% discount if you have a Didcot Railway Centre Admission ticket).
Don't know exact loco allocations, but be here is how we plan to run the day. The plan means that if you stay for 2 round trips you'll definitely get haulage from all three of our 08's.

1105 WAL-CHO 1 & 2 T'n'T (2 on rear)
1135 CHO-WAL 2
1205 WAL-CHO 3
1235 CHO-WAL 1
1305 WAL-CHO 2
1335 CHO-WAL 3
1405 WAL-CHO 1
1435 CHO-WAL 2
1505 WAL-CHO 3
1535 CHO-WAL 1
1605 WAL-CHO 2
1635 CHO-WAL 3 & 2 T'n'T (2 on rear)

Hope that make sense!

 

[theblackwatch]

This was an enjoyable event, with everything working as planned. Had 08604 in the morning at Didcot (plus 3738 and the overweight FIRE FLY) before heading to Cholsey for 2 trips, the first of which was rather wedged. I don't think the ticket office was expecting so many people to arrive on the 12.27 from Oxford for the 12.35 departure. Not sure how 10% off the £6 fare came to £5.85 though!

 

[33056]

This was an enjoyable event, with everything working as planned. Had 08604 in the morning at Didcot (plus 3738 and the overweight FIRE FLY) before heading to Cholsey for 2 trips, the first of which was rather wedged. I don't think the ticket office was expecting so many people to arrive on the 12.27 from Oxford for the 12.35 departure. Not sure how 10% off the £6 fare came to £5.85 though!

The 1235 off Cholsey was so busy I didn't see you at either end! Though admit that I nipped off to Didcot pretty sharpish after arriving at Wallingford to to make sure I had plenty of time to get 08604 for a few trips.

The lady in the ticket office at Wallingford expressed surprise at the variety of locations people had come from that morning, including Yorkshire so you were not the only one.

All in all an excellent way to spend a day.

 

[yummy125]

Can someone post pic's of this event as I could not make it & would be good for other people to see the 08's in action.

 

[autotank]

I took some poor quality phone pictures here - http://twitpic.com/search#q=thebunkline&type=mixed&page=1

Some youtube videos have also appeared (not mine):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTb_36HYzG8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgscRqM2PCY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZG9trxvJ-Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCH57QrJws4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EoJQTypll4

Enjoy!