MARKING THE 40th ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF WESTERN REGION DIESEL-HYDRAULIC LOCOMOTIVES:- THE WEST SOMERSET RAILWAY’s DIESEL GALA AND RAIL ALE TRAIL

JUNE 9th to 11th

1977 was the end of the era of the diesel-hydraulic locomotives on the Western Region of British Railways. When dieselisation of B.R. began the W.R introduced a number of classes which used hydraulic transmissions rather than the electric transmissions deployed on other regions. Of the various hydraulic classes the most successful were the Class 35 Hymek mixed traffic machines and the express Class 52 “Westerns”.

The Williton-based Diesel and Electric Group has a number of diesel-hydraulics in their care and during the June 9th to 11th Gala and Rail Ale Trail D1010 “Western Campaigner” and “Hymek” D7017 will be in action, creating some “Maybach Music” in the Quantock Hills. Other diesel hydraulics D7018 and Class 14’s D9518 and D9526 will be found at the DEG’s depot and heritage centre at Williton which will be open to the public over the three days. Or enjoy a pint in the garden at Stogumber station and listen as they climb away to Crowcombe Heathfield, perhaps?