The best place to see a few BR blue diesels in action

[SouthernBlue80s]

Hi.

I don't often have free time so I need to plan way in advance.

 

BR blue was my era. I have made it to Barrow Hill a couple of times and had a look, nothing running at the time.

 

But the smell of the place even, took me back. They had a Peak there and I couldn't stop smelling it, transported me back it time.

 

I would love to see, hear and smell the locos that were about in the 70s 80s again. 

 

Any recommendations on which are the best places to go or what are the best diesel days. 

 

I am not really gened up on what is where with regards to all this.

 

Thanks 

Steve

 

 

[BoD]

Look out for preserved railway’s Diesel Galas.  They will be running their diesel fleets on a more intense timetable with possibly one or two guest locos too.  Some locos may be green but they smell and sound the same.

 

You don’t say where you are based or how far you are willing to travel.

[SouthernBlue80s]

1 minute ago, BoD said:

Look out for preserved railway’s Diesel Galas.  They will be running their diesel fleets on a more intense timetable with possibly one or two guest locos too.  Some locos may be green but they smell and sound the same.

 

You don’t say where you are based or how far you are willing to travel.

 

Thanks. I am based in the South East, however I make it into the Midlands every now and then and very occasionaly to Bristol

[Steamport Southport]

If you were up North then I would have said the East Lancs.

 

I can't comment on Southern ones, but Midlands then I would look at the SVR.

 

Here's the line up for the next gala. They have two or three a year so easy to plan in advance.

 

https://svr.co.uk/event/spring-diesel-festival/

 

Visiting locomotives:

Two Rail Adventure HST Powercars

Electro-Diesel 73119 ‘Paul Taylor’

Class 69 no. 69009 ‘Western Consort’

Class 37 37263

Class 37 37409 ‘Loch Awe’

Class 46 D182

Freightliner Class 70

Freightliner Class 59

Colas Short HST

Class 20s 20007, 20048, 20142, 20189, 20205

Colas Locomotive (TBC)

 

Home-fleet:

Class 14 D9551

Class 17 D8568

Class 33 33108

Class 40 40106 Atlantic Conveyor

Class 50 50007 Hercules

Class 50 50035 Ark Royal

Class 52 D1062 Western Courier

Class 52 D1015 Western Champion

 

Tours of the Kidderminster Diesel Depot and Carriage Shed will be available each day (at additional cost)

 

 

Jason

[young37215]

Not quite so far to travel as the SVR, the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire has a handful of blue liveried diesels, several more in other liveries and a 3 day gala in July. The line is 14 miles long allowing for a decent run and plenty of photo opportunities. 
 

current blue locos at the GWSR 
 

20227

24081

26043

37215

45149

47105

[SouthernBlue80s]

Thank you both.

I will give the SVR a go first

[Morello Cherry]

FWIW there are some opportunities in the South-East. The Midhants has their Diesel Gala in July which has 20s, 47, 50 and some TBC

 

https://watercressline.co.uk/special-days/diesel-gala/

 

Swanage have their Diesel Gala this weekend:

 

https://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/events/view/diesel-gala

 

Fleet:

Class 33, 33 012

Class 33, 33 111

Class 69, 69002

Class 24, D5054 "Phil Southern"

Class 52, D1015 "Western Champion"

Class 37, 37 219

Class 20, 20 302

Class 20, 20 311

Class 50, 50 021

 

I believe at least the 33/1 and Western are in BR Blue, the 50 is in large logo.

[Matt37268]

4 hours ago, SouthernBlue80s said:

Thank you both.

I will give the SVR a go first

Hate to sound like Jim Bowen but let’s have a look at what you could have won… 😀 In all seriousness if you want BR Blue I’d recommend a visit to the SVR, the only things based there that aren’t blue are 37263, (Civil Engineers grey) 33108 (Dutch), 40106, (apparently it never wore blue although it may have had it as an undercoat 😵‍💫) and the Teddy Bear, (BR Green)

I believe that a certain class 50 renamed after a composer born in Worcestershire will be wearing a livery that it didn’t carry for very long so it should be a tad ‘Large’ if you get what I mean 😉

[sjp23480]

KESR were running a BR Blue class 20 last weekend?

 

Depending on where you are in the south east, this might be worth a look?

Edited May 10 by sjp23480

[adb968008]

12 hours ago, Matt37268 said:

Hate to sound like Jim Bowen but let’s have a look at what you could have won… 😀 In all seriousness if you want BR Blue I’d recommend a visit to the SVR, the only things based there that aren’t blue are 37263, (Civil Engineers grey) 33108 (Dutch), 40106, (apparently it never wore blue although it may have had it as an undercoat 😵‍💫) and the Teddy Bear, (BR Green)

I believe that a certain class 50 renamed after a composer born in Worcestershire will be wearing a livery that it didn’t carry for very long so it should be a tad ‘Large’ if you get what I mean 😉

On come guys, theres another 5 missing from that picture.

Must try harder.

 

😀

[Matt37268]

4 hours ago, adb968008 said:

On come guys, theres another 5 missing from that picture.

Must try harder.

 

😀

2 of them were booked to show up but 1of them decided to have an accident in its shed at Williton! 

[adb968008]

1 hour ago, Matt37268 said:

2 of them were booked to show up but 1of them decided to have an accident in its shed at Williton! 

I hope some day. D 1041 rides again. Ive had many good rides on that one.

 

 

[Matt37268]

5 hours ago, adb968008 said:

I hope some day. D 1041 rides again. Ive had many good rides on that one.

 

 

I’m guessing that’s Ramsbottom in the mid/late eighties? You think it’s not that long ago but it’s getting on for nearly 40 years. 

[Steamport Southport]

10 hours ago, Matt37268 said:

I’m guessing that’s Ramsbottom in the mid/late eighties? You think it’s not that long ago but it’s getting on for nearly 40 years. 

 

It's like when someone say's "twenty years ago" and you think they are talking about the 1970s rather than the 2000s!

 

 

Jason