The East Kent Railway is proud to announce its first ‘proper’ Diesel Gala for many years to be held over the weekend of the 27th and 28th July 2013. The 2 ½ mile railway near Dover will be celebrating its industrial mining connections by running an intensive timetable using our industrial diesel shunting locos, which saw use across the country in various mines and factories.
We have planned for these locos to run in different formations throughout the day, using the Class 101 DMMU and 2-EPB 5759 as hauled stock. Locos will run in top and tailed or double headed fashion, with many surprises in store!
Our featured locos, subject to availability, include:
Ruston & Hornsby 0-6-0 LSSH, numbered 427 and named ‘The Buffs.’
English Electric 0-6-0DH ‘Richborough Castle’ D1197.
Fowler 416002 ‘Snowdown’
BR Class 09 09025 D4113
We have also secured Dutch Class 08 NS600, 687 from Middlepeak Railways, to become the first visiting loco in over ten years.
Saturday evening should see a Fish & Chip supper train run using 4-CEP 7105 as well as plenty of ale!
We aim to use the 0-4-0 Fowler on brake van rides on the Wigmore Lane extension, which would see the loco and brakevan running down in the morning and back in the evening, a rare treat for enthusiasts, with a loco that has never hauled passengers before. The loco is an ex-Snowdown colliery loco, which spent a part of its working life just two miles up the road at Snowdown, before being re-united with its partner loco ‘St Dunstan’ at the EKR.
Timetables will be released nearer the time. Various trade stands and societies will be present and there will be a café serving hot and cold food.
Real ale and a BBQ are also planned.
The railway can be easily reached from London by taking a train towards Dover Priory and alighting at Shepherdswell.
Visit our website for more details –
www.eastkentrailway.co.uk
