Our popular diesel gala returns for 2025, this time for 2 days! Enjoy a feast of heritage diesel traction, with an intensive train service operating.

Our home fleet of preserved diesel locomotives will be operating an intensive timetable, alongside visiting locomotives (to be confirmed).

Locomotives confirmed for the event are:

• Class 04 D2246
• Class 04 D2271
• Class 25 D7612
• Class 33 33002
• Class 47 No 47715 (with massive thanks to Rail Engineering Solutions for their support of our event)
• Class 56 locomotives 56045 and 56103 (with massive thanks to Devon and Cornwall Railways for their support of our event).

Our early bird advance tickets are now on sale – book now to secure great discounts. These are only available until Sunday 2nd November 2025. Please note that no discounts (such as members, PRIV, shareholders, HRA, disabled/carer etc) are available. Only ranger tickets are available to purchase – there are 1 and discounted 2 day tickets available.

Three train sets will be operating, including 2x 5 carriage main sets and a 2 carriage shuttle set. Both main sets will feature a buffet and bar service. Hot food, including breakfast rolls and pasties, will be available to buy on board during the day.

More details coming very soon – check back for all the updates!

Gala update – 1st November 2025

We are delighted to announce a further visiting locomotive for our diesel gala – Class 47 No. 47715 will be attending, with massive thanks to Rail Engineering Solutions for facilitating the visit. Recently outshopped in new RES livery, the loco has been a popular performer and will mark the first visit in many years of a Class 47 to the South Devon Railway. 47715 will be hauling trains along the full length of the line on both days.

With all visiting locomotives now confirmed, we are able to release the working timetable, which includes locomotive allocations. Click here to download the Working Timetable.

Gala update – 23rd October 2025

We are delighted to announce TWO visiting locomotives for our Diesel Gala, taking place on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 November. With thanks to our very good friends at Devon and Cornwall Railways (DCRail), Class 56s 56045 and 56103 will be visiting and hauling trains along our branch line, marking the first time ever that a Class 56 has worked on the Totnes to Buckfastleigh line.

The locomotives are usually utilised hauling heavy freight trains conveying construction materials, so this will be a rare opportunity to travel behind the locomotives on a heritage railway.56045 has recently been turned out in BR Blue livery, to much acclaim, and this will be the first opportunity to ride behind the locomotive since its overhaul. 56103 will be appearing in DCRail corporate colours.

It is expected that one Class 56 locomotive will be used each day during the gala with the second locomotive on static display. The operating days of each locomotive will be confirmed shortly, along with the working timetable. Both locomotives will be appearing subject to availability.