Diesel Gala

Our popular diesel gala returns for 2026! 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 so far are:

• Class 08 08641 “Pride of Laira” (with massive thanks to Great Western Railway and Laira Depot for their support of our event)
• Class 09 09010
• Class 25 25185
• Class 25 25262
• Class 33 33002
• Class 50 50050 “Fearless” (with massive thanks to Locomotive Services Limited for their support of our event)
• Class 60 locomotive 60022, freshly rebuilt and outshopped in stunning Midland Railway Crimson Lake livery (with massive thanks to DCRail 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 Saturday 31st October 2026. 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. Please note that early bird tickets are not refundable.

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!

Event update – 28th October 2026

We are delighted to announce our next visiting locomotive for the event. With a massive thank you to our friends at Great Western Railway, Class 08 08641 “Pride of Laira” will be attending from GWR’s Laira Depot, and is planned to haul trains on both days of the event.

Class 08s are often regarded as having been the backbone of the railways, having carried out shunting and local trip workings in yards and sidings around the country for many years. The first Class 08 was built in 1952, and 996 were built in total, making it the most numerous of any British locomotive class ever built. Despite being so widespread, they have not always been the easiest to ride behind due to the nature of being restricted to shunting and short-distance freight work, so therefore this visit will provide a very rare opportunity to travel behind this locomotive that is normally busy shunting vehicles on Laira depot, and indeed will probably be the only opportunity for some people to do so.

It’s the final few days of our discounted early-bird tickets, so do book soon to enjoy the event. We are expecting one further visiting locomotive announcement to be made tomorrow, pending confirmation of availability by the owners.

Photo (C) Rob Evans

Event update – 27th October 2026

We are delighted to announce our next visiting locomotive for this event. With great thanks to Locomotive Services Limited, Class 50 50050 “Fearless” will be making its class’ debut hauling passenger trains on the South Devon Railway.

With a long association with the West Country, in particular hauling express trains to London and across the country from many Devon locations, this locomotive will not be far from home whilst pulling trains along our 7 miles next to the river Dart.

Class 50050 was the first Class 50 built, entering service in 1967, making it very nearly 60 years old. Since withdrawal from British Rail service in 1994, the locomotive has had a varied career, most recently becoming part of the impressive LSL fleet, and can be seen hauling charter trains on the mainline.

Our working timetables for the event are very nearly complete and will be released in the next few days – but before then we have not one, but two more visiting locomotive announcements to make, meaning this is shaping up to be one of our biggest diesel galas yet. Keep an eye out for further announcements imminently! Discounted early bird tickets come off sale this Saturday, so be sure to book your tickets now.

Photo (C) Jonathan Rawlinson

Event update – 15th September 2026

We are delighted to announce that Class 60 60022 is the first visitor announced for our gala. Unveiled in striking Midland Railway Crimson Lake livery and named “Ingleborough”, this locomotive will certainly be a popular visitor, having never previously worked passenger trains on a heritage railway, and this being the first passenger working at all since September 2006.

No 60022 has received a thorough rebuild and has been outshopped in Midland Railway livery in recognition of 2026 being the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Settle & Carlisle Railway and DCRail being based in Derby, the former headquarters of the Midland Railway. The Midland Railway Society has said of the livery  ‘’What the company have produced is remarkable. It is without room for contradiction the most accurate reproduction of a Midland Railway engine livery – not withstanding it is a diesel – ever by anywhere other than Derby Works. The level of detail is phenomenal’’. The diesel gala will be the first opportunity for the public to see the locomotive the magnificent locomotive close up.