Saturday 28th April 2012

The BWR are holding diesel day this Saturday.

Further details later.

Saturday 28th April and Sunday 29th April 2012

The GCR(N) are holding a Spring diesel gala this weekend.

Further details later.

Friday 11th May until Sunday 13th May 2012

This year's popular three-day event is being held from Friday 11th until Sunday 13th May 2012, and coincides with the Dorset Beer Festival being staged next to Harman's Cross station by the Globe public house in Swanage.

There will be an intensive all-diesel three-train service between Norden Park & Ride, Corfe Castle, Harman's Cross, Herston and Swanage from 9am to midnight on the Friday and the Saturday – and until 7pm on the Sunday.

Subject to availability, the visiting main line diesel locomotives starring in the diesel gala will be:

Class 27 D5401 courtesy of the Northampton Type 2 Group.

Class 37 37521 courtesy of Harry Needle Railroad Company.

Class 42 D821 'Greyhound' courtesy of the Diesel Traction Group.

Class 55 55019 courtesy of the Deltic Preservation Society.

The Swanage Railway's resident diesel locomotives also taking part in the annual event on the six-mile Purbeck Line will be Class 08's 08436 and D3591 as well as Class 33's D6515 and 33111

Saturday 12th May and Sunday 13th May 2012

A diesel gala will take place this weekend.

Expected in service are a mixture of TATA Steel, AFRPS, privately owned and ex-BR locomotives.

Working passenger trains should be:  D2853  D2128  07012  08xxx  20xxx  Hunslet  Highline  Unspecified

The 08 at Scunthorpe is currently 08888 but this could obviously change before the event.

All locomotives have been requested and confirmed but are subject to on the day TATA Steel train requirements.  

Trains will run half-hourly and a ride will last approximately 45 minutes.

Trains will be formed of the two-car DMU departing on the hour and a set of brake vans departing on the half hour.

The only way to access this gala is by booking a day membership from Brigg Tourist Centre on 01652 657053, please note that there is a quota system in operation to stop over capacity..

This day membership will cost £10 plus £1 postage fee, please have your credit card ready.

It is highly unlikely that any day memberships will be sold on the gate as the quota system is in operation but if there are day memberships will cost £12.

Please note that photography is not allowed whilst on site only at the AFRPS public platform.

Access to the AFRPS plaform is via Entrance E (15 minute walk from Scunthorpe station).

A roster has already been written but this could change before the day.

Weekend Roster

Saturday 19th May and Sunday 20th May 2012

A home diesel gala with visiting motive power will take place this weekend.

Expected visitors are:  31602  37521  560xx  56091

Home fleet should include:  14xxx  31108  

Sunday 3rd June 2012

A PLEG member has been in contact with the EARM and has been rewarded with the following information (thanks Ken).

D2279 will haul passenger trains at a gala day on June 3rd 2012.

It will also be working 'Driver for a fiver' over the weekends of May 6/7, October 6/7 and is backup on those weekends in case of kettle failure.

No other outings are planned for D2279 in 2012.

The EARM website www.earm.co.uk has only been updated with events up to February but as soon as I know more I will post it here.

Saturday 1st September 2012

PLEG is delighted to announce a re-visit to the attractive 1ft 11¾ gauge Vale of Rheidol Railway on Saturday 1st September 2012, where our special private charter train will be hauled by 0-6-0 Diesel-Hydraulic Number 10, built in 1987 by the Brecon Mountain Railway, using Baguley Drewry parts. PLEG last visited the railway in May 2007.

Only three carriages can be provided so the train will be strictly limited to 100 passengers.

Timings
The private charter train will leave Aberystwyth at 12:15 and travel the full length of line to Devil's Bridge, arriving at 13:20. After a leg stretch and photo opportunity, we shall depart at 14:15 before arriving back at Aberystwyth at 15:20. The charter has been timed to co-ordinate with Arriva Trains Wales Aberystwyth arrival at 11:20 and departure at 15:30 or 17:30, the later departure allowing time to perhaps visit the Cliff Railway.

Route
There will be some interest to the track enthusiast as the charter is booked to use Aberffrwd loop, to pass the steam service. Capel Bangor loop has also been requested but availability will be dictated by train movements on the day. Finally, the non-preferred platform at Aberystwyth will be used in a shunt move, but a run to the depot will not be available.

Tickets
A souvenir ticket will be provided to commemorate the event - tickets are priced at £15 per person and the charter will operate subject to a minimum of forty five participants. In the event that minimum numbers are not met and the charter is cancelled any monies paid over will be refunded in full. Passengers will also have the opportunity to "Gift Aid" their fare and all revenue collected will be donated to the Vale of Rheidol Railway.

To find out more about the railway, visit www.rheidolrailway.co.uk

Bookings
To reserve your place please email  kev.adlam@pleg.org.uk in the first instance as advance booking is essential - prepayment instructions will then be provided. Alternatively, telephone enquiries can be made between 8pm and 9pm Monday - Friday on 01270 662 396. When booking please state if you intend on travelling by service train as low cost ATW group travel arrangements may be available from Crewe, Birmingham or Shrewsbury. Please indicate your preferred group travel start point.

Full Details

Some gala dates for 2012 have already been announced.

These can be found courtesy of the WNXX forum by clicking the following link  link.

Details of these will be posted here when more information is forthcoming.