Didcot Railway Centre: Diamond Jubilee Gala Part I

Didcot Railway Centre
Diamond Jubilee Gala - Part I
Sunday 1st August 2021

Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Great Western Railway Society, the Diamond Jubilee Gala saw United States Army Transportation Corps. S160 2-8-0 6046 visiting from the Churnet Valley Railway and Lambton, Hetton & Joicey Collieries No. 29 from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, joining new build GWR Saint 4-6-0 2999 Lady of Legend and recently overhauled GWR 0-4-0ST Avonside Engine Company of Bristol of 1897 No. 1340 Trojan.

While a big American locomotive may seem out of place at a former GWR engine shed, during the war S160s were stabled at Didcot.

We see the four steam locomotives in action hauling passenger trains on the main and branch lines, Trojan shunting a wagon up the coaling stage, locomotives being turned on the turntable and the Saint shunting a Hall into the shed.

At the start of the day it was the turn of the diesels on the running line with British Railways Diesel Hydraulic Class 14 0-6-0 D9516 seen running on the main line.

A final parting shot is 4079 Pendennis Castle in the workshop approaching the end of its overhaul after repatriation from Australia.

www.preservedrailway.co.uk
(C) Lee Andrew Davies 2021