The Annual Gala took place from Friday 8th to Sunday 10th September 2023 with an intensive timetable featuring home based and visiting locomotives. Many of our Wings and Wheels Society members friends and fellow cranks visited this brilliant gala over the course of a long weekend. The Severn Valley Railway Autumn Diesel Bash celebrated 50 years of Diesel Preservation. Many former Western Region diesel-hydraulics were the leading locomotives at the event, this was the largest gathering of operational and preserved Westerns. Visiting locos were as follows: Class 35 Hymek D7076, Class 42 Warship D832 'Onslaught', Class 52 Western D1048 'Western Lady' display only, Class 46 D182 (46045) with Trevor Dorrington Peak Loco Company Ltd Director at the power handle, and Class 20 20189. The Home fleet on our visit day was Class 35 Hymek D7029 display only, Class 42 Warship D821 "Greyhound", Class 52 Western D1013 "Western Ranger" display only, Class 52 Western D1015 "Western Champion", and Western D1062 "Western Courier", Class 14 D9551 Class 17 D8568, Class 20 20048 Class 37 37263 and Class 50 50035 "Ark Royal". Most trains had real ale on tap and bottles, with SVR beer pumps named after various Hydraulic named locos! Seeing that ales supplied by the Excellent Bewdley Brewery were available we sampled many of them, this had to be done! The day provided a Mini beer festival, and diesel-hydraulic's with sound, and a themed 5-inch gauge railway and nameplate display at The Engine House. The Severn Valley Railway worked with several other preservation groups to make this unique event possible and special. So from us and all that visited the excellent Diesel Bash we would like to say many thanks to all volunteers and organisers through their hard work for making this a top Diesel Gala to visit, keep up the great work folks, It was A day that certainly won't be forgotten.
Copyright of all pictures in this gallery belong to R Kelsey.