Has there ever been a DMU Gala?

That is an event dedicated to railcars and multiple units.

 

Usually one is held each year - I remember going to Severn Valley about 2010 for such and it was brilliant!

 

Llangollen run one annually (4th-5th June this year), East Lancs have ran occasional ones (this year 4th November) and regularly on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway (this year Mutiple Memories is on 13th - 14th May).

 

Can't remember date but think it was last year that I went up to Wirksworth where a DMU gala was held. Glorious day!

 

The East Lancs were planning one last year but had to downscale it due to shortage of available units. I'm pretty sure the Mid Norfolk have run DMU events.

 

The mother of all events was the unrepeatable Severn Valley Railcar50 gala in 2004, where a 12 coach formation was run in multiple on the Saturday!

Llangollen, Ecclesbourne and arguably East Lancs are the only railways who have a DMU gala annually (ELR is usually more of a running day than a gala).

Other Railways (such as Dean Forest, Churnet Valley, Mid Norfolk, Severn Valley) have held DMU events but they have been sporadic and in most cases now discontinued.

The Railcar Association's annual convention is at a different railway each year and often turns into a modest gala event. This has led to railways not known for DMU events to have a small gala for " one year only". It's the East Lanc's turn this year.

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Yes, I went to the one in 2004; remember it well for late evening workings especially. The one in (I think) 2010 was great, too.

John

 

The ELR do this year should be the biggest yet with the railcar association turning up as well. Also be the following resident units out:

117
122 bubble 55001
Possibility of the cravens 105 if it's ready in time.

The 104 that arrived from churnet valley last yr along with the rest of the birmingham railcar workgroups stock.

Also the 110 calder valley unit hopefully. Recently returned to bury after having lived at wensleydale for a good few years. Sadly thumper 207202 is still knackered, asbestos was mentioned as an issue & no working loos in the centre car.

 

Much interest In the Bubblecars Chiltern are about to withdraw ?

 

https://www.facebook.com/wyvernrail....322618.89431527174/10154293168827175/?type=3

 

A short page has been added to the SVR Wiki for the 2010 event http://www.svrwiki.com/Railcar_50. It's collaborative so feel free to edit (or add details here and others will)

Patrick

 

The Class 105 and 126 didn't attend the event, and Derby Lightweight M79018 is missing from the list, this was one of the ones on display.

The AC Cars railbus which visited was W79978.

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Thank you

Patrick

 

Chris - thanks. I've updated the wiki page to remove the Class 126, add M79018 and add the ID for W79978.

There is a photo on the link below which suggests 56458 was there so I have left it in, which still makes the total of 16 participants. Can you confirm if the ID in the photo is correct?
https://www.preserved-diesels.co.uk/events/svr_railcar50_11.htm
Thanks
Robin

 

56458 was scrapped many many moons ago, the nearest vehicle to it is 56456, preserved at Llangollen and definitely not a visitor to Railcar50. The vehicle in your picture is 56358, a Class 101 already included in your list further up.

Incidentally, I believe the original event was actually named Railcar50 rather than Railcar 50, the lack of a space being a very subtle difference!

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Sorry I could have been clearer with my earlier post. The Class 126 set didn't visit as a whole DMU, but the middle coach only (Sc59404) did visit as a static display only. This gives you the 16th vehicle rather than the illusive "Class 105 56458".

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Gala name and attendees both updated, thanks for your assistance.

Robin

 

The ELR will deffo be popular this yr with the railcar association turning up mob handed for their annual bash. Plus the cravens, & the 104 that arrived from churnet last year will hopefully debut. Also we've got a 117 which I believe is ex glos & warks railway. Plus there's the mega rateable addition of the 110 calder valley unit having recently returned home from the wensleydale railway & there's also the sole surviving 110 centre car (currently running in the 117) which I hope will be reunited with it's partners.