What makes a great diesel gala?

Set areas for photographers to go and do their thing, away from the rest of the crowds.

After the Eastleigh Works event a few years ago and being subjected (along with families) to a barrage of F* and C* flavoured abuse for walking and stopping with others to look at locos and stock, I vowed not to go back to a diesel gala. Last year I went to East Lancs. Same thing happened again - an odd belief by some that a perfect photograph was the ultimate aim and that the majority of visitors who wanted to go look at or in things were less important. Diesel galas are a brilliant way to engage younger people with a more recent railway past – yet there’s a nasty taste left in my mouth after experiencing idiots at two.

That said, we then happened (by chance) upon the Mid Norfolk, who did the best themed gala I’ve ever seen – Traveller’s Fayre food, Rail Alphabet authentically used on menus and signage, all the right messaging and even Casey Jones burgers sold in the on-train dining car. Period 70s/80s cars in the station forecourt too. Now that’s a mark of a team of people who are thinking beyond the trains – they’re thinking about a complete immersive heritage experience. And as long as the immersive experience doesn’t include me being called a F* C* by a photographer with his own opinion of what constitutes an authentic 80s experience then I’m in.

 

Interesting question.

I would certain say that, in my opinion, variety is important - not just locos, but liveries. Usually, more variety = more interest. And a timetable that makes the most of that variety is a good idea too.

Plenty of food and beer available.

Advance notice of visiting locomotives is always a winner too (Severn Valley take note!).

What NOT to do:
This from experience: Do NOT enlist volunteer ticket inspectors who walk through the train complaining about the class 50/25/40 etc etc hauling the train being a "piece of crap".
Do not enlist volunteers/staff who make comments like "I'll be glad when the real (i.e steam) engines are back out next weekend". Sorry, but if diesel locomotives offend you, don't volunteer to work a diesel gala!
Like it or not, diesel enthusiasts paid good money for said event and, barring bad behaviour, don't deserve to be treated like something less than the vaunted steam enthusiasts.

 

Totally agree with your points about staff complaining about traction, myself and several of my friends have taken staff to task at a certain railway about refering to 'smelly diesels' etc. So at said railway when they were giving out passenger satisfaction quuestionaires on the bit about 'What could our on train staff do to make your day better?' we politely left the comment 'Perhaps your staff could remember railway history did not end Sunday August 11th 1968' Seemed to do the trick... Could also tell the tale of the TTI who made the remark about the 'bloody useless paraffin can on the front' only to be told 'thats my engine your talking about' cue red face and hasty exit!

 

Anyway. That's enough of that. Just been to a superb gala at the ELR on Friday and Saturday, which got me thinking of the perfect line-up for a diesel gala somewhere (not sure where) in 2014. I'd be interested in whether or not people agree with my choices.
D9526, D9531, 14901, D8568, 20096, 20107, D5310, D5401, 31119, 31128, 33108, 33109, D7017, D7076, D6700, D6732, 37901, 37905, D306, 345, 45108, 45133, 50017, 50026, D1015, D1062, D9009, 55022, 56097, 56301, 73001, 73006, D821, D832.

 

Dont disagree with most of that but... How would you diagram them all?!!

 

Sadly enough, I've thought about it! I imagined the gala being on the ELR and lasting 9 days with themed days Monday-Thursday. I've even written down a roster. The things we do to amuse ourselves....

 

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Something I'm seeing is a strong opposition to multiple workings

My opinion couldn't be different - As someone local to the ELR, if I want to see a loco working solo, I've got almost every working weekend to experience that. Galas (and theme days) are an excuse, as i see it, to go crazy. I like to lineside as close to the tracks as possible and the noise, smell, whoosh of the air and ground trembling (I even took an earthquake seismogram of double headed class 40s once!) is magnified hugely with multiple workings. The 2011 gala beer ex had 3 class 50s and 2 class 20s on it, and later this month is a train diagrammed with 10 class 14s!

Another thing is that the summer gala tends to have 14+ locos in attendance. If they're all working solo then each one will work 1, 2 maybe 3 trains all day and then do nothing. Sort of cuts down on value for the hire fee, bringing in a loco for 2/3 days and having it do little (though this might be offset by the fuel bill). Multiple working allows you to keep the big roster and get a good amount of use out of them

And as for in/authentic loco combos, as i said before "an excuse to go crazy"

 

I absolutely agree with Irwell steam. I like your videos, by the way. I love double-headres and like combos with 2 locos of a different class working together. I really want to ride behind a sulzer type 2 and a 33 together. I would also like 37905/6 with another 37. I like double-headed peaks and haven't done or seen it since 1998. Really want to see a Hymek with a Warship or Western and as for a pair of Hymeks... I did it in the same gala as the peaks in 1998 but that was a long time ago!

 

If you come to the MHR diesel gala in September we will be running (fingers crossed) 37901 37905 and 37099. The intent is at very least to run both 37/9s together at some point. As we also have a 24 coming we may be able to help out with the other doubleheading request as well. Don't worry if you don't like doubleheading, most of the trains will not feature it. Quite looking forward to seeing if a 31 can haul load 6 out of Alton.

 

Spa will have a 26, 33/0 and 33/2 at their Gala beginning of August.

Brian

 

Might have to make the long journey South from North Wales at some point this year, then. I have seen the line-ups for both these galas and was thinking I really would like to do both but I think I might have to stick to the 1!

 

I usually grimace when colleagues make such remarks. Trains are trains, no matter what's on the front and I quite like a DMU or a Hydraulic on the front.

 

We all have our favorites.Hell Im big fan of 43106/7812 but if your in uniform, your the public face of railway and it dosn't look good if your seen/heard slagging off whatevers on the front.

 

Agreed, a lighthearted joke is usually fine but anything more isn't good.

 

Anyhow going back to Ideal gala line ups hows about this: D5705, D8233, D8568,D8000 31018, D200, 10000 and Baby Deltic replica? Should get a few in in few yrs time!

 

Now, there's line-up. I can't wait for the baby Deltic.