DC Rail Freight heavies weigh in on the Hants | Watercress Line - 'Diesel Gala' 11/07/2026

Held over the weekend of July 10th-12th, the 'Diesel Gala' at the Watercress Line would feature variety of diesel locomotives in action for the event, including the presence of some current mainline motive power. The event would be supported by DC Rail Freight, who supplied both a Class 56 and a Class 60 for the line up. These would be complimented by a Class 66, visiting courtesy of Freightliner. 33108, owned by the 33/1 Preservation Company, would stop in for the event while en-route from its base at the Severn Valley Railway to the Bluebell Railway, where it's due to appear for the remainder of the summer. The Watercress' latest acquisition, Class 150 - 150231, would also be in service for the event, alongside resident Class 47 - 47579 and the Class 20 pair of D8188 & D8059. The final piece of the puzzle came in the shape of 4-VEP - 3417 “Gordon Pettitt”. The unit is owned by the Bluebell Railway, and looked after by the Southern Electric Traction Group at Strawberry Hill, where it has been receiving an extensive overhaul to return it to passenger use, with the eventual view of mainline operation. 3417 currently wears its original number, 7717, on DTCsoL S76263. This is to commemorate the 59th birthday of the unit, which was first released into traffic as a complete VEP on the 8th of July 1967; the eve of the end of steam on BR’s Southern Region. Alongside the locomotives working full-line service between Alresford and Alton, Class 08 - 08288 would work a limited shuttle between Alresford and Ropley. Locomotives: DC Rail Freight Class 60 - 60099 “Ben More Assynt” BR Class 423 4-VEP - 3417 "Gordon Pettitt" (S76263 + S70797 + S62236 + S76262) DC Rail Freight Class 56 - 56103 BR Class 33 - 33108 BR Class 47 - 47579 "James Nightall G.C." BR Class 150 - 150231 BR Class 20 - D8188 BR Class 20 - D8059 BR Class 08 - 08288 “Phoenix” Freightliner Class 66 - 66613 00:00 - 60099 Bowers Grove Lane 00:59 - 33108 Bowers Grove Lane 02:01 - 56103 Mounters Lane 02:50 - 33108 Turk Street 04:00 - 60099 Bighton Hill 05:13 - 47579 Bighton Hill 06:27 - 150231 Horse Lane 07:27 - 33108 Northside foot crossing 08:44 - 56103 Northside foot crossing 09:47 - D8188 & D8059 Northside footpath 12:00 - 56103 Turk Street 13:09 - 56103 Bishop's Sutton 14:01 - 08288 Bishop's Sutton 14:56 - 33108 Rookwood Lane 16:24 - 3417 & 33108 Turk Street 17:33 - 3417 & 33108 Northside footpath 18:59 - 66613 Bighton Lane Footnote: BR Class 31 - 31210 had been scheduled to attend this event, but failed en-route at Strawberry Hill with a hot axlebox. All footage filmed on Saturday the 11th of July 2026.