Diesel Locomotives & Multiple Units

This page concentrates exclusively on the diesel locomotives and units based at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. It is regularly updated with the latest fleet status, running days and other news.

This page is maintained by Tim Moody. To submit pictures, information, or to make any comments or questions please e-mail me by clicking HERE.

40th Anniversary Diesel Gala 2008

Friday 6th - Sunday 8th June

The Diesel Gala in 2008 will be held from Friday 6th to Sunday 8th June. June 2008 will be a very special month for the KWVR as we celebrate 40 years since the re-opening of the Railway by the volunteer society. During June there will be a special 40th Anniversary Gala, a members evening celebration train, and a members celebration Dinner at which Pete Waterman will be the guest speaker. The Diesel Gala in June will kick off the month of celebrations in style!

The following locomotives are already booked to attend the gala:

D6737 (37037)   (Devon Diesel Society)

D7612 (25262)   (South Devon Diesel Traction)

20110                   (South Devon Diesel Traction)

20087                  (Newton Heath Diesel Group)

31108                   (A1A Locomotives)

37087 (requested) Main Line Locomotive provided by Direct Rail Services

Loco Naming

To Celebrate the 10 year relationship between DRS and the KWVR - DRS have attended every diesel gala since their inception - and to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the re-opening of the KWVR by volunteers in 1968, it is intended that 37087 will be named "Keighley & Worth Valley Railway" over the Diesel Gala weekend in June. This loco will then continue to work all over the country on mainline trains for DRS.

Updates:

27th April - Due to the protracted repairs on 20031, this loco will not be able to feature at the gala. However, 20087 from the East Lancashire Railway, and owned by the Newton Heath Diesel Group will now attend the gala. I am hopeful of being able to announce the final visiting locomotive - which should prove special - towards the end of the week once paperwork is finalised.

On the Friday of the Gala, to celebrate the 100th birthday of the 'Jolly Fisherman' advertising of the holiday resort Skegness, and the pairing of two of the locos which used to operate the 'Jolly Fisherman' special trains - popular with many enthusiasts - in the early 1990's, we will hosting a Jolly Fisherman birthday party! For full details see here.

4th April 2008 - A special guest star locomotive is now in the stages of being arranged. I am unable to say what this is until the agreements have been signed, but if successful in securing this locomotive, this will prove a real star attraction!

Fares

Fares remain unchanged from last year. The following Rover Ticket Fares will apply over this weekend. These tickets allow unlimited travel on all our trains on the selected dates.

Adult tickets are for everyone aged over 15.

Concessionary tickets are valid for Bona Fide Students, Retired & Disabled people & KWVR Members.

Children are aged 5 - 15 inclusive.

Family is for 2 adults and any 3 children or concessions.

Other fares are charged as normal, and single and return tickets are available between all stations.

Timetables

Timetables with loco diagrams will be available online soon. They are presented in pdf format, and you will require Adobe Acrobat to read these files.

Diesel Running Dates 2008

Following the success of the diesel running in 2007, dates for 2008 are planned as below:

May : Sunday 11th

July : Sundays 13th, 20th & 27th

Details of the timetables above are available here.

Please note that on the 11th May, the first two trains of the day in each direction ( 0900 & 1015 ex Oxenhope, 0940 & 1100 ex Keighley) will be operated by the DMU, with the remaining diesel services from 1145 onwards loco hauled.

In July, the Diesel Loco Hauled trains will be the only diesel trains shown in the timetable (0900, 1015 & 1200 ex Oxenhope, 0940, 1100 & 1245 ex Keighley). Click here for the timetable for July.

In addition, diesel locos will see use at the Beer Festival in October, the Diesel Weekend in June, and other dates throughout the year which are still being finalised.

Diesel Locomotives and Units currently based on the KWVR

Locomotives:

08266 - Class 08 Shunting Locomotive

(Alvin Knight)

D226 "Vulcan" - Prototype Shunting Locomotive

(D7606.co.uk)

D2511 - Shunting Locomotive

(Ian Jackson)

D32 "Huskisson" - Shunting Locomotive

(Dave Bramley)

23 "Merlin" - Shunting Locomotive

(D7606.co.uk)

25059 - BR Class 25, Type 2 Main Line Locomotive

20031 - BR Class 20, Type 1 Main Line Locomotive

(Robert Green)

Multiple Units & Railbuses:

Waggon & Maschinenbau M79964

(John Carter)

Waggon & Maschinenbau E79962 Photo VCT

(Vintage Carriages Trust)

Class 108 DMU - 50928 & 51565

(Ben Couldwell)

Class 101 DMU - 51803 & 51189

Originally from separate units, the picture shows 51803 nearest the camera whilst working in its final days with First North Western in 2003. 51189 was withdrawn from traffic in 2000, before this photo was taken. The KWVR will be the first place these two vehicles have worked together.

The current status of the fleet is:

08266 - Currently in traffic, although generally restricted to Haworth Yard duties as the loco is suffering from worn tyres.

D226 "Vulcan" - Suffered main generator failure on Friday 30th June 2006. A group has been formed to overhaul the loco, although this is expected to take up to 4 years to complete due to the amount of work required.

D2511 - In traffic and used on works train duties.

D23 "Merlin" - In traffic and out-stationed at Oxenhope as the Carriage and Wagon yard shunter.

D32 - Out of traffic awaiting overhaul of the axleboxes.

20031 - Out of traffic following a generator failure on Thursday 11th October 2007.

25059 - Available for traffic.

W&M M79964 - In Traffic. .

W&M E79962 - Stored out of service awaiting overhaul. The original German engine has been rebuilt and successfully run up. The vehicle is currently in store in Haworth yard awaiting undercover space to allow full bodywork and chassis rerstoration to commence. The intention is to have both DRBs available for the KWVR's 40th anniversary in 2008. .

Class 108 DMU - Available for traffic.

Class 101 DMU - 51803 is operational, although not in service as she is awaiting a repaint from its faded Regional Railways livery. 51189 arrived by road from Shoeburyness on 30th March 2006, and will then be subject to an overhaul which is expected to take until mid 2008. When completed, both 101 vehicles will be painted in Green and will operate together allowing the 108 to be withdrawn for overhaul. Please see report to the right of this page.

Operating Updates

Page Updated 27th April

Locomotives - The Class 25 is available for traffic as required and has been used on Sunday loco hauled services in recent weeks.

Sunday Loco Hauled Trains - The Sunday Loco Hauled trains on 11th May, will be hauled by 25059. Hopefully the weather will stay warm, as despite working for the first 2 weeks, the steam heat boiler has failed with a fuel leak. It is not thought to be too major and it is hoped to rectify this fault within the next few weeks.

Units - Saturday and Sunday morning services are scheduled to be operated by the Class 108 DMU. The Diesel Railbus M79964 will next see use on midweek dates.

Shunters - D2511 and 08266 are based at Haworth and No.23 'Merlin' at Oxenhope. All undertake routine shunting duties and make occasional appearances on main line works trains - although D2511 is the most regular when no 'big diesel' driver is available. It is intented that both D2511 and 08266 will see use on passenger trains over the forthcoming Diesel Gala weekend in June.

Repair & Restoration Updates

Updated 27th April

Class 101 (51189)

This vehicle has returned to Haworth following work in the VCT Sheds at Ingrow. With bodywork now completed, work can focus on the mechanical side of the unit.

We are still waiting for some windscreen glass, hence the fitting of boards (above) as a temporary measure.

Class 20 (20031)

20031 Failure - The engine and generator from 20031 were lifted out on Friday 1st February, and the generator has been sent away for repairs. Unfortunately, once the generator was received at the overhaulers, it was discovered to be in worse condition than first thought, and repairs are expected to take longer than first anticipated. .

Class 101 (51803)

April 2008 - This vehicle continues to receive work at Oxenhope. The seats are now being refitted,and look very smart with the new blue / green checked moquette fitted. Pictures will appear here soon. Meanwhile, a team of our younger volunteers are working on the bodywork and other aspects of the vehicle.

Class 108 DMU

August 2007 - The unit has now spent 15 years on the Railway and constant exposure to the elements has inevitably had an effect on the paintwork. A recent graffiti attack did nothing to help the situation and involved several members in much work to restore the paintwork to an acceptable standard. Although mechanically sound, the bodywork and interior of both vehicles is now in need of some attention. Unfortunately a lack of both volunteer time and undercover accommodation is delaying work on the Class 101 unit which is due to take over the Class 108's duties.

D226 'Vulcan'

Jan 2008 - Work continues on this loco by the small team dedictaed to its overhaul.

Class 101 (53268)

This vehicle is still on the Railway, awaiting final scrapping to be arranged. The vehicle is currently residing in Ingrow Yard, although is not generally in view due to other items stored there.