SOUTH Devon Railway is hosting its annual Diesel Gala this weekend, from November 3 to 5.

Dick Wood, of the railway, said: ‘Home to an impressive fleet of British Railways ‘first generation’ diesels built during the 1950s and 1960s to replace steam traction, the gala weekend is a great opportunity to see and experience these now 60-year-old engines in action, including a special visitor.

‘With an intensive service throughout both days, a bar on the trains and plenty of action for diesel fans – plus a visiting Class 17 engine – the diesel gala is an event that is growing in popularity and a firm date for the diary.’

The guest visitor this year is Class 17 Clayton D8568, now a unique locomotive. It will be the first time a member of this class has worked in Devon. It’s due to arrive on the railway in mid October, courtesy of its owners the Diesel Traction Group, and it will be operating on Sunday October 15 for a ‘driver experience day’.

The D8568 was built by the Clayton Equipment Company in the autumn of 1963, hence its nickname ’Clayton’. It’s now the only survivor from a class totalling 117 locomotives. Weighing in at just 69 tons, it’s powered by twin Paxman 6ZHXL power units giving a total of 900HP for powering the loco via Diesel Electric transmission.

Spending all its British Railways working life in Scotland, the Clayton was delivered new on January 16 1964 to Haymarket depot before moving to Polmadie in September 1968. It remained there until it was withdrawn from service on October 6 1971, after running for just seven years.

The loco was then used as an industrial shunter for 11 years, until preservation by the Diesel Traction Group in February 1983. The Clayton has been based at the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway since August 1991.

Other locomotives planned to run over the SDR diesel weekend (subject to availability) include English Electric type 3 (class 37) 6975; Sulzer type 2 (class 25) D7612; BRCW Crompton (class 33) D6501; English Electric 0-6-0DE shunter (class 09) D3721; RS&H 0-6-0DM shunter (class 04) D2246; and ‘Bubblecar’ single unit railcar W55000. The 6975 is in rail blue, the others are in original British Railways green.