Where would I go south of London...

staticxfreak · Post by **staticxfreak** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:51 pm

...if I wanted to visit a preserved railway that was mainly diesel based???

Silly question... all recommendations welcomed

jbilton · Post by **jbilton** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 12:32 am

Hi
Tricky question......... but this is a list of railways running preserved diesels

http://www.preserved-diesels.co.uk/railways/index.htm

Mid Hants, Swanage and West Somerset spring to mind.

Cheers
Jon

rwaceyw · Post by **rwaceyw** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 12:41 am

Even better page...

http://www.preserved-diesels.co.uk/events/index.htm

Dave

southcoasttrains · Post by **southcoasttrains** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 12:41 am

Spa Valley Railway

BR7MT · Post by **BR7MT** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 8:51 am

I can't think of many that are predominantly diesel hauled services. Possibly the East Kent Railway, the Lavender Line and the Spa Valley Railway. The latter two though do try to run a mainly steam service.

Actually, the Kent & East Sussex is now using their two car DMU more often to run services outside of the August peak.

Regards,

Dan

allypally · Post by **allypally** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 8:53 am

The East Kent mainly runs a 101 I think. I wouldn't bother with the line really, have heard from plenty of sources it's not much cop.

southcoasttrains · Post by **southcoasttrains** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 9:00 pm

EKR has a 101, a Thumper of some sort or using a 33 to pull a 411.

Lavender Line also has a Thumper

Out of all these railways, Lavender Line, you'd need to catch a 29 bus from Uckfield or Lewes.

Spa Valley is a 15 minute walk from Tunbridge Wells Station.

metromuppet · Post by **metromuppet** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 1:02 am

southcoasttrains wrote:EKR has a 101, a Thumper of some sort or using a 33 to pull a 411.

Lavender Line also has a Thumper

Out of all these railways, Lavender Line, you'd need to catch a 29 bus from Uckfield or Lewes.

Spa Valley is a 15 minute walk from Tunbridge Wells Station.

Lavender line thumper isnt working at the moment, and doubt it will work again...

arabiandisco · Post by **arabiandisco** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 9:03 pm

I'd recommend the Spa Valley. It's not "diesel based", but they do run one round trip with a diesel most days. Or they did last year.

The Swanage Beer Festival on 13-15 May is your best bet, for an event in the "south of london" category. (Anything west of Wareham & South of London would count as West Country to me, in which case the South Devon would be my suggestion for West Country railways)

But basically, don't bother. Go to Wymondham (Mid Norfolk). Their 101 is OOS at the moment (I don't know when it'll be fixed), and they are exclusively diesel. It means only proper trains running up there.

MuzTrem · Post by **MuzTrem** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 7:23 am

If you don't mind narrow gauge, you might try the Ruislip Lido Railway - you're guaranteed diesel haulage if you go on a Saturday.