The Severn Valley Railway is celebrating the success of its Autumn Diesel Bash, which this year was dedicated to Class 37s, to mark the 65th anniversary of the much-loved type 3 entering service.

Almost 4,100 people attended across the four days. One enthusiast, who’d travelled from Cornwall to be at the event, wrote to the SVR afterwards, saying ‘From start to finish it has been nothing but brilliant, with plenty of awesome English Electric music on tap!’

Ten examples of the Class 37 were at the event, and the line-up included both heritage vehicles and those still in regular main line service.

Managing director, Jonathan ‘Gus’ Dunster acknowledged the widespread support that the SVR had received:

“We’re incredibly grateful to many individuals and organisations, that have provided locomotives for this event. I want to thank West Coast Railways, Europhoenix Rail Ltd, Rail Operations Group, The Growler Group, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, the Wensleydale Railway, Loram, John Harris, Steve Beniston, Vince Minto and Kevin Jones. Without the sterling support and collaboration of this extensive group of SVR friends, we wouldn’t have been able to put on such a glorious event.

“I’d also like to pay tribute to the dedication and professionalism of our team across our railway itself for planning and delivering another outstanding event. It’s been operationally and commercially successful and feedback from our visitors has been great.”

The SVR’s next diesel enthusiast event is the Winter Diesel Day on 29 December. For more details and tickets, please visit svr.co.uk.

Header photo courtesy of Jack Boskett