C&WR and Didcot Railway Centre 08 Day 31st July

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Quite a significant day in South Oxfordshire on 31st July - hopefully we'll run more joint events in the future with Didcot. Looking forward to what should be a good event - I'll be driving one of the 08's on The Bunk.

Didcot Railway Centre and nearby Cholsey and Wallingford Railway have got together to offer diesel locomotive enthusiasts the opportunity to ride behind four 08 diesel shunting locomotives in one day, on Sunday 31 July, for the first time in South Oxfordshire.

Better known for using steam traction, the use of a diesel locomotive on passenger trains is something of a first for Didcot Railway Centre. This is also the first time that Didcot has hosted a joint event with the Cholsey & Wallingford Railway

In celebration of this link, there will be admission discounts at each venue, on production of the admission ticket from the first. First Great Western runs trains from Cholsey to Didcot (normal First Great Western fares apply), with trains from Didcot to Cholsey departing at 21 minutes past the hour and trains from Cholsey to Didcot departing at approximately 6 minutes past the hour.

As always with preserved locomotives, the usual clause of ^subject to availability^ applies. At Didcot Railway Centre the diesel locomotive is expected to be in action on the branch line between 10:30^12:00 and on the main demonstration line between 13:00^14:30 and 16:00^17:00. The GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) diesel railcar will also be in operation (and for the steam fans 5322 and Fire Fly will also be hauling trains).

Built by British Railways between the years 1952 ^ 1962, the 08 class of diesel shunters was the largest single class of diesel locomotive ever built in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom), numbering 1193 in total. Two of the three 08 locomotives at the Cholsey & Wallingford Railway also saw industrial service after being retired from British Railways, both going on to work for Guinness of Park Royal, London, in 1985, for a further 12 years, before entering preservation.
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[Lee]

Better known for using steam traction, the use of a diesel locomotive on passenger trains is something of a first for Didcot Railway Centre.

Whilst I wouldn't claim to be an expert on Didcot Railway Centre or its operations, I'm guessing that this is a very loose interpretation of the phrase "something of a first"

For example, I remember attending a Diesel Day at the centre in the late 1980s, and all the locomotives in action were diesels, including examples of former WR diesel hydraulic locomotives owned by the Diesel & Electric Preservation Group, who had a base at Didcot at the time. I had dragged my dad along with me, and I distinctly recall the look of disappointment in his face when he realised that all the steam locomotives were confined to the shed.

I do wish them well with these type of events, though. I firmly believe that it is just as important to preserve examples of diesel locomotives/units as it is steam locomotives, and I tend to plan my trips to heritage railways so I get to experience both.