Diesel-only heritage railways

[AY1975]

Can anyone name any preserved railways that only (or mainly) use diesels rather than steam, and that don't have any resident steam locos?

Two immediately spring to mind. One is the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway which mainly uses DMUs (see also the thread on heritage railways that use DMUs at www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=143484). They don't have any resident operational steam locos at present, but they do run steam and diesel loco-hauled trains from time to time. In fact, this summer they have several days of steam operation, but any steam locos have to arrive by road as there is no physical connection with Network Rail at Duffield.

The other one I thought of is the Mid Norfolk - again AFAIK they don't have any resident steam locos, but they do occasionally run steam trains using visiting locos. Most of the time it's diesels, though. I rather get the impression that the MNR is trying to re-create BR in the 1970s and '80s.

 

[221129]

The Dartmoor Railway.

 

[Cowley]

Does the Epping and Ongar railway have any steam?

 

[RichmondCommu]

www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=143484[/url]). They don't have any resident operational steam locos at present, but they do run steam and diesel loco-hauled trains from time to time. In fact, this summer they have several days of steam operation, but any steam locos have to arrive by road as there is no physical connection with Network Rail at Duffield.

I'm pretty certain that the EVR have at least one operational steam loco based on the line.

 

[steevp]

Keith and Dufftown
https://keith-dufftown-railway.co.uk/rolling-stock/

 

[341o2]

The Chinnor & Princes Risborough would fit the second category in that while it has regular steam services it does not have any resident steam locomotives - the one in use will have been hired

 

[EM2]

The East Kent Railway only has one steam loco, and that doesn't work!
Everything else is diesel or electric (which is diesel hauled).

 

[BrunswickGreen]

I'm pretty certain that the EVR have at least one operational steam loco based on the line.

The EVR home page states 'on selected days steam hauled services on the short branch between Wirksworth and Ravenstore. I believe the loco is a small industrial tank engine,

 

[theblackwatch]

The EVR home page states 'on selected days steam hauled services on the short branch between Wirksworth and Ravenstore. I believe the loco is a small industrial tank engine,

47406 (the Jinty that is, not Rail Riders!) is due to visit Ecclesbourne this year. See thread at http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=141937

 

[alexl92]

Wensleydale - the Class J72 Joem which runs during the summer is the only steam locomotive they run and it belongs to the NELPG. If it's out of service they don't hire an alternative in.

The exception is the occasional event weekend where they hire in a visiting loco for a gala-type event - a few years back it was Bittern, this year it's an S160.

They do also have a scrapyard-condition BR 9F but it's awaiting restoration. They are predominantly Diesel generally speaking.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Does the Epping and Ongar railway have any steam?

It is (to my knowledge) mainly diesel but you might want to google them and check. I have been on a couple of occasions and saw a steam engine

 

[birchesgreen]

The EVR have a number of ex-industrial steam locomotives, not all are operational. I've only ever seen Harry Ellison in use to be honest.

 

[Crawley Ben]

The Weardale Railway springs to mind as possibly being non steam operated? Happy to be corrected if I'm wrong

 

[Bletchleyite]

The Ecclesbourne Valley (Wirksworth) is mostly DMU. I think there is occasional steam though.

 

[theageofthetra]

The Alderney Railway. Ex LT tube train hauled by a diesel shunter.

Scarborough North Bay Railway. 1930's built steam outline diesel locos. In fact it may have the oldest average age diesel fleet of any railway in the UK (if not the world!)

Blackpool Pleasure beach minature railway. Similar locos to the above.

Ruislip Lido Railway- diesel only at the moment

Southend Pier Railway- diesel railcar operated

Hythe Pier tramway. WW1 vintage diesel hauled.

Lartigue Monorail Listowel. Steam outline diesel powered replica of the famous monorail locos.

 

[Firesprite]

Hythe Pier tramway. WW1 vintage diesel hauled.

.

The pier trains has been electric hauled using the third rail since 1922. It has never been diesel hauled.

 

[4069]

Ruislip Lido Railway- diesel only at the moment

What's happened to Mad Bess?

 

[33117]

Ecclesbourne valley have a couple of industrial tank locos that get used on selected dates mainly during the summer months. Rest of the time it's DMUs that operate their services with 33103 chipping in as it's on loan iirc & 31206 which is visiting.

Epping & ongar have - 2953 pitchford hall & large prairie 4141.

Aren't cholsey & wallingford mainly diesel these days using the ex guinness 08s?

 

[theageofthetra]

What's happened to Mad Bess?

Not running atm according to website.

 

[Trainfan344]

Mid-Norfolk Railway is predominantly diesel, though Pannier Tank 9466 is a regular visitor, and I think they have an austerity under restoration.

 

[reddragon]

Which SG line has the most steam in ticket?

 

[matt]

Which SG line has the most steam in ticket?

Severn Valley most likely.

 

[nferguso]

A bit of a clarification regarding the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway.

Operating steam locomotives requires proper facilities and when we began we didn't even have a building to house the most basic of rolling stock. We were fortunate to build a small fleet of DMUs and use them as the basis of our services.

In 2005 we received three unrestored steam engines: two Barclay 0-4-0STs and a former PLA tank. Both Barclays have been restored and are operational: they usually operate the Wirksworth to Ravenstor shuttle which involves a 1 in 27 incline between the two stations.

We often have visiting steam engines and this Summer we are hosting LMS 3F no. 47406 from the GCR and it will be operating passenger services between Duffield and Wirksworth most weekends between now and the end of August.

Approaching the Midland main line at Duffield this Saturday

47406 at Wirksworth Station

In the meantime, the PLA tank and J94 'The Duke' (a.k.a. 68012) are both under restoration, more-or-less in parallel with one another. We hope that at least one of these two powerful 0-6-0s will be in steam by the Christmas season and then ready for operation in 2018.

This is our 150th anniversary year and steam is forming an integral part of our season. It's worth remembering that we operate a regular, timetabled, passenger service that connects with EMT's Nottingham and Derby to Matlock service and through tickets are available from main line stations: just this weekend we had a passenger on a though ticket from Cheadle Hulme to Wirksworth, so that's timetabled steam services on ordinary National Rail tickets!

The first regular through ticket to Wirksworth since 1947

For the future, we are realigning trackwork at Wirksworth to build a dedicated steam shed so you can see that steam forms an important part of our operation and future plans.

Mainline steam in the form of Princess Elizabeth meets EVR steam at Duffield in 2011

For full details of our 150th anniversary year visit https://ecclesbourne150.org/

To find out more about us, visit http://www.e-v-r.com/

Kind regards,

Neil

 

[gazthomas]

Does the Epping and Ongar railway have any steam?

It does, but diesel is common too

 

[gazthomas]

Can anyone name any preserved railways that only (or mainly) use diesels rather than steam, and that don't have any resident steam locos?

Two immediately spring to mind. One is the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway which mainly uses DMUs (see also the thread on heritage railways that use DMUs at www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=143484). They don't have any resident operational steam locos at present, but they do run steam and diesel loco-hauled trains from time to time. In fact, this summer they have several days of steam operation, but any steam locos have to arrive by road as there is no physical connection with Network Rail at Duffield.

The other one I thought of is the Mid Norfolk - again AFAIK they don't have any resident steam locos, but they do occasionally run steam trains using visiting locos. Most of the time it's diesels, though. I rather get the impression that the MNR is trying to re-create BR in the 1970s and '80s.

Mid Norfolk Railway is very diesel centric

 

[RichmondCommu]

A bit of a clarification regarding the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway.

Operating steam locomotives requires proper facilities and when we began we didn't even have a building to house the most basic of rolling stock. We were fortunate to build a small fleet of DMUs and use them as the basis of our services.

In 2005 we received three unrestored steam engines: two Barclay 0-4-0STs and a former PLA tank. Both Barclays have been restored and are operational: they usually operate the Wirksworth to Ravenstor shuttle which involves a 1 in 27 incline between the two stations.

We often have visiting steam engines and this Summer we are hosting LMS 3F no. 47406 from the GCR and it will be operating passenger services between Duffield and Wirksworth most weekends between now and the end of August.

Approaching the Midland main line at Duffield this Saturday

47406 at Wirksworth Station

In the meantime, the PLA tank and J94 'The Duke' (a.k.a. 68012) are both under restoration, more-or-less in parallel with one another. We hope that at least one of these two powerful 0-6-0s will be in steam by the Christmas season and then ready for operation in 2018.

This is our 150th anniversary year and steam is forming an integral part of our season. It's worth remembering that we operate a regular, timetabled, passenger service that connects with EMT's Nottingham and Derby to Matlock service and through tickets are available from main line stations: just this weekend we had a passenger on a though ticket from Cheadle Hulme to Wirksworth, so that's timetabled steam services on ordinary National Rail tickets!

The first regular through ticket to Wirksworth since 1947

For the future, we are realigning trackwork at Wirksworth to build a dedicated steam shed so you can see that steam forms an important part of our operation and future plans.

Mainline steam in the form of Princess Elizabeth meets EVR steam at Duffield in 2011

For full details of our 150th anniversary year visit https://ecclesbourne150.org/

To find out more about us, visit http://www.e-v-r.com/

Kind regards,

Neil

My sister lives in Kirk Ireton and I look forward to traveling behind the Jinty in a few weeks time. Just out of interest have you acquired some more rolling stock since the L & Y loco ran a few years a go? I only ask because the train looks longer. Happy days Neil

 

[gazthomas]

Mid Norfolk Railway is very diesel centric

Indeed it is!

 

[nferguso]

My sister lives in Kirk Ireton and I look forward to traveling behind the Jinty in a few weeks time. Just out of interest have you acquired some more rolling stock since the L & Y loco ran a few years a go? I only ask because the train looks longer. Happy days Neil

Yes indeed! Gradual increase in rolling stock with the intention to have two rakes available.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Tim R-T-C]

The Eden Valley Railway - the other EVR - has a diesel/electric only line-up.

http://www.evr-cumbria.org.uk/motivepower.html

Rather surreal seeing old SR stock running in Cumbria.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

The Eden Valley Railway - the other EVR - has a diesel/electric/pedal-powered only line-up.

http://www.evr-cumbria.org.uk/motivepower.html

Rather surreal seeing old SR stock running in Cumbria.

Interesting stuff, but I've made a small correction for accuracy!