THE distinctive roar of diesel locomotives which hauled most of the nation’s trains until the mid-1990s is once more echoing along the West Somerset Railway’s (WSR) tracks during this weekend’s summer diesel festival which started on Thursday (June 4) and runs until Sunday.

Three guest engines have joined the home fleet from the Williton-based Diesel and Electric Preservation Group to recreate the days when diesel took over the railways and sent hundreds of iconic steam locomotives to the scrapyard.

The guests are the restored Class 37 locomotive 37250, Class 47 number 47714, and Class 26 number 26007, which spent its working life hauling coal trains.

The class 47s were one of the most successful types of diesel locomotives to work for British Rail from the early 1960s and headed all classes of train from express to heavy freight.

A WSR spokesperson thanked the owners of the locomotives and their host railways for making them available.

They said: “Classic diesels have a great following and fans are arriving from all over the country.”

Local engines on duty over the weekend include the class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017, which will be running along with the class 33 pairing of D6566 and D6575, and class 14 D9526.

Also seeing action will be class 08 D4107 and class 03 D2133, an engine which has spent all its working life in Somerset, including a long spell as the shunter at the now-closed British Celanese works, in Bridgwater.

The WSR’s diesel multiple unit is also running during the gala.

All trains are part of an intensive timetable of services worked by diesel traction, with the final day also featuring some steam operations.

The spokesperson said: “The extra trains are giving passengers a great opportunity to get out and about and visit some of the attractions along the 20-mile route between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead.”