THE Diesel and Electric Preservation Group, who are based at Williton on the West Somerset Railway, have won a prestigious national award.

Each year the Heritage Railway Association presents awards to organisations working in all aspects of railway preservation across the United Kingdom and this year’s awards night took place in Llandudno on Saturday, March 7.

The Diesel and Electric Preservation Group (DEPG) became the joint recipients of the ‘Rail Express Modern Traction Award’ along with the Hastings Diesel Group.

The award recognises the efforts made by the DEPG back in 1975 to save a ‘Hymek’ diesel hydraulic locomotive by raising money through public subscription.

At the time steam locomotives had only ceased to work on British Rail seven years earlier and the idea of preserving a mainline diesel engine was a novel one. The locomotive saved was D7017 and this loco has been based on the West Somerset Railway ever since.

The award carries the following inscription: “For 50 years of ownership and preservation of ‘Hymek’ D7017.”

D7017 was on static display at Minehead station on March 28, 1976 when the first West Somerset Railway Trains of the preservation era ran between there and Blue Anchor.

Fifty years later it will be operating trains as part of the WSR’s Golden Jubilee Weekend of March 28 and 29 when trains will run over the whole length of the line between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead.

Three other parts of the West Somerset Railway “family” were shortlisted for awards, although none were successful in taking the top place.

Blue Anchor station was nominated as the best in the heritage sector and Ryan Pope, who leads a steam locomotive and carriage restoration team at Williton was a nominee in two categories, the Steam Locomotive Award and also the Steam Railway Magazine Award.