The East Lancashire Railway has announced that TransPennine Express Class 68 No. 68030 ‘Black Douglas’ will be visiting them this weekend for their upcoming Autumn Diesel Gala.

68030 will be operating on the Saturday of the gala (17th September).

The Class 68, or ‘Cat’ as it is known to enthusiasts, appears thanks to TransPennine Express and Direct Rail Services.

The Class 68 will be running both days of the gala alongside the resident fleet, including BR Class 14 No. D9531 ‘Ernest’, BR Class 24 No. D5054 ‘Phil Southern’, BR Class 25 No. 25279, BR Class 26 No. 26007 (appearing thanks to Victor Korzeniewicz) BR Class 33 No. 33109 ‘Captain Bill Smith’, BR Class 37 No. 37109, BR Class 40 No. D345, BR Class 42 No. 832 ‘Onslaught’, BR Class 45 No. 45108, BR Class 47 No. 47765, BR Class 50 No. 50015 ‘Valiant’, Class 105 DMU and BR Class 144 No. 144009.

The timetable has already been released for the gala, and tickets can still be booked on their website for both days.

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