The weekend after the Swindon and Cricklade Railway opens its 2023 season on 18th March, the railway will start its diesel operating days on Saturday 25th March with both of its resident Class 03 0-6-0 diesel shunters, D2022 and D2152, in service.

Both locomotives will be hauling passenger services throughout the day, with the first train expected to be at 10:30am, although exact train times will be available soon.

There is no need to pre-book tickets, and they should be purchased on the day when you arrive. All tickets are effectively Rover tickets, which allow ticket holders to travel on as many trains as they like during the day from their time of purchase.

Fares are adult £10, senior £9, and children £8. Family tickets are also available that provide a £2 reduction for one or two adults or seniors and two children, while additional children’s tickets are £7.

Further details about the different fare options can be found at https://swindon-cricklade-railway.org/fares/

About three dozen Class 03 diesel shunters have been preserved, with D2022 being built at Swindon ain 1958 and is the oldest remaining example. During its working life with British Rail it worked first in Lincolnshire and then in the North East. In 1983 it was purchased from British Rail and brought to Blunsdon, but was then leased to Coopers, a local scrap dealer, which used it until 1996 when it returned to Blunsdon. It has recently been restored and is owned privately owned, but is currently based at the Swindon and Cricklade Railway.

The railway’s second Class 03 D2152 is regularly used to haul its passenger services, but the locomotive was originally intended as a light-duty shunter. It was built at Swindon in 1960, but its appearance differs from D2022 because in 1974 its cab was cut-down and reduced in height so that it can pass under low bridges on the Gwendraeth Valley line in South Wales, where is was used to haul coal trains.

Further information about the Swindon and Cricklade Railway can be found on its website at https://swindon-cricklade-railway.org/