12th ANNUAL TRA DMU EVENT
28th - 30th September 2007 Churnet Valley Railway

The 12th annual Railcar Association gala is being held this year over the 28th - 30th September 2007 on the Churnet Valley Railway. (A different railway hosts the event each year).

Fri 28th Sept is the “driver experience day” open to working group members of Railcar Association DMU groups only (Members of the public are unable to travel on Friday only), & The Railcar Association’s meeting will be held in the tearooms at Kingsley and Froghall station at 19:00 after the driver experience has finished. There will be the option of a Fish & Chip supper for pre booked participants. Please could those wishing to partake in the driver experience (You DON'T need to be a passed driver, just a TRA group member and at least 16!) and/or the 'Chippy run' (Prices to be confirmed) please book with me ASAP kevin@dowd104.wanadoo.co.uk or 0775 9000 570. Both the 104 and Iris will be available to drive between Froghall and Cheddleton (Including Leekbrook Tunnel). A single run is £30, a return (on either a one set round trip, or a single trip on each set) £50 and a return trip on each set (Or two return trips on the same set if you wish!) £90. These are specially reduced rates for this event and TRA members only. 

Sat 29th September will see the first occurrence of two-train DMU running on the CVR since the 1960’s utilising the resident BRCW Class 104 power twin unit M50455+M50517 and visiting Derby Lightweight pioneer M79900 "Iris". Tail loads will be added to the DMU’s during the course of the day. There will also be a special opportunity to drive 37075 in the yard at Cheddleton for £10 (Saturday ONLY). Departing Cheddleton at 7pm there will be two evening runs with the DMU’s in multiple.

Sun 30th Sept will see the two DMU’s operating in multiple alongside some of the CVR’s resident diesel locomotives and will feature 37075 which celebrates 45 years since its introduction into service. The popular 'Driver for a Fiver' feature will be available on Sunday using “Brightside” (A Class 02 look-alike) in the yard at Cheddleton.

The other CVR based DMU vehicles (53494, 53437 & 54182) which are normally covered & stored awaiting restoration, will be on display over the weekend, together with selected diesel locomotives that are not usually on show. The on-going extensive restoration of BRCW Class 104 centre trailer M59137 will also be available for the general public to view.

www.brcw.moonfruit.com
www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk

To view details of previous galas:

11th 2006 Battlefield Railway
10th 2005 Llangollen Railway
9th   2004 Railcar50 Severn Valley Railway
8th   2003 Chasewater Railway
7th   2002 Swanage Railway
6th   2001 Mid-Norfolk Railway
5th   2000 East Lancs Railway
4th   1999 West Somerset Railway
3rd   1998 Llangollen Railway
2nd  1997 Midland Railway Centre
1st   1996 Dean Forest Railway