As a fairly bizarre October turned into November, I realised that a month which is usually time for things to wind down in the railway hobby is actually pretty busy. However, still not firing on all cylinders here and lacking energy I wasn't sorry that today presented a fairly easy and almost local option. Not by any means second best though, as regular readers will know that I hold the South Devon Railway in extremely high regard. The now annual 'Gronk Aid' gala is pretty much the last gasp of the SDR's operating season, and gives the impressive home fleet chance for one last public appearance before the long break over the winter.

The day started with a very early train. It seemed like a good idea to take a direct train to Totnes when I booked it back in September. However, the early DMU turn which made this sensible last time out wasn't working this time, but with a glimmer of my legendary appetite beginning to return I was actually looking forward to an early arrival at The Signal Box on Totnes station. Shuffled down to the station to find that the 06:01 had suffered problems getting off St. Phillips Marsh depot and was running an even half-hour late. Home for another coffee before returning in a rainstorm and trying to explain to prospective customer that the next Bristol Parkway train would be stopping at Temple Meads too. She left unconvinced because she didn't trust "people from Highbridge". Charming. Eventually onto the quiet train, a quick chat with the guard, then a quick snooze at least until it got light a little before Exeter. Enjoyed the last leg of the trip in a pleasant sort of half-doze. Off at Totnes, with a fair crowd of local faces already in evidence. Over the footbridge and into the quiet, warm and comforting interior of The Signal Box. A paper, a coffee and a large and much anticipated breakfast later and I was ready for the day ahead.

Perhaps the best thing about Diesel Galas at the South Devon is that they just work. Maybe because they're run by diesel cranks for diesel cranks, without too much interference by the various boards and bodies which are necessary to keep preserved lines going these days, they feel a little bit like the old days. Found myself at Totnes Littlehempston very early, but the accommodating and pleasant staff sold me a rover ticket and chatted while they lit the coal fire in the waiting room. Outside however, the rain had stopped and a rainbow graced the Dart Valley. Read my newspaper in surprisingly warm sunshine while waiting for D6737 to arrive for the first train to Buckfastleigh. Soon on board and enjoying the familiar but always impressive scenery as we snaked up the valley. By the end of the season there are always a few speed restrictions and spots where drivers need to take extra care, but this just made for some explosive restarts and lots of exhaust! Found myself grinning like an idiot and happily sipping coffee in the fairly chilly carriage as D6737 made a run back down the valley. Using the well thought out diagrams, made a switch to the other set now via a leap at Staverton. The familiar thudding note of 20110 could be heard leaving the loop, and with the sun still shining through the trees I was reminded of my last trip with this loco on it's tour to the Spa Valley Railway back in August! Another loco swap saw me heading up to Buckfastleigh once again with a mission in mind.

One of the highlights of this gala was the promise of 50002 being on display at Buckfastleigh. Having glimpsed the loco in a state of some disrepair here before, I was keen to see it again after some serious bodywork attention. It is, unfortunately, still going to be a long while before it turns a wheel again, but as the rain had managed to hold off I hoped it would still be out of the shed. So, as D7612 was detached, made a swift dash through the gate and into the yard to find 'Superb' living up to it's name in all-over BR blue. Managed a few snaps before dashing back to the train which now had 33002 on the front ready for the trip back to Totnes.

However, there was something of a delay and the guard soon let us know that D6737 had failed down the line, so no time was wasted in attaching D7612 once again to act as rescue loco, and we were soon off with an interesting double-headed combination on the train. At Bishops Bridge Loop, D7612 left the train and disappeared around the corner to Staverton where the 37 was waiting with it's train. We then witnessed one of the most impressive performances of the day, as the Class 25 used all of it's 1250hp to haul the dead D6737 and it's train from a standing start on a fairly challenging gradient. The noise the relative small loco made as it passed us in the loop will no doubt be one of my most memorable moments on a preserved railway. Equally impressively however, the powers that be just 'got on with it' - and despite running late the diagrams and timetable survived largely intact. A couple of further leaps allowed me to get the last locomotive on the list, 20118 and also one more trip on the day's hero D7612 before my time ran out and I had to make a very wet dash down the footpath, over the bridge and back to Totnes station for my train home - another good value cheap ticket, this time First Class in a Voyager as far as Taunton.

Looking back on today's entertainment, it's interesting to note that a fair few people involved in the industry turned out, including folks from Shackerstone, Spitfire, Pathfinder and elsewhere - all taking the opportunity to enjoy some fine machines, a few decent local ales and a great little railway. I was chatting to someone recently who had nothing but bad things to say about the SDR - but then, as this was someone involved in the rather heady political world of the West Somerset Railway, perhaps that's to be expected. The fact is, this is a small railway but the effort and organisation which goes into these events displays a huge amount of talent and determination.

See you next summer maybe?