Class 45 ‘Peak’ No. 45108 added to the line up of visiting locomotives for Summer Diesel Festival

We are extremely delighted to announce that Class 45 ‘Peak’ No. 45108 courtesy of the Peak Locomotive Company Limited and East Lancashire Railway will be making a return to the railway during our Summer Diesel Festival which is taking place between Thursday 5th and Sunday 8^th June.  

45108 will join previously announced Class 52 No. D1015 “Western Champion" at the event, with more visiting locomotives to be announced. 

The BR Class 45 diesel-electric locomotive was originally classified as the Type 4 and was the second of the Sulzer 'Peak' classes. A total of 127 were built by British Rail at Derby and Crewe Works between 1960 and 1962.  They were the successors to the Class 44 locomotives and assigned to work services on the Midland Main Line from London St Pancras to Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield. All were withdrawn from service by 1989.

45108 was built at Crewe Works in 1961 and was released to traffic as D120 and based at Toton depot near Nottingham. The loco was withdrawn from service in 1987 and then purchased for preservation under the care of Waterman Railways and restored to run as D120 in BR Green. After a period out of use, 45108 passed into the ownership of the Peak Locomotive Company in 2008 and remains a member of their fleet, representing one of only 12 surviving members of the class.

45108 is no stranger to the WSR and was out-based with us in the mid-90s, performing regularly at our gala weekends. It will certainly make a striking return in its BR Blue livery, matching previously announced ‘Western Champion’.

Planning continues, with more guests and details to be announced very soon. You can pre-book tickets in advance (with pre-book discount), via our website: Summer Diesel Festival 2025 - West Somerset Railway