Dean Forest Railway - Speedlink Goods Train - Saturday 13th June, 2026

As Summer 2026 kicks off, the Dean Forest Railway ran one of their goods train days with their newly-owned Class 73, E6003 'Sir Herbert Walker', transferred over from the Swindon and Crickdale Railway, running on a Speedlink-styled goods train with air-brake wagons.

The Speedlink-styled train consisted of two OCA open wagons, a grey and yellow Construction Sector ZCA open wagon, a red and grey Railfreight VCA van, two green four-wheeled tankers, and the Queen Mary break-van, which took passengers up and down the line from Lydney Junction to Parkend throughout the day.

From 1977 to 1991, British Railways ran the Speedlink freight service across the railway network until the company was closed down in the early 90s, and given that I have never seen a Speedlink service ever in my life, it was a really fantastic experience for me to see one for myself run on the Dean Forest Railway, with the Class 73 locomotive hauling the train making it all the more awesome in itself.

E6003 'Sir Herbert Walker' had previously visited the Dean Forest Railway in September 2024, when she took part in the Autumn Diesel Gala alongside two visiting Europhoenix Class 37s, 37884 & 37510. Two years later, the Class 73 was given to the Dean Forest Railway, and it has since become a permanent resident of the railway's diesel fleet.

Overall, a fantastic day out with perfect weather to go with it.

Filmed at Stations
Lydney Junction
Parkend
Lydney Town
Norchard

Filmed on
Saturday 13th May, 2026

Filmed and Produced by
Thomas Coombes

(C) 2026 S.T.C Rail Productions