Where: Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway

When: Friday, July 27, to Sunday, July 29

There's always a good reason to visit the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway but visit between Friday and Sunday, July 27-29, and it will have become the 'Gloucestershire Warwickshire Diesel Railway'!

That's because the popular annual Heritage Diesel Festival takes place with a spectacular range of locomotives in action, taking in the newly-opened extension to the delightful Cotswold village of Broadway.

And topping the bill of locomotives operating over the 14-mile line between Cheltenham Racecourse and Broadway, will be two visiting locomotives that represented the peak of diesel development on the Western Region of British Railways.

They are 'Warship' class diesel-hydraulic no. D832 Onslaught and 'Hymek' diesel-hydraulic no. D7017. The 'Warships' were among the diesel classes that took over from steam on express services out of Paddington to the West Country and Wales while the 'Hymeks' were particularly associated with the North Cotswold line and also worked over the route that now partly forms the present-day GWSR.

The festival is an established part of the railway's calendar of special events with plenty for everyone - for families as well as enthusiasts - or those simply looking for a fascinating and out-of-the-ordinary day out.

The GWSR boasts one of the UK's finest fleets of heritage diesel locomotives including one that has strong associations with the former Stratford upon Avon - Cheltenham line, class 45 no. 45159 (or Sulzer type 4, former BR number D135) which will thrill both in terms of its huge size and spectacular sound.

Peter Smith, one of the event's organisers, said: "You don't have to be a diesel aficionado to appreciate these giants from a past age when diesel took over from steam half a century ago.

"That's when makers such as English Electric, Sulzer, Brush, Metropolitan Vickers and others, as well as British Railways' works, produced a wide range of locomotive classes each stamped with their makers' individuality, providing variety and interest.

"Over the weekend the railway will be operating no fewer than nine main line locomotives as well as a diesel multiple-unit, following an intensive timetable over the full length of the 14-mile line between Cheltenham Racecourse, Gotherington, Winchcombe, Toddington and Broadway. Overall the trains will clock up more than 1,000 over the three days.

"Features will include an intensive timetable featuring double-heading of some trains, in a range of locomotive combinations. There will also be opportunities to look 'behind the scenes' in the diesel shed at Toddington where you can get close up and personal with locomotives being overhauled as well as enjoy what's on offer from preservation group and sales stands.

"Be sure to enjoy the narrow-gauge delights of the North Gloucestershire Narrow Gauge Railway at Toddington, too.

"It's going to be quite a weekend that celebrates what is now a long-gone age when a wide variety of powerful and impressive diesel locomotives ruled the rails."

The extensive and impressive Carriage & Wagon Department at Winchcombe will also be welcoming visitors who will discover how the railway restores and maintains its impressive fleet of Mk1 coaches, which are a perfect match for the traction in action over the weekend.

And of course no event like this would be complete without a beer tent and plenty of refreshments.

You can find out all you need to know about this spectacular event by visiting the Heritage Diesel Festival pages at www.gwsr.com  including ticket prices and detailed timetables for the event.